Sounders and Reign Look to Regroup After Very Different Losses
RENTON, Wash. — Brian Schmetzer hasn't shaved.
The Seattle Sounders head coach since 2016, who has been a part of the organization as a player and coach since 1980 more or less, called last Thursday's 5-1 loss to team archrival Portland Timbers the "toughest loss" of his career.
"I know everybody's in a bad place," Schmetzer said of the atmosphere at the facility after Tuesday's training. "I haven't shaved, I don't eat anymore, this hurts."
We'll hope the comment about not eating is a joke, but what Seattle served up in its first game back from the June FIFA World Cup break certainly wasn't palatable.
The Sounders gave up three goals in seven minutes in the early second half, getting beat with ease down the touchlines to turn a 1-0 deficit into an inescapable hole.
By the third goal in the 60th minute, some fans started heading for the exits, an oddity so early in any Sounders game.
By the fourth three minutes later, completing a brace for Venezuelan U-22 striker Kevin Kelsy, fans left in droves. Many of those who remained booed their beloved Sounders.
"They have every right to demand better from us," All-Star center back Jackson Ragen said. "For us to come out like that, they have the right to ask for (better)."
Cassie Miller Shines, Reign Top Thorns 2-0 to Split Cascadia Series
The Seattle Reign came into Sunday's rematch with their vaunted rival Portland Thorns at 4-6-2 and losers of four of their last five games.
But records never matter in the biggest grudge match in the NWSL, and Seattle proved it by delivering the Thorns their only shutout loss of the season to place Portland at 8-4-3 in a 2-0 win. Seattle moved up to 10th place with the win, still three points out of a top-eight playoff spot with a game in hand over the Orlando Pride.
Reserve keeper Cassie Miller, in for the second straight week for injured star Claudia Dickey (ankle), had the game of her life to earn the clean sheet. Miller tabbed nine saves in front of nearly 15,000 fans - Seattle's fourth-highest attendance figure in any match. It marked the full circle of a story for the 31-year-old that featured a leg injury which forced her to miss most of the 2025 season.
Also rounding out a comeback story was right back Ryanne Brown. Brown tore her ACL during the 2024 season, prompting her to miss all of 2025 and play just 22 minutes total in 2026 in the lead-up to Sunday.
She earned her first start with typical starter Madison Curry (ankle) out with an injury, and scored an incredible long distance goal to open the scoring. Maddie Mercado doubled the advantage later in the first half while Miller endured 10 shots on frame to seal a 2-0 win.
Head coach Laura Harvey, who hasn't had much to smile about on the field lately, put this game up there with any of Seattle's performances in 2026.
"It was probably the closest to the best 90-minute performance that I can probably remember since (the 2-1 win) over Orlando (in March)," Harvey said. "Really proud of the group."
Chants of "Build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put the Thorns on the top!" rang out as time wound down on a picture perfect day - one that could turn Seattle's season around.
WATCH: How Can Reign Climb Back Into NWSL Contention?
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Qasim Ali breaks down the trends that are making teams successful in the NWSL right now and how the middling Seattle Reign (4-5-2, 10th in NWSL) can apply those ideas to get back in the fight. The Reign are back in action on July 4 against North Carolina as the current World Cup/CBA-mandated break continues.
Fishlock Likely to Return After Negative X-Rays, Reign Look to Bounce Back
It was a moment no Seattle Reign fan wanted to see.
Mere days after the announcement of her retirement at the end of the 2026 season, star midfielder Jess Fishlock came down badly on her left ankle in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Utah Royals to drop Seattle to 3-2-1 (10 points, fourth in NWSL).
Fishlock immediately signaled to the sideline for help and shouted in pain, only for the medical staff to place an aircast on her ankle. As she left the pitch on a stretcher with her face buried in her hands, fans and coaches alike couldn't help but think they had just watched the final minutes of the 39-year-old Welsh legend's career.
Fishlock was taken to a nearby hospital for an X-ray, with her football future hanging in the balance.
It came back negative, and that was enough for head coach Laura Harvey to start planning for Seattle's most consistent offensive force to return.
Seattle Reign Set to Bond in Coachella in Latest Step Towards 2026 Season
The Seattle Reign are in California to train with around half of the NWSL's 16 sides. The team flew out on Sunday after a few weeks of training in Tukwila, punctuated by a return of five USWNT call-ups for the final week.
In Coachella, coach Laura Harvey's squad will be focused on improving their chance generation, as Seattle finished among the league's least productive offenses in 2025 - the squad ended in fifth place and lost to Orlando in the first round. The Reign will have a friendly against Angel City FC on Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. (to be broadcasted on FOX 13), and team media staff confirmed two closed door scrimmages will take place during Seattle's time at the invitational.
With chances to compete against new competition forthcoming, Harvey and USWNT call-ups in forward Maddie Dahlien and defender Jordyn Bugg spoke to The Spectrum last Wednesday about how they plan to get their offense on track.
Maddie Mercado Among Young Reign Players Looking to Reignite Offense in 2026
The Seattle Reign returned to practice on Thursday with 22 players rostered from the 2025 campaign, looking to build on a strong season with several young players aiming to take a big step forward.
Reign Roundup: Harvey Inks Extension, Reign Send Five to USWNT, World Cup Sends Three Matches to Spokane
The Seattle Reign won't start NWSL play for another two months, but had a busy week as they extended longtime coach Laura Harvey, sent a quintet to the USWNT, and announced some World Cup-driven venue changes.
Young Reign Roster 24 Players After Personnel Decision Announcement
The Seattle Reign announced their post-2025 roster decisions on Tuesday morning as the franchise values youth moving forward.
Reign Draw with Pride in Decision Day Thriller, Set Up First Round Rematch
The No. 5 Seattle Reign rode a late Jordyn Bugg equalizer to a 1-1 Decision Day draw with the No. 4 Orlando Pride on Sunday, meaning the two squads will play a first-round game in Orlando in a week's time.
WATCH: Critical Decision Day Awaits Reign FC vs. Orlando
The No. 4 Seattle Reign will take on the No. 3 Orlando Pride on the road on Sunday to decide where Seattle finishes in the playoff race on Decision Day, as they could end up anywhere from the third seed all the way down the seventh.
Reign FC Notebook: Barnes Speaks on Retirement, Seattle Receives Seven Call-Ups
It was a busy news week for the Seattle Reign, who saw seven players receive senior national team call-ups and multiple players announce career transitions, including Lauren Barnes' retirement from the NWSL at the end of the season and Jess Fishlock stepping away from international soccer.
Takeaways: Reign Steal a Scoreless Draw Against Gotham, Remain in Fourth Place
The Seattle Reign weathered plenty of opposing opportunities on the road to play to a 0-0 result against Gotham FC on Sunday afternoon.
Playoff Frenzy Continues for Reign as Louisville Comes to Town
The Reign currently sit in the NWSL's seventh seed, while Louisville resides in the eighth spot with seven games to play. Can Seattle land a key win for playoff seeding?
Reign Take on Fast-Paced and Trending Spirit Squad
Seattle Reign FC has drawn in three straight matches heading into a Sunday road date with the No. 2-seeded Washington Spirit.
Player Ratings: Seattle Reign FC Drop Home Match vs. Washington Spirit
Defensive mistakes and a lack of creativity offensively did the Seattle Reign in as they dropped a home match vs the Washington Spirit.
Player Ratings: How Did Reign FC Perform in 1-0 Loss to Orlando?
The defense looked solid most of the night, but Reign FC failed to make the most of their opportunities on Saturday against one of NWSL's top teams, staying stuck at just one win so far.
Early Reign FC Observations as NWSL Heads Into International Break
Reign FC holds a 1-1-1 as the league enters the first international break of the season. What can we take away from the first three games?
Takeaways: Reign FC Gets Big 2-1 Victory vs. North Carolina Courage
Seattle looked dominant on the road in a huge victory to get their first win of the season in North Carolina.
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