Reign FC Blows 3-0 Lead in 30 Minutes to Ailing Chicago

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Jordyn Huitema dribbles during a game against the Chicago Stars on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Jane Gershovich / Seattle Reign FC) [/caption]

Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing" blared from a room away as members of Seattle Reign FC were asked about how they managed to draw with the Chicago Stars, 3-3, on Monday night.

Seattle led 3-0 and had a goal of the year candidate come in the first half, so how did Seattle come away with one point on a night in which it led by three goals with 17 minutes of regulation left? A late rally from the Stars, punctuated by a rare goal by a keeper turned the result sour at the death.

A Storybook First 46 Minutes for Seattle

The Reign got off on the right foot this time around, scoring just three minutes into the contest as Jordyn Huitema worked her way behind the right side of the Stars' backline to leave a pass to Jess Fishlock in close.

But Huitema's slick dish in the early going paled in comparison to her best moment of the night in the 34th. Maddie Dahlien had her shot deflected in close while Curry hit the crossbar on the follow, as the ball lasered back into the ground and bounced straight up about four yards away from the goal. No Stars player cleared the ball, which was easy to track since it was coming straight down.

Huitema settled under it for a half-bicycle kick that found the top left corner of the net in a moment that will likely replay on NWSL promotional content for years to come.

"It was a desperation attempt," Huitema said, as she scored her second goal of the season. "In those moments, you're just trying to do anything you possibly can to get the ball in the back of the net as a forward."

Right after a halftime ceremony that honored the 1985 U.S. Women's National Team with flowers and a tribute, Seattle wasted no time putting the hurt back on.

Seattle keeper Claudia Dickey sent the opening kick to the opposing 18, where Chicago keeper Alyssa Naeher was blocked by her own defenders from clearing. And just like that, Emeri Adames cleaned it up to score on an open net and continue her team-leading total of six goals on the season.

Surely the Reign were heading home victorious.

Right?

All Falls Down

Seattle made three subs at the 66th-minute mark, subbing Mia Fishel for Maddie Dahlien, Jordyn Bugg for Madison Curry, and Lynn Biyendolo for Huitema.

Considering what happened next, Harvey wasn't thrilled after the game about her decision to make those swaps.

"Sometimes substitutions, not the players, but the decision to make them can be game-changing and can change your momentum in a positive way," Harvey said. "Unfortunately for us tonight, I think it was the reverse … that's not a player thing, that's on me."

In the last match between these two squads in June, Chicago forward Ludmila scored twice early on to put Seattle in a hole it would dig itself out of with a late draw. It was fitting that Ludmila would start the rally with a solid solo run in the 73rd minute to put a shot over Dickey in the top-left corner.

Camryn Biegalski received a solid ball in the 78th from Allyson Schlegel and scored in a duel with Dickey with another shot to the top left.

The danger was very real for Seattle at this point, but the Reign held strong.

Seattle kept Chicago out of its attacking third for the first four minutes of a prescribed seven-minute stoppage time, but the Stars started to generate opportunity after opportunity as time waned. In the 98th and 99th minutes (the game was extended due to injury), Chicago took six shots.

In the 99th, Naeher came out of the goal to assist with a last-ditch corner kick. A shot from Kathrin Hendrich would be tipped into the left post by Dickey, and it bounced directly at Naeher right on the goal line for a tap-in score — Naeher’s first in a 200-game career.

Just like that, three points melded into one.

What Happened?

Chicago practically won the possession battle all night long and generated decent looks at times early on, but nothing as dangerous as the Reign. Those looks started to get more and more dangerous as Chicago caught Seattle in expected goals (2.62-2.14), won possession at 64 percent and outshot Seattle on target 11-7.

With a 3-0 lead, Huitema and midfielder Angharad James-Turner reflected on how it all went wrong.

"I think there was a little bit of a disconnect between how we were closing out the game, which kind of created gaps. Some people still were very front-footed while others were dropping. (That) created pockets in midfield where they could turn and kind of take advantage," Huitema said.

James-Turner looked on the bright side — at least it was now instead of the playoffs.

"Maybe this is the game that we needed for the future, cause it won't happen again," James-Turner said, conceding that the team may have gotten complacent.

Harvey was plain when summarizing the disappointment of drawing with the second-worst side in the NWSL.

"We were cruising until we weren't," Harvey said. "Just unacceptable."

While Huitema's goal frenzied the Reign faithful, Harvey pointed out that winning isn't always so flashy.

"The harsh reality is, sometimes the pretty football and playing it the way that's good on the eye isn't the way you're going to win," Harvey said, explaining that the high press Seattle played late in the game wasn't necessary. "We overplayed in moments when we didn't need to."

Up Next

With Huitema surely gaining some confidence from the performance and Seattle's offense putting up five goals in two games, there's still something to be positive about.

Seattle will need that positivity as it has a road date with Houston coming up on Sunday.