Seattle Reign FC Captain and Club Original Lauren Barnes Announces Retirement at End of 2025 Season
By Becca Weinberg
Seattle, WA - Seattle Reign FC defender and club original Lauren Barnes has officially announced her retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2025 NWSL season. Barnes’ immeasurable contributions to both the club and greater soccer community have solidified her lasting impact in Seattle. She is one of four NWSL players who have been in the league since its creation in 2013, and will be honored during Friday’s home match against the Utah Royals.
“From day one, Seattle has been home,” said Barnes. “I’ve grown up here – as a player, a leader and a person. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built and the culture we’ve created. To have spent my entire professional career with this club, in this city, surrounded by the people I love, is something truly special. I’m so grateful to my teammates, coaches, staff and our fans who have supported me through every season. This chapter of my life has been a dream, and I’m excited to take it all in one last time with my Reign family.”
As a veteran of 12 seasons, Barnes holds the NWSL record for all-time games played (250), games started (238) and minutes (20,940). She became the first player in NWSL history to reach 100 regular season wins last year, and has helped the Reign earn three NWSL Shields during her tenure (2014, 2015, 2022). Barnes also earned 2016 NWSL Defender of the Year honors and was named to the NWSL Best XI First Team twice (2015, 2016) and Second Team twice (2014, 2019).
“Lu has been the heartbeat of this club since the very beginning,” said Seattle Reign FC Head Coach Laura Harvey. “She has been the glue that has held us together through the ups and the downs. Everything about who we are, whether it’s our standards, our values or our resilience, Lu has her fingerprints on it all. Throughout her legendary career, Lu has been authentic, selfless and a leader on and off the pitch. It’s been an honor to be a part of her journey, and her legacy will be felt here for generations.”
In addition to her dominance on the field, Barnes has consistently been committed to advocating for a more equitable future of women’s sports. She has also been involved in the club’s sustainability efforts and led multiple initiatives to reduce waste and plant trees throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“What makes Lu so rare isn’t just her longevity or her records, it’s her humanity,” said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “She’s been a leader, a role model and a constant source of strength for this club and the community. You simply don’t see players spend their entire career in one city anymore, and that loyalty speaks volumes about who she is and what Seattle means to her.”
Barnes is a pillar of the Seattle soccer community and both her on-and-off-field contributions will have a lasting impact on it. Fans looking to celebrate her incredible career can purchase tickets on the Reign FC website for the final home match of the regular season.
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