Reign praise growth, turnaround in 2025, excited for bright future with young, talented group
The 2025 Seattle Reign season was one of tremendous growth. Following a 2024 campaign that saw the club finish second-to-last in the table, the Reign enjoyed a 16-point jump and earned a playoff berth after finishing fifth.
Perhaps even more important than the on-field success was the progress of some of the team’s youngest performers, all of whom were thrust into the spotlight and did everything and more of what was asked of them.
“Gaining the experience that our players gained this year was vital,” said Reign General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “Our goal is to continue to develop these players and put them in really difficult situations so they learn to solve at a pro level.”
Nineteen-year-old Emeri Adames had a standout year, tying for the team-lead with six goals, while fellow teenagers Jordyn Bugg and Ainsley McCammon combined for 41 appearances. Rookie Maddie Dahlien also led the team in assists and finished third in goals.
“The underlying theme is that we know we’ve got something in the group, and they’re all excited to develop that and come back and be even better next year,” said Reign Head Coach Laura Harvey.
While the retirement of Reign original Lu Barnes and the maternity leave of United States international talent Lynn Bieyndolo to start 2026 will certainly be felt, there’s a level of confidence in the locker room that 2025 was just the beginning of something great. Part of that is because of the culture Barnes, in particular, helped cultivate.
“The biggest service that we can do to Lu is to make sure that the culture that she helped set stays,” said Harvey. “The group was really enjoyable to be around. They have a very consistent ethos as a collective in that they want to get better…As a coach, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
After such a marked turnaround in 2025, the goals for 2026 become even loftier. Despite three NWSL Shields and three NWSL Championship runners-up finishes, Seattle has its eyes on its elusive first league title. The front office and technical staff are excited about what’s to come and what special things this group can accomplish, even as key pieces are added.
“We’re continuing to build the roster in a way that helps us not just make the playoffs but perform well in the playoffs and win a championship,” said Gallimore.
Added Harvey: “I’m excited for some of the projects that we’ve put ourselves into this offseason in preparation for what next year could look like and excited to delve more into how we can push this group on as far as we possibly can.”