Reign Look to Get Back in Win Column Against a Tough San Diego Squad

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Seattle Reign midfielder Sally Menti dribbles during a game against the San Diego Wave on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif. (Jenny Chuang / Reign FC Communications) [/caption]

The Seattle Reign have had plenty of highs and lows in 2025. Sitting at 7-5-5 (W-L-D) with nine NWSL games to play, the team is sixth in the playoff race.

But August hasn't been very kind to Seattle, which is 1-1-2 in games this month and hasn't earned three points in a match since Aug. 1 against Angel City.

Friday is another chance to get it right against a formidable 8-4-5 San Diego Wave squad that rests in third place. Let's outline how this matchup could go as the Reign look to sweep the Wave.

Matchup History

The Reign took the first matchup of this series way back on June 6 in a thrilling finish in San Diego. The game ended 2-1, but the first goal from Sally Menti wasn't scored until the 67th minute when she scored her first and only NWSL goal on a screamer from 25 yards out. It was just the first shot on target in a game that Seattle would manage just four in.

The Wave's leading goal contributor in Delphine Cascarino evened it up with a header off a corner in the 75th before Seattle's leading scorer, Emeri Adames, scored the game-winner in the 87th on an assist from Jess Fishlock. The winner was a perfect left-footed strike after a solid run-out by Adames to the top right corner of the net.

Claudia Dickey made her presence felt with a diving two-handed save in the 77th, which resulted in Seattle taking home three points instead of one.

By the end of the match, the teams tied on shots on target at four apiece while the Wave won expected goals 0.9 to 0.6, a number that could have inflated largely because of Dickey's save. As is the Wave's method, they won possession at 63 percent and put Dickey to work, as she had three saves.

In short, Seattle generated just a few opportunities and nearly quadrupled its expected-goal mark by displaying pure class in two chances.

San Diego Overview

The Wave are coming into this matchup off a 1-0 loss to Louisville in which they dominated possession at 71 percent and took eight shots on goal with a 2.0-0.8 expected-goal advantage. The opportunities were there, the Wave just couldn’t figure it out.

This is a team that, unlike some of Seattle's recent matchups, prioritizes possession.

The Wave lead the NWSL with a 59.8 percent possession rate. The next highest team is at 54.9 percent.

The Wave lead the NWSL with over 9,000 total passes. No other team has more than 7,700.

While Seattle looks very different this time around, San Diego's values have remained the same all season. The Wave will look to limit opportunities by simply out-possessing Seattle.

Along with Cascarino at the forward, Kenza Dali has been a force in the midfield. Her 113 progressive passes lead the NWSL in a season where no other player has over 100 while her 47 progressive carries have her in the top-10 in the league. Dali has scored just three goals and netted two assists, but don't be surprised if the 34-year old French midfielder makes an impact on Friday.

Cascarino has benefited from Dali's service to the tune of 135 progressive passes received, another league-leading figure. Savannah McCaskill has 99 progressive passes next to Dali in the midfield, as Seattle will have multiple elite playmakers to account for.

"You just can't stop everything with them, so you gotta pick and choose the things that you want to try and prevent them from doing," Reign head coach Laura Harvey said. "They've got quality players in multiple positions."

Despite all that promise, this is a San Diego squad that has scored three goals in five games. The Wave possess a more potent offense than Seattle, but have a clear tendency to go quiet when it’s time to finish off a promising progressive carry or pass.

Reign Overview

Seattle is coming off a 1-1 draw to Houston on Sunday in which it rested plenty of key pieces. That being said, the Reign should be rested and ready to compete with a San Diego squad that will be intent on wearing them down.

Although Seattle won the last matchup, it wasn't easy by any means. That late game-winner was necessary, and judging by the sheer joy on the face of coach Laura Harvey after the final whistle, you can tell just how stressful that match was.

Luckily for Seattle and Harvey, this team will have another tool in Sofia Huerta this time around to generate solid service into the box, and with Mia Fishel missing the last game, she should be rested and ready to be a spark plug off the bench.

Seattle, however, will be missing a key offensive piece in Lynn Biyendolo. Biyendolo has had issues with her knee recently, and Harvey wants to make sure that the ailment heals. As such, Biyendolo will be "shut down for a couple of weeks," according to Harvey. Ana-Maria Crnogorčević will be available, however, for the first time since May.

Menti and Sam Meza have manned the midfield well, and Menti won't need to score another banger this time around to make an impact. Menti and Meza, along with other defensive pieces like Fishlock and Phoebe McClernon will need to show individual class to dispossess San Diego to give Seattle a breather. If the Wave can push their 63% possession advantage further this time, Seattle will likely run out of gas by the game's end.

Seattle also gives up the third-most xG’s in the league — curbing San Diego's possession will help manage that.

The Verdict

Seattle has been content with draws lately.

Even after the blown lead to Chicago a few weeks ago, Harvey gave her team some grace.

But with a rested roster this time around against a San Diego team looking for revenge, the Reign have a real opportunity to establish themselves as something more than a middle-of-the-pack team.

Menti and Meza have had their moments in key games as young players, but have as good a chance as any to break out in a game Seattle really will need them to.

If we're being realistic, this will be a tough ask for Seattle. A draw in this match would feel a whole lot better than it has in the past two weeks.