
Katie Johnson Taking Rookie Season in Stride
With the 16th overall pick of the 2017 NWSL College Draft, Seattle Reign FC selected forward Katie Johnson out of the University of Southern California. It was the highest Reign FC have selected a forward in club history.
The draft capped off a big month for Johnson that saw her win a National Championship, graduate from college, and begin her professional career. Johnson got to celebrate all of this with her teammates, with five USC players being selected in this year’s draft.
“It was really exciting, and all of them are doing well right now,” said Johnson. “We’re all really supportive of each other. Whenever we have games we all want to meet up, hang out and hear about our different experiences. We have that friendship where we want to know how we’re doing.”

After speaking with a few players in the NWSL, Johnson was hoping to hear her name called by Reign FC on draft day. Johnson felt her skills fit well with Reign FC’s style of play, and that her soccer smarts would help her fit in with the squad.
“We play really good soccer, and everyone is a footballer here,” said Johnson. “I’ve always considered myself to be a smarter soccer player, maybe not as athletic. A lot of other teams have really athletic forwards, so I felt like this would be a good fit for me. I also just really love the city.”

While Johnson is a forward and a goal scorer, by trade, she felt that Seattle Reign FC head coach and general manager Laura Harvey’s focus on team defense fit her style of play. Under USC head coach Keidane McAlpine, Johnson learned the importance of defense beginning with the front line.
“I wasn’t initially much of a forward who defended until [McAlpine] came into our program and switched that up,” said Johnson. “It was always a habit for me, and when Laura drafted me, she said that she liked that I defended really well from the top. I think that’s something I bring into the game as well.”

So far this season, the rookie has appeared in all but one of Reign FC’s 15 matches, totaling 350 minutes. Johnson scored her first career professional goal in the first match she appeared in, against the Houston Dash. She has two goals on the season and two assists.
Gaining a reputation as a super sub, Johnson feels the opportunity to see how the game is playing out on the field before coming into the match gives her an advantage as a young player.
“I try to just watch the game and see what it needs,” said Johnson. “Sometimes it’s going to be going up and holding the ball, sometimes it’s going through and making runs. It’s more of a ‘student of the game’ type of feel, I just try to make a difference that way. I also like to be creative on the ball, do flicks and tricks. I think that’s my footballer style I try to include in the game.”

Johnson is also learning from Reign FC forwards Megan Rapinoe and Beverly Yanez. Modeling her game after them, Johnson is learning more than just their skills and tactics.
“Their work ethic is so good,” said Johnson. “They bring it from the beginning whistle to the end. I always am so inspired by that, because they work so hard, and I try to put that in my game.”
That work ethic is engrained in Reign FC’s style of play. The second they lose the ball, Harvey expects them to put all their effort into winning it back as soon as possible. When that effort leads to not only regaining possession, but scoring a goal, the positive energy from the team is infectious.
“We’re all working toward the same goal and when we put the ball in the back of the net, even when you’re on the bench, you’re like ‘yes, that’s what we’ve been working on,’” said Johnson. “It just feels like a good team goal. It’s a team win when it happens the right way.”

Continually looking to learn from both the game and her teammates, Johnson is off to a solid start of her professional career. Her goals for the rest of the season are simple: make a difference on the field and enjoy her time with the team.
“Obviously, I’d like to get on the field more and be more of an impact player for the team, but I’m really happy with what I’ve done so far, and I’m going to keep going,” said Johnson. “Being on this team has been so special for me, I’m really lucky. I’m just happy to be with the Reign.”
