SEATTLE, WA – Seattle Reign FC will battle the Washington Spirit on the UW Medicine Pitch at Memorial Stadium this Saturday, March 24, in the team’s 2018 home opener. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

Reign FC enter the 2018 NWSL season having transformed their roster, adding players such as USWNT midfielder Allie Long, former Arsenal forward Jodie Taylor, Danish international defender Theresa Nielsen, Australian international defender Steph Catley and defender Yael Averbuch. Reign FC originals returning for their sixth season with the team include midfielder Jess Fishlock, defenders Lauren Barnes and Kiersten Dallstream, and forward Megan Rapinoe. The NWSL 2017 regular-season assist leader Nahomi Kawasumi will also return, as will midfielder Rumi Utsugi, defenders Maddie Bauer and Kristen McNabb, forward Bev Yanez and goalkeeper Lydia Williams. The roster also includes four players acquired in the NWSL dispersal draft – midfielders Elizabeth Addo and Morgan Andrews, defender Megan Oyster, and defender Christen Westphal. The team also added forward Jasmyne Spencer and goalkeeper Michelle Betos to the roster.

Goalkeeper Adelaide Gay joined Reign FC as a National Team Replacement Player earlier today and will be on the roster for Saturday’s match.

Not only have Reign FC revitalized their roster, they’ve brought in a new head coach: two-time NWSL Champion Vlatko Andonovski. With Andonovski at the helm and a talented roster in tow, Seattle will look to steer towards the club’s first-ever NWSL Championship.

“We’ve had a strong pre-season and we’re ready to show the fans what we’ve been working on,” said Seattle Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “We’ve made a lot of exciting changes this offseason – we’re looking forward to seeing how it all comes together on Saturday night.”

Beer & cider tokens, special cookies, expanded food options, and more! 🍺🍪🌮 We've enhanced the matchday experience for the 2018 season. Read all the details here before the match tomorrow night. 📝https://t.co/FyAuCcHNJn#LetItReign pic.twitter.com/B2Cmkr5lxy — Reign FC (@ReignFC) March 23, 2018

Seattle won both matchups against Washington last season, including a comeback victory that saw Reign FC overcome a 2-0 deficit with three second-half goals. Reign FC scored six goals in their only home match against the Spirit last season, their highest single tally in their 2017 season.

Washington enters the season looking to improve upon their last-place finish. The 2018 Spirit roster is drastically different than the team that played in the 2016 NWSL Championship Game. Washington have a young and talented group who now feature four USWNT players, three of which were acquired this past offseason. Rose Lavelle, Mallory Pugh, Taylor Smith and Andi Sullivan – who was the first pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft – have 53 National Team caps and 10 international goals between them. Washington also added Canadian international defender Rebecca Quinn, who was selected third overall in the 2018 NWSL College Draft out of Duke University. Quinn was a member of the bronze medal winning Canadian Olympic Team in 2016.

The Reign FC Queen City scarf is now available for purchase. Grab yours here: https://t.co/9nNJUbJm5t pic.twitter.com/6gpTNfHzBn — Reign FC (@ReignFC) March 23, 2018

“It’s always important to start off the season strong,” said Andonovski. “But it’s more important to make opposing teams fear coming to Memorial Stadium. Winning our first home game will be a good first step in realizing that objective.”

Single match tickets and VIP experience packages are available for Saturday’s match. To purchase tickets, visit reignfc.com/spirit or call the Reign FC ticket office at (855) REIGN-FC.

Fans not attending the match can follow along with live play-by-play pf the match on the Reign FC’s official Twitter page, @ReignFC, and can join the conversation using the hashtag #SEAvWAS. Fans can also stream the game live on go90.com or go90’s app.