Seattle Reign x Utah Royals

On a sweltering summer day at Lumen Field, the Seattle Reign FC staged a thrilling comeback to earn a 1-1 draw against Utah Royals FC, just before the international break. From the outset, the Reign asserted their dominance, controlling 75.6% possession in the first 15 minutes and creating multiple scoring opportunities. Despite taking eight shots in the first half and testing Utah goalkeeper Mandy Haught, Seattle couldn't find the net. The Reign's Claudia Dickey made a crucial save in the 36th minute, and Utah's Paige Monaghan hit the woodwork in stoppage time, leaving the score level at halftime.

The second half saw continued action as Tziarra King's cross nearly resulted in a goal for Jess Fishlock, which was disallowed after a video review. Utah capitalized on this reprieve, with Ally Sentnor scoring in the 67th minute after a solo run into the box. Despite falling behind, the Reign showed resilience and determination. Claudia Dickey made key saves to keep Seattle in the game, and substitute Veronica Latsko scored the equalizer in the 75th minute, pouncing on a deflected pass in Utah's box. The Reign continued to press for a winner, firing seven more shots, but ultimately shared the points as they headed into the international break.

This hard-fought draw extended Seattle's unbeaten streak to four games, joining North Carolina and Orlando as the only teams in the league with such a streak. Throughout the season, Seattle has showcased their squad depth, never repeating the same starting XI. Notably, forward Veronica Latsko's goal marked her third of the season, underscoring her impact. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey's seven saves tied her single-game career high, highlighting her crucial role in maintaining the Reign's resilience. The draw also brought the all-time series to 6W-1L-3D between the Reign and Utah Royals FC.

[Photography by Jackie Shinstrom]