SEATTLE, WA — (club release) Seattle Reign FC will kick off pre-season play this Sunday March 27 at 5 p.m. against the Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.

The match will be the first game for both teams as a part of a pre-season friendly tournament that also includes the Houston Dash and Oregon State University.

The tournament will consist of three doubleheaders at Providence Park. Portland and Seattle will square off Sunday, March 27; kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (Pacific). Earlier that day, the Dash will go up against OSU at 2:30 p.m. Reign FC will then face-off against the Dash on Wednesday, March 30 at 5 p.m., while the Thorns and OSU will battle it out at 7:30 p.m. that same day. Reign will finish the tournament by playing OSU on Saturday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets to the pre-season friendly tournament can be purchased at http://www.portlandthornsfc.com/tickets

In October, Reign FC closed the 2015 season by falling to FC Kansas City in the National Women’s Soccer League Championship, also at Providence Park. Though the 0-1 loss was Reign’s second runner-up title in a row, the team retained the NWSL Shield from 2014 with 13 regular season wins.

The Thorns closed 2015 with a 3-2 loss to the Western New York Flash. After the departure of Head Coach Paul Riley, Portland hired former Washington Spirit coach Mark Parsons, who will lead the Thorns this season.

Reign FC currently has the upper hand in the regional rivalry after shutting out the Thorns in both matches last season.

The last time the Cascadia rivals faced off at Memorial Stadium on July 26, 2015, Reign FC came out on top 3-0 with a goal in the 38th minute from midfielder Jessica Fishlock and two from forward Beverly Yanez in the 46th and 50th minutes.

Sunday’s match will also allow Reign FC’s newly acquired draft picks, goalkeeper Lindsey Luke and defenders Carson Pickett and Paige Nielsen, to experience NWSL play for the first time.

Reign’s 2016 pre-season line-up features 26 signed players and invitees. Goalkeeper Andi Tostanosky, defender Kelly Beck, midfielders Erica Shelton and Kathryn Bennett, and forwards Rebecca Candler Dani Foxhoven are participating in the 2016 Health Warrior Training Camp as non-rostered players.

The current Reign FC roster includes goalkeepers Hope Solo and Haley Kopmeyer, defenders Lauren Barnes, Rachel Corsie, Elli Reed, Kendall Fletcher, and Michelle Cruz; midfielders Kim Little, Jessica Fishlock, Keelin Winters, and Havana Solaun, and forwards Merritt Mathias, Manon Melis, Beverly Yanez, and Kiersten Dallstream. Forward Megan Rapinoe has not yet reported to camp.

Reign FC will also go up against University of Washington in the Community Shield Match at Memorial Stadium in Seattle on April 9 at 7 p.m. Reign FC has made tickets available at no cost. Tickets are available now at Reignfc.com/tickets.

There is a ten ticket limit per account; tickets are required for entry. Tickets to the Community Shield Match are also included in every Seattle Reign FC season ticket membership.

Reign FC will welcome the start of their fourth season on April 17’s home-opener against Sky Blue FC at Memorial Stadium at 4 p.m. Ticket prices start at $18 and are available at Reignfc.com/tickets.

About Seattle Reign FC:

Seattle Reign FC is one of ten teams in the National Women’s Soccer League. The NWSL is the premier women’s professional soccer league in North America, featuring many of the top players from the United States, Canada and around the world. Seattle Reign FC train and host home matches at Memorial Stadium, located in the shadow of the Space Needle on the Seattle Center campus. For more information on the club visit ReignFC.com or call 855-REIGNFC.

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