By Becca Weinberg

Seattle, WA - The 2026 Seattle Reign roster has been announced ahead of the club’s season opener against the Orlando Pride on March 15th. The 26-player roster includes five exciting new players and 21 returners under contract. The NWSL allows clubs to carry up to 26 players, so the Reign currently have two open roster designations. Forward Lynn Biyendolo is on maternity leave, goalkeeper Cassie Miller is on the season-ending injury list, and one additional roster spot had been open until a somewhat late signing in the form of Holly Ward.

Below is a breakdown of each position group and its rostered players.

Seattle Reign FC goalkeeper Claudia Dickey throughout the 2025 NWSL season at Lumen Field. (Photos by Liz Wolter for Circling Seattle Sports)

Goalkeepers

Claudia Dickey returns for 2026 after recently receiving a call-up to the United States Women’s National Team roster for the SheBelieves Cup. For the Reign last season, Dickey set a new club record for saves in a single season with 88, and tied the previous club record for career shutouts with 13. Dickey also finished out 2025 with 26 games started and a 1.12 Goals Against Average (GAA), and her strong season earned her a new contract that keeps her with the Reign through the 2028 season.

Dickey will be joined this season by newcomer Evan O’Steen, a 17-year-old and 2025 National Champion from Florida State University, who signed as the youngest goalkeeper in Reign FC history. Seattle native and Reign Academy alum Neeku Purcell is also signed through 2026 and is yet to make her first NWSL appearance. Veteran goalkeeper Cassie Miller rounds out the goalkeeper group, but will begin the year on the season-ending injury list.

Seattle Reign FC defenders are pictured during the club’s home win against the Portland Thorns at Lumen Field on April 18th, 2025, and home loss to the Washington Spirit on May 23rd, 2025. (Photos by Dylan Nguyen for Circling Seattle Sports)

Defenders

All defenders on the 2026 roster are returners from last season. Centerbacks Jordyn Bugg and Phoebe McClernon will hope to anchor the back line in the absence of longtime Reign veteran and original, Lu Barnes, who retired at the end of last season. Bugg recorded 2,151 minutes in 25 games played for Seattle in 2025, and McClernon recorded 2,167 minutes in 25 games played.

On the left side, the team’s fullback positions will be filled by Shae Holmes and Ryanne Brown, with Brown likely battling for starts this season after returning from a torn ACL sustained in 2024. The right side features third-year defender Madison Curry, 33-year-old Sofia Huerta, and Emily Mason, who signed with the club out of college ahead of last season. Curry started in 24 games last season, Huerta logged one goal and one assist across 13 starts, and Mason saw action in 12 starts with only 255 minutes played.

This year’s defensive group is on the younger side and will look to improve on some of last season’s challenges, including passing under pressure and upfield transition looks.

Seattle Reign FC midfielder Sam Meza throughout the 2025 NWSL season at Lumen Field. (Photos by Sam Hotaling for Circling Seattle Sports)

Midfielders

Club original Jess Fishlock, now the longest-tenured player in Reign FC history, is back for her 14th season and will co-captain the team alongside Huerta. She is the only remaining active NWSL player to have played every season with the same club since the league's creation. Fishlock is the club's all-time regular-season assist leader and ranks second all-time in goals scored. She will be part of an attacking midfield group that will also feature second-year midfielder Sally Menti and newcomer Sofia Cedeño, who was picked up as a free agent at the end of last year but initially joined the club as a preseason trialist. Menti logged one goal, one assist, and four shots on goal in 15 games played for the Reign in 2025.

The defensive midfield players include Angharad James-Turner, Ainsley McCammon, and Sam Meza. James-Turner signed a new two-year contract last summer and played 14 games in 2025. 18-year-old McCammon played in 17 games last season, and scored her first professional goal against the Utah Royals on October 17th, making her the second-youngest scorer in club history. Meza started in 21 of the club’s 26 games, and recorded two assists and two shots on goal.

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Seattle Reign FC forward Lynn Biyendolo throughout the 2025 NWSL season at Lumen Field. (Photos by Liz Wolter for Circling Seattle Sports)

Forwards

Another strong and versatile forward group will lead the Reign up top this season, although the absence of Jordyn Huitema will be felt. Huitema’s departure came as a shock this week after the Chicago Stars acquired her in exchange for $500k.

Three newcomers join this group: Brittany Ratcliffe, an NWSL veteran who signed in January with over a decade of experience under her belt, Ruby Hladek, a 23-year-old who just recently signed a short-term contract after impressing during preseason training as a non-roster invitee, and Holly Ward, a 22-year-old Canadian who joins Seattle after scoring the game-winning goal to help Vancouver Rise FC capture the inaugural Northern Super League title in 2025.

The remaining slots will be filled in by the returning group of Emeri Adames, Maddie Dahlien, Mia Fishel, Maddie Mercado, and Nérilia Mondésir. Lynn Biyendolo is also with the team but will be on maternity leave until the summer. Second-year forward Adames scored six goals in 21 games played, tied with Fishlock for the team’s most goals last season. She will likely split her minutes with Mondesir, who logged 1,007 minutes in 20 games played. The left side will feature the always-exciting Dahlien, a 2025 Rookie of the Year nominee with four goals and four assists in all 26 games. Fishel was an intriguing midseason signing last year, looking to make a name for herself in her first full Reign FC season. Rounding out the forwards is Mercado, who recorded one assist and four shots on goal in her 14 games played and can also play in the midfield.

It should be noted that this roster offers more flexibility than in previous seasons, and many players will be able to switch between position groups. With their roster finalized, the Reign will look to open their season in the win column on Sunday against the Orlando Pride. Tune in at 1 PM for your first look at the 2026 Seattle Reign FC roster, in a match that will be streamed on Victory +.

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Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports BlueSky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️

Check out our previous Seattle Reign FC articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing for CSS by Becca Weinberg here, and her work with Lookout Landing here.
Check out previous articles with photos by Liz Wolter here, and her portfolio here

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