Flashing back one year ago to the 2017/18 offseason, Seattle Reign FC fans were hit with a coaching change out of the gate and a massive roster overhaul that had “Hello, My Name Is” tags needed at the first training sessions and matches. The jolt to the system paid off, as the Reign returned to the playoffs and were trending positive as the season progressed. Players and coaches and fans seemed ready for more. It had made for what seemed like a crazy period of news and announcement after news and announcement.
Upon completion of the 2018 season, the club announced the bulk of the roster had their contract options exercised and that all others had been tendered offers. The coaching situation and roster appearing stable has led to what is mostly an uneventful feel to the offseason.
Over the following months, the bulk of the contract tenders have been announced as signings. These announcements have slowly rolled out and have reinforced the stable sense of the club going into 2019.
It has seemed quiet and tranquil on the personnel front, but a lot has been going on.
Much like in recent seasons, a number of players have spent the NWSL offseason playing in Australia’s W-League. This season saw five Reign players playing down under.
Steph Catley was announced as having knee surgery. The procedure was announced as a minor issue as opposed to a serious problem. Given the timing, it seems likely this was done with recovery for the World Cup in June in mind.
Australian international Elise Kellond-Knight was announced shortly after the season completed.
Canadian international Adriana Leon was allowed to leave to apparently pursue options overseas.
The final of the four 2019 NWSL draft picks were dealt, including the final pick shortly before the draft to North Carolina. This meant the Reign did not make a pick. But, those picks represent the added NCC player, Jasmyne Spencer, and others, so the draft value is there. It made for an oddly silent draft day, where the Reign staff was present but did not make a pick or announce a deal at the time.
A pick from the 2018 draft finally signed, adding defensive depth with a young defender with international experience. Spanish international Celina Jimenez Delgado is now listed on the roster entering 2019.
The biggest roster move would be Nahomi Kawasumi to Sky Blue for Shea Groom. The loss of fan favorite Naho is a tough one for Reign supporters, but reuniting Groom with Coach Andonovski should make for easy fit for Groom coming into the Seattle side.
Jessica Fishlock startled Reign supporters with her loan to Olympique Lyon. For Fishlock, this is a great move, and assurances about her return have been made. Most noteworthy this offseason for Fishlock was being honored with her MBE for her work for the LGBTQ community. The honor for Fishlock is greatly deserved and her return to Seattle will be a major factor in the season.
The NWSL put a couple dozen players through a US Soccer C license program, included in that was the Reign’s Bev Yanez. The program to help boost player opportunities in coaching is noteworthy. As the cap and rosters inch higher and other compensation is increased, perks like the program could play a role in player retention as opposed to the annual early retirements of players needing to move on from active play.
Megan Rapinoe was active in national team camps and friendlies and appears to be Reign for life.
The question of Allie Long could be an interesting one. She is listed on the current roster as an allocated player. However, she was only involved in the November camp and friendlies and not in the January camp. At this time there has been no indication of a change in her allocated player status, but it is worth watching as the World Cup approaches and training camp begins.
The jersey partnership deal with Zulily in conjunction with the Seattle Sounders FC is a massive step for the club. First, it is a direct partnership with the Seattle MLS club for the first time. Will this be a sign of things to come? Memorial Stadium is overdue for demolition and rebuild. The future of this potential partnership and ownership comments in its wake have been potentially telling.
It’s a World Cup year, the roster for every team in the league is going to be impacted by international duty and the highs and lows that come with preparing to peak at times other than the end of the season.
What will the role of internationals be in the pre-world cup build up? What will the effect of the world cup will be on NWSL rosters as players come down from the tourney to go into a stretch of league matches in mid-season? How teams manage their roster the first half of the season and through the world cup transition should directly link to which teams are in the playoffs this fall.
Photos by Vanya Tucherov
