Claudia Dickey is Here to Stay
Claudia Dickey is here to stay.
Reign FC announced on Thursday morning that Dickey has signed a contract extension that will keep her in Seattle through the 2028 season. The 25-year-old goalkeeper was selected 20th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft and has been with the Reign ever since.
Dickey made her regular season debut for the club in August 2023 and has since become a crucial part of the Reign squad. With 39 appearances across all NWSL competitions, Dickey has amassed 106 saves and recorded nine clean sheets, earning her spot in the club history books, ranking fourth and fifth all-time amongst Reign goalkeepers, respectively.
EXTENSION EARNED
Dickey has been a standout player for the Reign this season. Aided by Seattle’s gritty backline, she has conceded the second-fewest goals in the NWSL and earned three clean sheets. She has the fourth-best goals-against average of any goalkeeper in the NWSL and the second-best of any goalkeeper who has played every match of the season.
She is one of just three goalkeepers in the league with at least three clean sheets and a save percentage of above 75%. According to Expected Goals via Opta, Dickey has prevented nearly double the number of goals of any other goalkeeper in the NWSL this season.
“Obviously I wasn’t playing initially,” said Dickey. “The faith and belief that the team, the coaches and the organization put in me have really made me feel like it’s a home, and it has become a home.”
USWNT CALL UP
On Tuesday, Dickey received her first call up to a USWNT game roster after attending the USA’s January training camp earlier this year. She is one of three uncapped players to make the roster but brings a plethora of experience at the youth national team level, as she has previously represented the U.S. at the U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels.
“Obviously, I’m really happy for Claudia to get the recognition in the league and obviously getting this international call up. I’m so happy. For her – she deserves it,” said Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey.
MAKING HER MARK
Over the last three seasons, Dickey has solidified her place among the league’s top goalkeepers. She ranks second in catches (36) and aerial duels won (15) and is renowned for her ability to defend crosses. She holds the third-best goals against average (1.09) and the fourth-best save percentage (74.5%).
“The journey she has been on – and I say this to her a lot – she’s the most naturally gifted athlete, so nothing in regard to soccer comes hard to her. How she claims crosses, what she does with her feet, how high she can jump, all those things, they are just natural,” said Harvey.
She continued, “The big challenge to her has been how do you push yourself and train hard on the things that don’t come natural to you? Can you push yourself in everything you do? Look where you’ve got on natural ability. Imagine if you pushed yourself, how good you can be. I think that switch flicked this year for her.”
It’s clear that Dickey’s growth at the Reign has been tremendous – and there’s no end in sight for the 25-year-old’s meteoric rise.
See Dickey in action tomorrow, May 23, as the Reign hosts the Washington Spirit at Lumen Field!