Latsko locked up for another year: Reign pick up Veronica’s option for 2024
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – On the morning of Wednesday, July 26th, it was announced that our OL Reign had picked up the option of forward (and occasional outside back) Veronica Latsko. In her time with the club, Latsko has been in and out of the starting lineup while fitting in to a variety of roles, but the veteran hasn’t complained one bit and has been a key example of staying ready for the moment. The veteran presence and locker room love that Latsko brings makes her the kind of player that every championship winner has and keeping her in a Reign kit will ensure that the Reign have the necessary depth to do so. With the current World Cup, Latsko’s play and presence is massive considering that the club sent the most players to the tournament amongst the entire NWSL.
“I’m really grateful to be staying in this environment and with this team for another season. Laura truly brings out the best of us and it’s so fun to play in front of our fans at Lumen. I look forward to growing with this club for another year!”
Some sights and scenes from OL Reign forward Veronica Latsko’s 2023 season, to this point (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Locked up for another year
Back on January 14th of this year, the club signed Latsko to a two-year deal with a one-year option, just a year and day from the anniversary (January 13th, 2022) of when the club had acquired the rights to the forward from the Houston Dash. The Reign traded its natural 3rd round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft and $30,000 in allocation money, and that move has paid dividends ever since as Latsko has filled just about every sort of role imaginable. With the sort of impact that she’s made with her play and with the addition that she is to this locker room, the club had a relatively easy decision to make when it came to what to do with her option. While it may not have been the biggest domino to some, the contract extension for head coach Laura Harvey must also be a comforting move for Latsko, who has credited Harvey for being such a big reason as to why she feels accepted with the Reign.
“We’re excited to keep Veronica with the club for another year. Since joining the club, she has played exceptionally well and we know we can always rely on her to put in a solid performance.”
Versatile veteran
Latsko has been the definition of “consummate veteran” as she’s taken on whatever role that head coach Laura Harvey and the Reign staff have bad for her. Whether that’s in the starting lineup, coming off the bench (at half, or late in the match), at the forward position and even at outside back which is a move that Harvey and the staff tried out as they prepared for this current World Cup. Whatever has been thrown at her, Latsko has taken it in stride and has embraced her spot in the club all the same. That sort of impact and acceptance has been noticed by her teammates and makes her an admirable presence on the pitch and wherever the club may be, which again shows just how valuable she is to this team and towards a potential championship. Having Latsko lead the way in how she approaches the day to day, with her mindset unwavering despite her situation remaining fluent, is big to show what is needed from other members of the roster.
What’s next?
The move to pick up her option comes a few days before the Reign return to action as a club, while the FIFA World Cup continues to rumble along. The Reign get back into action on Friday, July 28th as they welcome the San Diego Wave to town for a UKG Challenge Cup battle. While the Reign will be without eight players, the most sent to the World Cup across the NWSL, the Wave are without Alex Morgan who is the only player from the club to have scored against the Reign in their existence. The Reign sit atop the West division in the Challenge Cup and will look to maintain their firm lead, when these teams meet at Lumen Field with a 7PM PST kickoff. If you’re unable to attend in person, it will be broadcast on Paramount+ and TSN+.