After three incredible seasons with Seattle Reign FC, midfielder Kim Little will be returning to Arsenal Ladies FC of the FA Women’s Super League (FAWSL) in England on a multi-year contract. Little had previously played for Arsenal from 2008 to 2013.
“Kim was presented with an unbelievable offer by Arsenal, so given our respect and appreciation for Kim, we felt it was right to let her return home to pursue the opportunity,” said Seattle Reign FC general manager and head coach Laura Harvey. “She is an extraordinary person and player, so while we hate to lose her, we are really happy for her and support her decision.”
“[Seattle] surpassed all my expectations,” said Little. “I came here because I really wanted to play in the United States and be involved in the best league in the world. It definitely surpassed all my expectations in terms of football and life in general as well.”
During her time with Arsenal Ladies FC, Little played under Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey from 2010 to 2012. Together at Arsenal, Little and Harvey won three-straight league titles, one FA Women’s Premiere League title and two FAWSL titles.
“I obviously knew Laura previously from being at Arsenal,” said Little. “Moving out here to the States and playing under a different team with different players has been great and has been very successful.”
Harvey became the head coach and GM at Seattle Reign FC in 2013. Soon after, Little rejoined her former coach after signing with Reign FC in 2014. Little was an integral part of Reign FC’s turnaround in 2014, going from a second-to-last finish in 2013 to back-to-back NWSL Shields and two NWSL Championship appearances in 2014 and 2015.
“We had a style of play that we believed in, and in year one I remember very early on in the season thinking ‘if we could get Kim out here it could change this team,’” said Harvey. “Bringing someone like her in just changed us from pretenders to a true world-class team.”
In her debut NWSL season, Little took the league by storm as part of a record-setting Reign FC team. Seattle set, and still holds, NWSL records for points with 54, goals with 50, and most wins during a regular season with 16.
“[The NWSL] has made me develop my game and make me do things quicker than I would’ve done,” says Little. “My game has definitely improved physically and mentally in terms of making quick decisions.”
In 2014, Reign FC won the NWSL Shield, advanced to the playoffs, and made NWSL Championship match for the first time in club history. Little scored the club’s first-ever playoff goal in the semifinal match against the Washington Spirit to help lead the club to a 2–1 win en route to the final.
Little led the league in goals scored, netting 16 of the club’s 50 goals during the 2014 season. Little scored in six consecutive games, and scored against every team in the NWSL.
“I don’t think I ever believed, or that [Little] believed, that her impact would be so quick,” said Harvey. “[Little] changed the landscape of this club from being something where we were competing and trying to be the best we could be to enabling us to be the best we could be.”
The midfielder was also second in the league in assists with seven in 2014, behind only teammate Jess Fishlock who had eight.
Little won the NWSL Golden Boot and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. She was the first, and only, Seattle Reign FC player to win the award, and is still the only international player in league history to earn the honor.
Little was also named to the league’s Best XI for her efforts throughout the season, along with teammates Jess Fishlock, Kendall Fletcher, and Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi.
During the 2015 season, Seattle Reign FC successfully defended their NWSL Shield, and made their second consecutive NWSL Championship match. Little was once again in the NWSL’s top five for both goals and assists. She reached double-digit goals for the second straight season, scoring ten of the team’s 41 goals. For the first time in her NWSL career, Little led the league in assists with seven.
Little was a finalist for the 2015 MVP award but the honor was given to the season’s Golden Boot winner, Crystal Dunn. However, Little was named to the league’s Best XI for her performance during the season, becoming the second Reign FC player to be named to consecutive Best XIs along with Jess Fishlock.
During the 2016 campaign for Reign FC, Little scored six goals which was good for second-most on the team. She also tallied two assists on the season. Seattle battled on to the final weekend of the season, but missed the final playoff spot by two points.
This year, Little was honored as the 2016 BBC Women’s Footballer of the year. In addition, she was named to her first NWSL Second XI for her efforts this season, along with teammate Jess Fishlock.
“I think with [Little] moving to Seattle our relationship changed from just being coach and player to probably being a bit more on the friendship side,” said Harvey. “[Little] took a risk coming to Seattle. But I knew that she could really help us achieve what we wanted to, and I think that trust between the two of us is something that will remain forever.”
“I think each year I had so many great memories,” said Little “Obviously winning the Shield the first two years. So many memories at Memorial and funny ones as well. Just being able to be successful with the team and being able to meet so many great people.”
Little made 67 appearances for Reign FC, and started in 66 of those matches. She is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer with 33 career goals, which is also the most in the NWSL. The midfielder is second all-time for most goals scored in a season, with her 16 goals in 2014.
The midfielder is the club’s all-time leader in assists with 17, good for third all-time the in NWSL behind Lauren Holiday and Heather O’Reilly. She has also won the most Player of the Month awards in club history, earning the honor four times.
“Our door will always be open for Kim in any capacity, whether it be as a player or whatever she chooses to do when her playing career is over,” said Harvey.
“Being involved in a great club with great players and great people, I had the best few years here,” said Little. “I’ll miss playing with the girls and being with the team. It’s been great to be involved with such an amazing organization.”
#ThanksKim
Photos courtesy of ISI Photos
