Reign Overcome Slow Start, Down Angel City 2-0 Thanks to Fishlock’s Second Half

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Seattle Reign FC’s Jess Fishlock (10) skies for a header during a game against Angel City FC on Aug. 1, 2025 at Lumen Field. (Jane Gershovich / Seattle Reign FC) [/caption]

Seattle Reign FC handled business in its return from the July CBA break, taking down Angel City FC 2-0 on Friday night in a game Seattle controlled for the most part. After an aggressive start by the side from Los Angeles, Seattle wore down the visitors and snatched the momentum.

Long-time Reign attacker Jess Fishlock had a hand in both scores, delivering the opening goal at the 66th minute and deflecting a corner kick for an Angel City own-goal in the 86th to seal it.

The win moves Seattle (7-4-3 W-L-D) from sixth to fourth in the NWSL standings with 12 games to play.

Angel City Dominates Early Chances

Angel City came into the game with four losses and a draw to show for its last five outings pre-break - LA was looking to make things right in Seattle.

Seattle's last competitive game was a 4-1 thrashing of Utah, but the Reign needed some time to find an offensive rhythm in this one.

Seattle got out to an 80 percent possession rate in the first 10 minutes, but didn't work the ball into the opposing third much. Instead, damage control was the name of the first 25 minutes of the game.

In the 17th minute, the Angel City lobbed a corner kick into the box, which rolled around a few Seattle defenders in confusion before LA turned it into a shot on goal. While Seattle continued to dominate possession, Angel City's high press didn't allow Seattle many real opportunities.

"We were a bit timid, we were second to a lot of things," Seattle head coach Laura Harvey said after the game.

Defender Sofia Huerta, who was playing in her first competitive action of the season after returning from a 10-month loan with Lyon, got herself involved in the 27th. Huerta had a cross blocked on the right baseline blocked as she started to cause confusion in Angel City's ranks.

Pushes like these, even unsuccessful, broke LA's press down as the first half wore on.

Seattle's D Stays Resilient, Huerta Gets Going

The Reign came into the game having allowed just 13 goals on the season. Despite the miscommunication early, the Seattle's defense shined at times and started to win the first and second touches it hadn't been able to.

Madison Curry tracked down Angel City star Alyssa Thompson on a dangerous right-wing runout in the 29th, forcing Thompson to foul her. Moments like those demoralized a promising Angel City attack, allowing Huerta and company to get into the action because of LA's lessened press.

Huerta took full advantage, delivering a promising cross to Maddie Dahlien in the 37th that wasn't meant to be due to weak contact. Still, Huerta's service can be the proverbial punch in the mouth that defuses an opposing game plan. LA was now playing on the back foot as those kinds of opportunities became more common.

With Seattle's offense in control, Angel City's press from early in the game seemed to dissipate. Seattle finished the half with 62.3% but weren't able to replicate LA's four shots on goal as the Reign didn't produce any.

The Summer of Jess Fishlock Continues

"I just said to the players at halftime, I think to play the way we want to play, we've got to be brave and we've got to commit to what our plan is, and when we do that, we're good," Harvey said.

Jess Fishlock, fresh off some time with Wales at the EURO during the break, checked in for Ji So-Yun at the half and embodied that mentality.

Fishlock scored her country's first-ever goal at a major competition in a EURO game against France in July. Although Wales didn't advance far and lost that game 4-1, Fishlock, 38 and in her 12th season with the Reign, showed her aptitude for big moments at the EURO.

The attacker, who had been watching the game intently to find openings,  made an immediate impact upon subbing in. Fishlock delivered a beautiful through ball to the left side in the 49th to spark a chance for Huerta that didn't find the net. 

After some solid back-and-forth play, Fishlock left her biggest mark on the game in the 66th. On another beautiful corner from Huerta, Fishlock leaped to keep the ball in the box. It was deflected right back to her, and the veteran smashed it past LA's downed keeper to put Seattle up 1-0.

"She just gets it," Harvey said of Fishlock's feel for the game. "I think the team believes that about her too, that she's going to be in the right place when they need her to be. 

That couldn't have been more true 20 minutes later. Huerta delivered another perfect service on a corner from the opposite side this time, which Fishlock redirected ever so slightly. That altered trajectory hit an LA defender and sped into the goal to seal it for Seattle.

Fishlock was subbed out at the end of stoppage time to kill time according to Harvey, but she instead received an ovation from the 10,000 fans in attendance.

"It was our highest attended match and you could really see that and feel that," Fishlock said, having sprinted to celebrated with fans as the final whistles blew. "I just wanted to show them we feel them and they're super important to us."

Other Solid Performances

New signing Mia Fishel subbed on in the 81st and while she didn't have any game-breaking moments, it was a nerve-wracking debut.

"I don't think I've ever been so stressed on the sidelines, just like how back and forth and close the game was," Fishel said, having signed with Seattle early last month. "I was just itching to get in and try to help."

Fishel did display some fancy footwork in traffic to earn a corner kick late, as her ability to work in isolation is sure to be a tool for Harvey going forward.

Young midfielders Sally Menti and Sam Meza each wreaked havoc on the Angel City attack as the second half began. Harvey has been happy with the tandem's growth.

"I don't even think tonight was close to their best," Harvey said. "We have found something in them that really does take the pressure off the Jess's and the older players."

As usual, keeper Claudia Dickey came to play, logging six saves as Seattle ended with 52.8% possession. Seattle and Angel City both earned four corners while LA won shots on goal six to two. Friday marked Seattle's fourth NWSL shutout of the season.

Up Next

For now, the Reign will have some time to celebrate this result before it takes on its archrival in the Portland Thorns on the road next Sunday afternoon.

Seattle took down Portland in a friendly in penalties after a scoreless 90 minutes last week and beat the Thorns 1-0 back in April.