Reign Exercise Mutual 2026 Option For Goalkeeper Cassie Miller
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - In the first of two transactions on Monday, June 30th, our Seattle Reign FC exercised their mutual option for the 2026 season with goalkeeper Cassie Miller. Acquired this past offseason via trade from NJ/NY Gotham FC, the deal that saw the Reign send midfielder Jaelin Howell in exchange for Miller and forward Lynn Biyendolo, Miller hasn’t been able see any game action this season but has been praised for her impact off the field.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue building something meaningful with the Reign. This is a club with strong values and an incredible community, and I’m excited to keep growing relationships both on and off the field. Making an impact here in the Pacific Northwest means the world to me. Let’s go Reign!”
While Claudia Dickey has the clubs starting goalkeeper role set, considering her steady play and familiarity over the last few years, another factor in why Miller hasn’t been able to get any game action is the injury she suffered back in late May that later saw her placed on the 45-day injury list on June 3rd. That leg injury was the reasoning for the club signing former Reign academy player Neeku Purcell on a short-term contract while Miller is hurt.
When Miller has gotten match action previously in her now six-year NWSL career, it’s been as a starting goalkeeper. In the 31 matches that she’s appeared in, Miller has started all of them, notching eleven clean sheets and making 81 saves across three different clubs having played with the Chicago Stars FC, the Kansas City Current, and NJ/NY Gotham FC before now being part of the Reign. Her second season with the Chicago Stars, her first club in the NWSL back in 2021, was her best as she helped the club reach the NWSL Championship by posting back-to-back clean sheets in the postseason.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Cassie back for another season. Cassie made an immediate impact at our club, both on and off the pitch. Despite the setback of an injury that’s placed her on the 45-Day injury list, her presence has been undeniable – her competitiveness, positive disposition and unwavering dedication to being an elite professional have lifted our locker room. Her commitment to community engagement has also not gone unnoticed, earning her the honor of being our Lauren Holiday Community Impact Award nominee. Cassie embodies the spirit of our club, and we’re proud to continue this journey with her.”
Her off the pitch efforts are what the club has highlighted and is her greatest performance with Seattle to this point, both affecting the club and the Pacific Northwest community. Miller is the clubs 2025 Lauren Holiday Impact Award nominee, an award that honors players who are making meaningful contributions in their communities, as she has been recognized for her work with the “Nick of Time Foundation.” The foundation is a Seattle-area nonprofit dedicated to improving youth heart health through emergency preparedness, screenings, as well as life-saving education. That may be the greatest legacy that Miller leaves, using her platform as a professional athlete to help prepare youth for critical situations, but her off the field efforts also have helped her teammates as well. Miller is cited for her competitive nature, plus two key characteristics for what make a great teammate: unwavering dedication to the club and a positive disposition, both which she’s been credited with.
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