> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Reign Notebook: Offense Looking to Find Itself, Jess Fishlock Back to Training - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-reign-finding-offense-jess-fishlock-training/ - Published: 2026-07-02T02:51:13.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:11:09.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: News, Analysis, Reign, Maddie Dahlien, Scott Parkinson, Emeri Adames, Jess Fishlock \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1954"\] ![ The Seattle Reign train on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (Qasim Ali / Emerald City Spectrum) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/reign-training-june-30-2026-format-original.jpg) The Seattle Reign train on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (Qasim Ali / Emerald City Spectrum) \[/caption\] As the men's FIFA World Cup rages on, the top women's soccer league is nearly back from its June hiatus. The NWSL returns this weekend, with the struggling Seattle Reign (4-5-2, 10th) set to take on the North Carolina Courage (5-3-3, 8th) in Raleigh on Saturday. The Reign have been back to training since last week, but started prepping in full for North Carolina this week. The Reign worked in multiple small-sided sessions and a full scrimmage on Tuesday, as their offense took center stage at times. That unit has been a pain point for Seattle in 2026, as the Reign are among just four NWSL sides to average less than a goal per game through 11 fixtures. Second-year winger Maddie Dahlien says the timing of the NWSL break is helping fuel her and her teammates to push through the final 19 games. "I felt like it came at a really good time,” Dahlien said. “We've had a lot of vulnerable conversations, and coming back, like we met as a team and really just regrouped.” It's been a tough season all around for Reign attackers, as striker Mia Fishel is still without a goal contribution, while Dahlien and winger pair Emeri Adames have combined for just one goal so far. Star veteran Jess Fishlock has been out since March with a leg injury while Nerilia “Coco” Mondesir has cooled down after a hot start. During Tuesday’s training, Adames worked the left side for a promising cross in a small-sided session. Her service, an out-swinging ball, ended in a goal — to which midfielder Sam Meza applauded and proceeded to tell Adames that was what she wanted to see out of her every time. That encouragement is part of a positive mentality the Reign have been trying to keep up as they sort through a tough offensive season where goals have come at a premium. “It's so rewarding when you hear teammates asking (each other) to also be themselves,” assistant coach Scott Parkinson said. To that degree, Parkinson and the staff know the individual dribbling quality they have with Dahlien and Adames. Some of the conversations with the young attackers have been in affirming who they are, and encouraging them to take chances in 1-on-1 scenarios. "Go have fun with it, go take risks, go make mistakes," Parkinson said. "If you're Maddie Dahlien and Emeri (Adames), go get at people, be creative." Dahlien, a finalist for the NWSL Rookie of the Year last season, has never had a problem pressuring defenders late in games — she became the first player in league history to have her first four goals be game-winners. As she navigates a sophomore slump in terms of production, part of what's tripping her up appears to be in deciding when to make a play and when to be selfish with the ball — a common dilemma for a young winger. "1-v-1 is always such an important part of my game, and I'm hoping that me and Emeri can really take strides in the second half of the season. But I also don't want to lose emphasis on we are such a good team," Dahlein said. "There's a right pass or another extra decision that I can make that sets my teammate up, I don't want to lose sight of that… But I also do think, like, me and Emeri can be a little bit more selfish in those moments." Indeed, the duo scored 10 goals last season, with Adames' six tied for the team-high. While Dahlien's shots per 90 minutes have risen slightly to just over two this season, Adames is down to just 1.5 as opposed to 2.3 last year. Veteran forward Brittany Ratcliffe joined the team this season and has scored two goals as a primary substitute. As one of few players on the team with more than five NWSL seasons, she's felt the need to help balance the volatility that comes with a young team learning itself. “It’s an honor and it’s a privilege to have been able to call myself a veteran in this league,” Ratcliffe said. “I have a responsibility to lead everybody, not just young players… I’ve seen what this league can be and what it is.” In past weeks, head coach Laura Harvey has said she would add some veteran presence if she had a say in the upcoming July 13 start to the transfer window. Having more veterans could, at the very least, show young players like Adames the importance of sticking to your game when things get tough. But as the Reign review their first 11 games, being able to do it away from the stress of an impending matchday has been a luxury. “When you’re in it, you don’t maybe see the bigger picture,” Ratcliffe said. “When you’re in it, you’re just like, ‘Wow this is tough, this is awful, what’s going on?’” In that review, Parkinson said he sees a “superpower” that could help guide this franchise back into its three-time shield-winning ways. “I think it’s that young, scrappy kind of fun feeling,” Parkinson said of his team’s strength. “That’s who we are. We should be having fun, our fans should be having fun.” With Fishel as the only Reign attacker in the NWSL’s top 20 successful dribblers per 90 minutes (1.8 successful dribbles/90 per FotMob), Adames and Dahlien will need to match or exceed that production to give fans that fun feeling he foresees. Dahliens ranks outside of the top 50, winning 42.1% of her dribbles for 1.1 wins per game. That’s a small improvement from last season, but it’s clear Seattle will need a bigger leap to help revive this unit. While Dahlien and the Reign said they’ve been satisfied with their chance generation, and that the issues are with the final touch, the numbers are painting a different picture through 11 games. Seattle is third to last in both total xG (12.9) and shots on target (3.6) this season. The Reign were among the best in the NWSL in putting away their few chances last season, but have actually underperformed their low xG so far with 10 goals. Individual success on the wings could remedy this offense as the Reign appear to be taking positive mindset into these final 19 matches. ### Jess Fishlock Returns to Training When an aircast was place on Jess Fishlock's leg during a March loss to the Utah Royals at home mere days after she announced her retirement at the end of 2026, many thought they'd seen the last of the Welsh legend. But after negative x-rays ruled out a break and signaled a possible summer return, Fishlock is finally back out on the practice field. She participated in a limited fashion on Tuesday, staying away from contact drills and scrimmages from what The Spectrum saw. But Parkinson confirmed the 39-year-old had been cleared for contact and had participated in some contact drills since Seattle got back to training last week. As such, Parkinson is optimistic about Fishlock's return this summer and into the final potential postseason of her career. "I would assume in the next few weeks, I could see her getting back into training and being in full training. That's the hope," Parkinson said. Fishlock started all five of the games she appeared in before the injury, looking like her vintage self with impressive dribbles and goal — though she had many close calls and could have had well over three scores by now. Last season, her first in reduced minutes as she reaches the end of her career, she trailed only golden boot winner Temwa Chawinga in goals per 90 minutes. Needless to say, Fishlock will still be highly valuable to restarting this offense even if she can only play limited minutes for the remainder of the season. ### Call-Ups and Extensions While Claudia Dickey just returned from playing with the USWNT for a pair of friendlies in Brazil, a couple of Reign players are heading to Atlanta for U.S. U-20 camps. Keeper Evan O'Steen and Sofia Cedeno will attend the July 5-16 camp as the team prepares for the U-20 World Cup in September. Neither have played large minutes for the Reign this season, but the staff likes Cedeno's scrappy playstyle, which should only be refined with international experience. In terms of signings, Ratcliffe and the Reign agreed to a mutual extension through 2027 on Tuesday. Ratcliffe, 32, is a fan favorite and has been an impact sub for a squad that struggles to score consistently. The Reign also extended rookie Ruby Hladek through August, as her short-term deal was set to expire on Tuesday. Also reaching a new contract through 2028 on Wednesday was 22-year-old keeper Neeku Purcell, who continues to back up Dickey as this 2026 season roles on.