From Seattle to Tacoma, Reign FC look for seamless transition in 2019
By Jordan Small
The Reign moved from Seattle to Tacoma in the offseason. Will they be able to get to the playoffs in their new home?
This offseason, Reign FC made a big change. No, it wasn’t on the field; it was the field itself. After playing in Seattle since the beginning of the league in 2013, a move was made to Tacoma. In doing so, Seattle was dropped from the name, and a new home field was born at Cheney Stadium. A few roster changes also took place as the Reign look to make it back to the playoffs for the second straight year.
The front line for the Reign will once again be one of the most dangerous in the league. With players such as Megan Rapinoe, Jodie Taylor and Jasmyne Spencer up top, the Reign have a great combination of speed and power that makes them a force to be reckoned with. They also added Shea Groom in the offseason, which should help Spencer when Rapinoe and Taylor are away at the World Cup. If they can keep up their pace of over one goal per game from last season, they should be in good shape.
Another reason they have been good over the years is their strength midfield. They have a ton of talent in the middle and it will only get better once Jess Fishlock returns from loan at Olympique Lyon. The team won’t lose much during the World Cup break which will help them tremendously. Bev Yanez and Rumi Utgutsi are two players to keep an eye out for this season, especially with Jess Fishlock on loan.
Along the back, the Reign aren’t particularly deep, but they have quality. Last season they allowed less than one goal per game and that will be the target again, especially in the beginning part of the season when national team players might be out. Megan Oyster and Lauren Barnes will play a key role for the Reign this season and will be tasked with holding down the fort without Steph Catley around.
Between the pipes, Lydia Williams and Michelle Betos both return for the Reign. Williams will be gone during the World Cup, so that will be Betos’ time to shine. With a good solid midfield and defense in front, the life of the Reign goalkeepers should be fairly simple. They won’t have to play out of their minds, but they will have to be ready when called upon down the stretch.
The Reign should be in the hunt for the playoffs all year. The talent is there and Vlatko Andonovski is more than capable of coaching a playoff-caliber team. The question is how they’ll be able to cope during the World Cup and pick up some much needed points.