Seattle Reign FC sign Maddie Dahlien to three-year contract
By Becca Weinberg, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Our Seattle Reign FC announced the signing of University of North Carolina (UNC) forward Maddie Dahlien to a three-year contract through the 2027 NWSL season. Following the signing of Rutgers defender Emily Mason, Dahlien becomes the second college player to sign with the Reign after the league’s transition away from the NWSL College Draft as the club looks to the future in addition to trying to get better in the immediate future.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Seattle Reign! It’s a club with a rich history of talented players and success. I can’t wait to get to Seattle, begin my professional career and contribute to the team in any way I can.”
Maddie Dahlien after winning the 2024 NCAA College Cup with the University of North Carolina. Photo by Ainsley E Fauth/UNC Athletics
Dahlien was a key part of the UNC Tar Heels 2024 national championship win, leading the team with seven assists throughout their historic season and securing the program’s first NCAA championship title since 2012. Over her three years at UNC, Dahlien recorded seven goals and 13 assists across 65 matches. She was named to the ACC All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the 2024 season to cap off an incredible year.
“We’re proud to bring recent NCAA Champion Maddie Dahlien to the Reign. Maddie’s relentless work ethic, competitive spirit and growth mindset align perfectly with the values of our club. Her speed and tenacity make her a dynamic threat in attack, while her ability to press defensively adds another dimension to her game. Maddie’s ambition and determination are inspiring, and we’re excited for our fans to follow her journey with the Reign.”
Dahlien’s international experience includes a bronze medal with the U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, playing alongside new Reign teammates Emeri Adames and Jordyn Bugg. Mason played in all seven matches of the tournament, scoring two goals in the group stage and forcing the game-winning own goal against the Netherlands in the bronze-medal match. She was also an impact player in the U-20 Concacaf Championships, where she played in four games and recorded a hat trick in her first-ever international match. On the day of this signing being announced, Dahlien was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team 24-player Futures Camp roster.
Prior to UNC, Dahlien finished her prep soccer career with a total of 92 goals and 43 assists, and was named the 2021-22 Minneapolis Star Tribune Female Athlete of the Year, and selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Team and all-state first team three times.
Dahlien’s dynamic speed on the outside and high-level field awareness on both sides of the ball will be an important addition to the team’s forward core, and it will be exciting to see her on the pitch for multiple seasons to come.
What’s next?
For the Reign, their next team event doesn’t come on the schedule until February 16th and 22nd when they will head down to the Coachella Valley Invitational at the Empire Polo Club for preseason exhibition matches against Bay FC and Angel City FC. Outside of that it’s largely quiet until the primary transfer window opens on January 28th and lasts through March 24th. Seattle should still be looking to add to their roster ahead of the 2025 season beginning, and will look to do so as they prepare for the preseason which swiftly approaches.
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Check out our previous Seattle Reign FC articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing at CSS by Becca Weinberg here, and her work with Lookout Landing here.
Cover photo by Anthony Sorbellini/UNC Athletics.
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