NWSL: Ratcliffe’s Late Heroics Lift Seattle Reign FC Over Orlando in Season Opener
- Staff Writer
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
ORLANDO, Fla. — Seattle Reign FC kicked off the 2026 NWSL season with a historic 2-1 road victory over the Orlando Pride on Sunday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Despite a two-hour weather delay and a relentless Orlando attack, Seattle used a clinical debut performance from Brittany Ratcliffe to secure the club's first-ever season-opening win on the road.
The victory moves Seattle to 1-0-0 (3 points) and improves their all-time season opener record to 5-3-5. The match was a test of endurance and defensive grit, as Seattle weathered 23 total shots from the Pride to claim all three points.
"Starting the season with three points on the road is massive for this group's confidence," Reign FC officials noted. "We faced adversity with the weather delay and their equalizer, but the players remained composed and found a way to win."
Fishlock and Mondesir Strike Early
Seattle found the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Nerilia Mondesir connected with club original Jess Fishlock. The Welsh international’s strike marked her 49th career NWSL goal, tying her with Christen Press for ninth all-time in league history. Fishlock is now just two goals shy of tying Megan Rapinoe for the Reign’s all-time scoring record.
The momentum was halted at halftime when lightning in the Orlando area forced a delay of more than two hours. When play finally resumed, the Pride capitalized on the restart energy. In the 51st minute, Barbra Banda leveled the score for Orlando, sparking a frantic second half where both sides searched for a winner.
Ratcliffe’s Dream Debut
With the match seemingly heading toward a draw, Seattle manager Laura Harvey turned to the bench in the 78th minute, subbing in Brittany Ratcliffe for her club debut. The move paid off almost immediately. Just five minutes after entering the pitch, Ratcliffe latched onto a second assist from Mondesir to slot home the game-winner in the 83rd minute.
While the attackers provided the goals, goalkeeper Claudia Dickey was the anchor of the result. Dickey tied her career high with seven saves, extending her streak to 41 consecutive regular-season starts. In doing so, she became the club's all-time leader in appearances among goalkeepers.
The match also featured an emotional milestone for defender Ryanne Brown, who entered in the 90th minute. It marked Brown's first competitive minutes in over 600 days following a grueling recovery from an ACL tear suffered in July 2024.
Looking Ahead: Cascadia Rivalry
The Reign will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season-opening road trip. Next up is a high-profile Cascadia rivalry match against Portland Thorns FC, who also sit at 1-0-0 following the opening weekend.
The clash at Providence Park is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. PT and will be broadcast nationally on Prime Video.
Match Statistics:
Stat | Seattle Reign FC | Orlando Pride |
Shots | 13 | 23 |
Shots on Goal | 5 | 8 |
Saves | 7 | 3 |
Corner Kicks | 2 | 5 |
Fouls | 12 | 12 |
Scoring Summary:
SEA: Jess Fishlock (Nerilia Mondesir) — 24'
ORL: Barbra Banda (Haley McCutcheon) — 51'
SEA: Brittany Ratcliffe (Nerilia Mondesir) — 83'
Seattle Lineup: Dickey; Huerta, Mason (Brown 90'), McClernon, Curry; Fishlock (Mercado 61'), McCammon (James-Turner 90'), Meza; Dahlien (Ratcliffe 78'), Fishel (Adames 78'), Mondesir
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