Losing 3-0 and dropping three points at home is never the desired outcome, but the flatfooted start and the injury to one of the big team leaders are bigger worries going forward.
Claudia Dickey set the Reign record for saves with the club and the back line worked overtime to make it happen, but the team lacked finishing in the final third as both Seattle and Denver walked away with a point.
There are good games, bad games, dropped points, disappointments, unexpected victories, and missed opportunities in this beautiful game. For the Reign, however, playing up two and losing by two is a new one.
The Reign opened the 2026 season with a full three points against a side that was just above Seattle in last year's table. In the end, it was both luck and skill that made the third time the charm in Orlando.
A strong improvement of a season as 2025 was, it ended with a first round exit for the Seattle Reign. For Lu Barnes, it was the end of the journey, but for the rest of the team, there is a sense of a new beginning.
