Player Ratings: How Did Seattle Reign FC Perform in Win vs. Portland Timbers?
SEATTLE, Wash. - The audience in attendance at Lumen Field on Saturday night was rewarded with an enthralling rivalry match between Seattle Reign FC and the Portland Thorns. Both storied NWSL franchises possess higher standards than their current positions in the league table so it was a big match for the narrative in how the early season was going for each club. It would be Dahlien’s first professional goal in the 4th minute that would end up separating the sides and Seattle would come away with a massive victory at this early juncture in the season. Here’s how each player performed individually:
Claudia Dickey - 8
The biggest and most important aspect of the match for Dickey was getting that shutout and preserve the win. There were multiple chances that Portland created especially late in the game that would threaten that outcome but she stood tall and made key saves to earn the win in the pivotal rivalry match.
Jordyn Bugg - 7
It’s a testament to Bugg’s talent that this is probably her “worst” performance of the season and she still did everything that was asked of her in getting the shutout win. The only “knock” on her match on Friday night was she wasn’t asked to make any game saving tackles or score a world beater from 40 yards out, but she was still tidy in possession, solid defensively, and did her job.
Phoebe McClernon - 8
McClernon was everywhere defensively, and in a good way. It seemed every time Seattle needed an extra defender for cover, she was there…every time a white jersey came out of nowhere to get a clearance, it was her. She also helped Seattle build out from defense to attack including starting the passage of play that led to the goal.
Lauren Barnes - 7
A captains performance from Barnes. Her leadership on the field was apparent multiple times when the mental focus needed to be there to hold on to the one-goal lead. She also did an excellent job in shutting down Portland’s right side in attack, and the Thorns would definitely lean towards attacking on the left side in the second half.
Madison Curry - 6
Similarly to Bugg, having been one of Seattle’s top performers up until this point in the season, she struggled to have as much of an impact on Friday night’s match. There weren’t any obvious blemishes in the performance, but she just didn’t imprint herself on the match as much as she usually does.
Lynn Biyendolo - 7
The first start of the season for Seattle’s big offseason acquisition and she made her mark early with a wonderful assist setting up Dahlien’s goal. Biyendolo provides an element of pace and power but also versatility to Seattle’s attack as she seems to pop up in multiple positions, wherever she can find ways to create havoc for the opposing defense. She will be a huge addition to this side moving forward.
Samantha Meza - 9
Meza has a shout for player of the match from Friday’s match against Portland. She was a huge factor in every aspect of the game for Seattle, extremely tidy in possession, but also creative in finding ways to cut through Portland’s defense both via pass or taking on defenders 1-on-1 on the dribble. She is quickly becoming one of Seattle’s most important players and head coach Laura Harvey can’t take her out of the starting lineup at this point.
Angharad James - 7
James played her role to perfection on Friday night, being the perfect balance in the midfield when Meza and Biyendolo were moving forward to create. She allows all of that freedom to happen in the attacking third because you have someone staying home and doing the defensive work protecting the back line. She did an excellent job in stopping multiple would-be counter attacks from Portland.
Maddie Dahlien - 9
A player of the match performance for Dahlien as she scored her first professional goal…and what a goal it was. However it wasn’t just the goal she scored, as she impacted the game from there on out. All of Seattle’s playmakers looked to feed her on the left side, she had her way with Kaitlyn Torpey beating her on multiple occasions to create multiple chances, including the goal, for Seattle. What a moment for the 20-year old winger to have the game of her life.
WHAT A NIGHT to have your first career goal @maddiedahlien! 😈 pic.twitter.com/z92wCPes52— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc) April 19, 2025
Nérilia Mondésir - 6
The game just struggled to play into the Haitian midfielder’s hands on Friday night as Seattle’s success in attack mostly came from the outside and via a quick buildup where the defense would skip the midfield and spring forwards in 1v1 or getting in behind. She still had a few trademarked runs carrying the ball through tackles and creating space for her teammates, but Seattle just couldn’t find ways to convert.
Jordyn Huitema - 7
Friday night might not have been Huitema’s best performance of the season but it was arguably the most encouraging. Her ability to impact the game in multiple different ways other than goal scoring was excellent, she was unmatched as an aerial presence, and played the hold up striker role to perfection. If she can continue that part of development in her game, the chances to score will come.
