Balcer bearing the captains armband gives a glimpse into Reign’s future
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Naturally, with several of their “senior” players at the current FIFA Women’s World Cup (eight, an NWSL most, to be exact), it makes sense that the OL Reign have to give the captain’s armband to someone who hasn’t worn it. With the UKG Challenge Cup being an opportunity for Reign head coach Laura Harvey to get “none-first team” players more minutes, the veterans that remain have a chance to get some deserved rest. That includes the team's captain Lu Barnes, who wasn’t available for selection in the victory over the San Diego Wave that saw the Reign clinch the tournament’s West Division. While forward Bethany Balcer, who sported the captaincy in the match, may not wear it for the rest of the season, it gives a glimpse into the future when the club’s “OGs” of Barnes, Fishlock, and Rapinoe have hung up their cleats.
“It means a lot. I mean, having Lu who’s been the captain for this Club’s entirety, just falling under her leadership has been really inspiring. Every time I put it on, I just I kind of do it for Lu and how she’s paved the way for this club and what it’s become. You hear it talked about all the time, the culture at OL Reign, it’s just something that I’m proud to represent every time I step on the field, whether I wear the captain’s armband or not. I’m just grateful that the team and the coaching staff entrusted me with that. Obviously, I’ve loved being here for the last five years, and hopefully that can continue.”
Bethany Balcer’s night through photos, as the OL Reign defeated the San Diego Wave in UKG Challenge Cup play on July 28th, 2023 (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Boats’ captain candidacy
While it was just for tonight and if memory serves correct, the second time that Bethany has worn the captain's armband, Balcer has a decent argument to take up the mantle when it ultimately becomes clear that an OG won’t wear it anymore because their careers have ended. The now five-year NWSL veteran has been a major part of this OL Reign club, whether that be her somewhat signature header goals on the pitch to being outspoken about mental health off it. While there are a few factors that play into this, like if she’d want to take that role on in a full-time capacity, Balcer could be a solid pick when the moment arises to wear the armband regularly.
On the pitch, Balcer often takes several physical tackles and pays the price. But, after every one of them, she gets back up and presses on. The 2019 NWSL rookie of the year (and only getting a gift card for winning said award) has been the club's best goal scorers since being selected, currently leading this year with five while being the outright leader or tied for the lead since that rookie year. Not quite the verbal leader on the pitch (at least not yet) that Jess Fishlock is, Balcer doesn’t necessarily need to be considering that leadership styles are different. The competitive fire with Bethany is prevalent in many ways, whether it be cheering on the local Seattle Storm, her teammates in current FIFA Women’s World Cup, or scoring in crucial moments like tonight’s penalty.
Maybe we’re biased, but the pieces of the puzzle are there for this to make sense with Balcer. Leading with her play, having the competitive fire, and being vulnerable off the pitch are great characteristics to have in someone that you’ll follow into battle. Balcer has those tools and has great teachers to learn under with this current Reign club, so it’s not as though this decision will need to be rushed. The maturity shown as her time in the league has progressed is noticeable, and every year displays growth for Balcer. If it came to a vote, I’d pick Balcer. Especially after tonight’s showing and how she described her feelings for putting the armband on for this club.
“We’ve tried to hand it around a little bit to players. It’s no secret Lu, Jess and Pinoe aren’t going to be here forever. I’ve said this publicly a few times, there’s a group here that I could see this club, the future of this club, in. It’s a scary thought, thinking about them three not being here. But it’s also reality, like we have to prepare. Tonight’s average age, I was told at the kickoff, was 25, which is exceptional for our club. I think with our subs, we probably got younger and older. it says a lot about where we’re at. We’ve got this group and probably Boats, sits in that group, that have been around a little bit. They’re still young, but they’ve got experience, and they’re surrounded by veterans who they know will lead for them when they need them. But also, we need them to lead at times too. And we don’t just want to keep turning to Pinoe, because there’s going to be a day she’s not here anymore. An armband can help someone step up. But it’s also other areas where I think, just the pride in which she has playing for this club. I think she’s someone that has taken on a bigger role over the last couple of years since I’ve been back. I think she deserves an opportunity to have a little bit more responsibility, she took it on her shoulders tonight and took on the responsibility of taking the penalty too, which is great.”
OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer buries a penalty against the San Diego Wave and celebrates as she shadow boxes the corner flag (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Who else may the armband find its way to?
With this current OL Reign roster, there are arguably numerous names that you could look to for when the armband gets passed down from one of the three OGs, but for the sake of an actual decision and to not ponder on several players, we’ll cut that list down. There are a few players that lead with their impressive play, but as far as we know (because we aren’t inside of that locker room, duh) they don’t necessarily have that leading voice to push the club forward in a captain’s capacity. For the three that stick out in my mind, we stay on the defensive side of things for the Reign as Alana Cook, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and Sam Hiatt come to mind to potentially put the armband on.
All three of those players have the sort of calm demeanor where they aren’t extremely verbal (except for Phallon, who kind of has to be as a goalkeeper) on the pitch like the Welsh Dragon as mentioned previously. But both are learning already under current captain Lu Barnes and are doing so in a close capacity, joining her on the Reign’s back line. Barnes has already discussed how Cook has learned a lot and has been taking lessons since joining the Reign back in 2021, so there’s already a sort of natural pathway towards a potential passing of the torch. With Hiatt and Tullis-Joyce, if we were to have a list for them, they’d fall under Cook, but have displayed the sort of maturity to be able to wear the armband and wear it well.