Seattle Reign FC drop final match of 2024 to Orlando Pride in tight 2-3 result
By Becca Weinberg, edited by Charles Hamaker
Orlando, FL - In their final match of the 2024 season, our Seattle Reign FC lost a hard-fought match to Orlando Pride by a final score of 2-3. This match closes out a season of shortcomings, as the Reign failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and finished in 12th place with 23 total points in the NWSL standings. However, a promising finish to a difficult year leaves the team in a great place to build on for next season, and especially so with the talented players that are on the clubs roster. It’s been a difficult season for the Reign, with a big number of losses by just one goal, the loss of some big names before (Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett) the season and during (Bethany Balcer, Sofia Huerta), the sale of the club that took far too long, and so much more than many of us will ever know.
Orlando Pride forward and former Seattle Reign FC player Ally Watt celebrates her first half goal, as Reign defender Hanna Glas looks toward goal, in the Pride’s 3-2 victory at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. (Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
An early goal from Orlando in the ninth minute was assisted by UW alum Summer Yates and scored by former Reign forward Ally Watt to put the Pride up quickly. Just one minute later, Seattle forward Jordyn Huitema connected on a cross into the box from forward Tziarra King to secure an exciting 1-1 equalizer in the tenth minute for the Reign, ensuring that they weren’t going to be pushed around by a Pride team that had already won the NWSL Shield for this campaign. King’s first assist of the season helped Huitema to her third goal of the season, and 10th regular-season goal since she entered the NWSL in 2022. Huitema got the spark going early for the Reign and was excited to lift her teammates up and keep the energy high despite the fact that Seattle wasn’t playing for anything but pride (Word play unintended) in this match.
Seattle Reign FC forward Jordyn Huitema celebrates her first half goal against the Orlando Pride with teammates Tziarra King, Nérilia Mondésir, Olivia Athens, Ji So-Yun, and Hanna Glas in the Pride’s 3-2 victory at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. (Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Chaos ensued with a ball into the box in the 25th minute by Watt that was scored by Pride midfielder Kerry Abello, with some apparent contact on Reign forward Emeri Adames who ended up on the ground. Adames appeared to be clearly shoved to the ground as Abello was waiting for the ball, but the VAR review ruled it as a clean goal, which put Orlando up 2-1 at the half. Head coach Laura Harvey was visibly frustrated postgame after the ruling and told media in attendance for the press conference that the fourth official told her after the review following Orlando's second goal that "when VAR takes this long, it's usually not a goal."
In the 57th Minute, Pride forward and legend of the sport, Marta, dribbled through almost the entire Reign backline in perfect Marta fashion to net a screamer into the top right corner and put Orlando up by a score line of 3-1.
Early in the 84th minute, rookie midfielder Maddie Mercado secured her first regular-season NWSL goal with an impressive header into the back corner of the net off a great cross from forward Veronica Latsko. Playing in just her fifth game for the team and scoring just seven minutes after subbing in for King, Mercado held a steady presence on the field and started to look more comfortable up top as the Reign inched back with a score of 2-3.
Seattle Reign FC midfielder Maddie Mercado celebrates her second half goal, and first goal of her NWSL career, with teammate Jordyn Huitema which cut the deficit to one in the Orlando Pride’s 3-2 victory against Seattle at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. (Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
That is where the score would remain for the rest of the match as this loss marked their 17th match decided by one goal this season. Although it was not the season most were expecting, marked with disappointing performances and a slew of injuries, the teamwork and togetherness shown through their difficult times proved that the Reign have much to build on in seasons to come and have a very strong foundation to work with. With young players signed this season such as Emeri Adames, Jordyn Bugg, Ainsley McCammon, and Maddie Mercardo, Seattle has shown that they’re ready to leap into a new era for the club with these new players that will more than likely be major factors moving forward. New ownership gives the Reign the resources to feel comfortable adding where they feel is necessary, so it’ll be intriguing to see what Seattle does in the offseason and with free agency approaching.
Quick Reign notes
7,765 was the announced paid attendance at Inter&Co Stadium for this NWSL regular season matchup between our Seattle Reign FC and the Orlando Pride.
That’s 30% of full capacity at Inter&Co Stadium (25,500).
For the first time in the 2024 season, a duplicated starting XI was listed for the Reign. Today’s lineup was featured in the club’s most recent match on October 18, a 2-1 win over the Houston Dash. .
Among the Reign’s 26 regular season games this season, 17 have been decided by one goal.
Forward Jordyn Huitema scored in 10th minute to level the game, 1-1. The goal marks Huitema’s third of the 2024 season and first since she recorded a brace against the Kansas City Current on June 9. Huitema finished the match with a team-leading two shots and three chances created.
Huitema closes out the season tied for the most goals on the team and now has 10 regular-season goals since entering the NWSL in 2022.
Forward Tziarra King connected with Huitema to level the score, 1-1, and earn her first assist of the season.
Midfielder Maddie Mercado scored in the 84th minute to close Orlando’s lead to one. The goal marks her first regular-season goal of her NWSL rookie campaign, although she scored her first professional goal in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup against Club Tijuana.
The loss brings the all-time series between Reign FC and the Pride to 7W-4L-7D.
What’s next?
Following today’s loss to the Orlando Pride on the road in the final match of the 2024 regular season, our Seattle Reign FC will return home to the Pacific Northwest to do final procedures such as end of the season physicals and exit interviews before the players go their separate ways for the offseason. This is the first season since 2017 (Not counting the 2020 COVID shortened campaign) that the Reign will not be heading to the playoffs, as it’s a year of changes, obstacles, moving players, and tough results not going their way. Seattle will host some exit interviews for local media this upcoming week where the season will be reflected upon and we’ll have the chance to hear from head coach Laura Harvey and general manager Lesle Gallimore. The Reign have an interesting offseason as a large number of their key contributors are under contract for the 2025 season, but there are some key veterans to make decisions on and Seattle will notably want to get better following a disappointing year and with the NWSL as a whole seemingly getting better month by month.
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Check out our previous Seattle Reign FC articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing by Becca Weinberg here, and her work with Lookout Landing here.
Cover photo and other photos in this article by Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images
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