Seattle Reign FC has announced the club’s 19-player roster for the 2015 NWSL season. The roster includes 14 returning members from the 2014 team, three off-season acquisitions and two players acquired during the preseason.
2014 Core Returns
Head coach Laura Harvey had a quieter off-season compared to the waves she made following the end of the teams inaugural campaign. Rather than performing a complete roster overhaul, Harvey worked to keep her successful 2014 Shield-winning squad intact.
This work included bringing former U.S. Women’s National Team Stephanie Cox back after it was announced she would not be allocated for the 2015 season. With the return of Cox, Seattle’s core defensive unit that allowed a league low of 20 goals in 2014 will remain intact with Lauren Barnes, Kendall Fletcher, and Elli Reed also returning this season.
Harvey also brought back Beverly Yanez, who was on loan to Reign FC in 2014 from the Japanese side INAC Kobe Leonessa. Yanez was a key attacker in 2014, playing in 24 matches (21 starts) and picking up five goals and four assists.
In addition to Yanez, Reign FC’s roster once again features captain and midfielder Keelin Winters, midfielder Mariah Nogueira, goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer, forward Kiersten Dallstream and forward Dani Foxhoven.
Jess Fishlock will also remain a key part of Reign FC’s lineup. Fishlock started in all 22 of her appearances in 2014, scored four goals, and led the league with eight assists.
The 2015 campaign also sees the return of Reign FC’s allocated players, U.S. Women’s National Team stars Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe. While Solo and Rapinoe will miss a portion of the season with the USWNT, both will return to the team in full at the conclusion of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The new season also sees the return of the NWSL’s 2014 League MVP, Kim Little. The Scottish international notched 16 goals en route to winning the 2014 Golden Boot and finished second in the league with assists as seven.
New Year, New Faces
With a brand new season right around the corner, Reign FC acquired additional talent to help round out its roster.
Harvey added depth to her veteran defense with the off-season acquisition of Scottish international Rachel Corsie. Corise was signed on January 29 and adds depth to Reign FC’s experienced back-line. Corsie made 22 appearances (22 starts) across all competitions for Notts County Ladies F.C. of the FA WSL, anchoring anchor a back-line that only allowed eight goals in 14 league matches.
In addition to Corsie, Reign FC added defender Michelle Cruz. Cruz, who graduated from the University of Portland in 2014, most recently played with Apollon Limassol F.C. in the Cypriot First Division.
In November, Reign FC bolstered their attack with the acquisition of forward Merritt Mathias from FC Kansas City in exchange for defender Kate Deines and two draft picks to the 2015 NWSL College Draft.
Reign FC rounded out its final roster with two new additions in the 2015 preseason. Midfielders Amber Brooks and Havana Solaun were each added to the fold. Brooks brings experience from her time with Bayern Munich in the Frauen-Bundesliga and played the 2014 season as a start for the Portland Thorns.
Solaun was acquired with the No. 15 overall pick on January 16, 2015 in the NWSL College Draft. She played in 90 games (71 starts) for Florida and was an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection in 2013 and 2014.
Reign FC will open their third NWSL campaign against the Western New York Flash on Sunday, April 12 at 4 p.m. PT on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium. Fans can purchase tickets at ReignFC.com.
Reign FC Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Haley, Kopmeyer, Hope Solo
DEFENDERS (6): Lauren Barnes, Rachel Corsie, Stephanie Cox, Michelle Cruz, Kendall Fletcher, Elli Reed
MIDFIELDERS (6): Amber Brooks, Jess Fishlock, Kim Little, Mariah Nogueira, Havana Solaun, Keelin Winters
FORWARDS (5): Kiersten Dallstream, Danielle Foxhoven, Merritt Mathias, Megan Rapinoe, Beverly Yanez
