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# Maddie Dahlien Suffers Torn ACL, Will Miss Crucial End to Reign Playoff Push
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/maddie-dahlien-tears-acl-uswnt-seattle-reign-fc-nwsl/
- Published: 2026-10-17T21:16:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T21:16:39.000Z
- Description: The Seattle Reign were dealt a devastating blow as they announced on Saturday that winger Maddie Dahlien suffered a torn ACL with the U.S. U-23 team.
- Author: Qasim Ali
- Tags: News, Maddie Dahlien, Reign, Laura Harvey

Maddie Dahlien has been one of the most electric young talents in the NWSL since she joined the Seattle Reign out of North Carolina last season. Her pace and 1-on-1 dribbling ability on the left wing have earned her seven goals and eight assists over nearly two complete seasons, with her four goals in 2025 all being result-changing scores.

But the Rookie of the Year finalist, still just 22, was dealt a devastating twist in her career over the international break. She tore her ACL on duty with the U.S. U-23 team, Reign skipper Laura Harvey told The Spectrum from Chicago on Saturday afternoon. As such, the team placed her on the Season-Ending Injury list on Saturday.

Harvey confirmed Dahlien is away from the team at the moment and spending time with family, noting the young player is "devastated," as is the Reign organization. GM Lesle Gallimore said the team is "heartbroken" over the news in a team release. 

It's for good reason.

On top of Dahlien being one of the joyful spirits in the locker room, she's shown glimpses of being one of the league's best creators. She's often the first to cop to mistakes in postgame pressers, showing a drive to improve.

"The thing that I love the most is her mentality," Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock said of Dahlien on September 25\. "She knows that the sky is the limit, and she wants to reach it every single day."

There's never a good time for an injury, much less one of this magnitude. But the Reign, with a below-average offense, are in a fight for their playoff lives with three matches to play – Seattle is two points behind eighth-place North Carolina ahead of a Sunday bout with the league-worst Chicago Stars.

> Maddie Dahlien gets a goal of her own! 💪  
>  
> The Seattle Reign is up 2-0! [pic.twitter.com/dfEupbdybX](https://t.co/dfEupbdybX?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)
> 
> — National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) [August 2, 2026](https://x.com/NWSL/status/2083719721468506187?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

Dahlien's ability to work to the end line using her league-leading pace and intangible dribbling ability opened up the field all season, as Maddie Mercado has had a breakout season putting away plenty of Dahlien services.

Striker Mia Fishel joined Seattle from English side Chelsea last July, and underwent a similar setback to Dahlien earlier in her career. She tore her ACL on international duty with the States in February of 2024 at age 23 – she made just one club start over the ensuing 15 months. Fishel was on duty with the U-23s and Dahlien when she went down.

"I'm happy that I was there for her. Immediately after (an injury), your brain just kind of goes everywhere, and as a teammate, you just want to be there. You just want to let her know that she's supported," Fishel said. 

As Dahlien starts what promises to be a long road to recovery, the Reign will have to pick up the pieces. 

20-year-old Emeri Adames, who tied the team lead in goals last season with six, has played just 520 minutes this season and has largely been phased out of the lineup thanks to players like Mercado (right wing) and Sally Menti (center attacking midfield) cementing their spots, with Fishel up top. Adames has played just 62 minutes off the bench in five non-starts since August 1st, but continues to get international call-ups – having just played in the U-20 World Cup with three assists and 12 shots on goal.

Versatile pieces like Holly Ward, veteran scorers Nerilia "Coco" Mondesir and Brittany Ratcliffe and the legendary Fishlock will all factor into replacing Dahlien's productivity over these final three matches.

But for a team with young talent in Dahlien, Sam Meza, Ainsley McCammon, Adames, Jordyn Bugg and others, how Dahlien is able to respond to early-career adversity and recover will be a storyline to watch for a team with ambitions reaching far beyond 2026.