"This team would not be in a place that we are right now without her”: Huerta’s Leadership Plays Key Role in Reign FC’s Success

Last Friday, Seattle Reign FC took down Boston Legacy FC by a score of 2-1, getting back into the win column for the first time since March. Now, with just one game left until a lengthy break from league play, the squad will be looking maintain their momentum in Washington, D.C. – led by captain Sofia Huerta.

Huerta, a league veteran and longtime Reign player, has played an integral role within the club, on and off the pitch for quite some time, but she’s stepped into a new role as captain this season – and she hasn’t missed a beat.

Her presence on the field is more than just the accolades and milestones seen on the scoresheet, of which she boasts no shortage. Against Boston, she recorded the first goal of the night – a stone-cold penalty kick to swing momentum in favor of the Reign just eight minutes into the match, but her impact on the game goes far beyond that.

Though performing leadership duties is not something new to Huerta by any means, the 33-year-old faces a unique task, as the Reign’s roster is younger than ever and hungry to learn from her expertise.

“I don’t even really think I can describe her impact. It’s immense on this group. I think the biggest thing is we talked about the stint we’ve been going through – she's really stepped up leadership wise and led us through,” said second-year forward Maddie Dahlien, who scored the game-winning goal against Boston.

The 2026 season has been like no other, from playing three matches in Spokane, Washington and traversing midweek fixture congestion, to weathering an uncharacteristic goal drought and navigating an injury to Reign FC OG Jess Fishlock – yet Huerta’s leadership has never wavered through it all.

“This team would not be in a place that we are right now without her. She just puts in shifts day in and day out and is not only good on the field, but off the field. We can really just count on her all the time,” added Dahlien.

The Idaho-native joined the league in 2015, playing for Chicago and Houston before making her way to Seattle. The 12th year player has now spent half her career in the Emerald City and is one of just five players on the Reign’s roster to have six or more years of NWSL experience.

As the league’s all-time leader in assists, one of four players in league history with 30+ goals and 30+ assists and five NWSL Best XI or Second XI honors, Huerta has a plethora of knowledge to share with the up-and-coming Reign team, and she’s eager to do it.

“The group is easy to lead. We have a lot of young players who really want to learn and are like sponges. There’s no egos on the team. Everyone really just wants to get better and puts in the work, so shoutout to the team too because it’s been difficult,” Huerta shared.

Though performing leadership duties is not something new to Huerta by any means, the 33-year-old faces a unique task, as the Reign’s roster is younger than ever and hungry to learn from her expertise. She has risen to the occasion and taken the challenge head on.

And it’s not just her teammates that are noticing.

“She definitely has stepped up. One of the things that I’m really proud of Sof about is her willingness to acknowledge that she’s not perfect. Her willingness to acknowledge and accept the responsibility of what being captain is and means in this club – because it’s a big deal. But then also, getting the reward of her teammates seeing the work that she’s putting in,” said Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey.

As Reign FC prepares for one last match before heading into the break, the squad will count on her calm leadership against a very familiar foe. Just one spot out of playoff position, Seattle will look to close out their long east coast road trip with a positive result against fourth-place Washington Spirit.

And you can bet that Huerta, who has played in every match this season, will be leading the charge.

Harvey said, “I’m really proud of her for pushing herself to keep developing in the role and the fact that her teammates are seeing it just puts a big smile on my face.”