Overview
- Seattle Reign opened the 2026 NWSL season with a 2-1 road win over Orlando, with Brittany Ratcliffe scoring an 83rd-minute header in her club debut.
- Jess Fishlock put Seattle ahead in the 24th minute and Barbra Banda, newly back from the season-ending injury list, equalized for Orlando in the 51st.
- Nérilia Mondésir created both Seattle goals, supplying the through ball to Fishlock and the left-wing cross that Ratcliffe finished.
- Halftime brought a lengthy lightning suspension that delayed the restart by roughly 2.5 to 3 hours after a first half that featured a disallowed Orlando goal on a foul call.
- Head coach Laura Harvey highlighted the team’s resilience after a travel day that included more than four hours on the runway, with the match carried nationally on Victory+ and locally on Fox 13+.