After three highlight-reel goals and a healthy dose of swagger, the Reign were running toward a win Monday night.
It took just five minutes and an overtime play for the Chicago Stars to wipe it away and force a 3-3 tie in front of a crowd of 7,290 at Lumen Field.
The Reign were up 3-0 by the 46th minute, before the Stars notched two goals in the span of five minutes to raise the stakes.
Chicago knotted the game off a corner kick in the 100th minute. The ball was dropped outside of the 18-yard-box, finding midfielder Julia Grosso, who headed it on frame. Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey deflected the ball, before several Stars players rushed the net. Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who joined her team for the play, scored the goal.
The Reign returned to Lumen Field after a 4-2 road loss to the Portland Thorns on August 10, their first loss since May 23.
They took no time getting back on track.
Seattle opened Monday’s scoring in the third minute. Forward Jordyn Huitema made a break to the end line, before slotting the ball into the six-yard box. Veteran midfielder Jess Fishlock made a near-post run and knocked it in first-time with her right foot.
Fishlock has been hot since the Reign’s return from July’s international break. She scored in Seattle’s 2-0 win against Angel City FC on August 1, before adding a goal and an assist against the Thorns.
The 38-year-old, who is in her 12th season with the Reign, now has goal contributions in her last four consecutive appearances, the most for the Reign since 2022 when Megan Rapinoe had seven straight.
The Reign took a two-goal lead with a theatrical sequence in the 34th minute.
Fishlock made a fast break past Chicago’s midfield before threading a pass behind the defense to forward Maddie Dahlien on the left-hand side.
Dahlien made a left-footed shot on goal, which was deflected by Stars’ keeper Alyssa Naeher. Reign midfielder Madison Curry recovered the ball on the right side, taking a shot of her own but hitting the cross bar.
The Reign didn’t give up there, with Huitema bicycle-kicking it into the net.
Seattle came out hot in the second half.
At the kickoff, Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey received the ball and launched it toward Chicago’s back line, which bobbled the ball behind Naeher and into the 18-yard box.
Nineteen-year-old forward Emeri Adames raced down the field and capitalized on the loose bouncing ball, striking it with her left foot to make it 3-0 within the first 10 seconds of half.
Chicago responded in the 73rd minute. Stars forward Ally Schlegel split the Reign’s defense with a pass, finding forward Ludmila da Silva, who ran in behind and nailed one past Dickey in the upper left-hand corner.
The Stars were quick to add a second in the 78th minute. Midfielder Taylor Malham sent a long ball across the field over the Reign’s midfield and defense to the feet of forward Camryn Biegalski, who also found the upper left-hand corner.
Monday’s game was designated the annual Queen’s Match, a new tradition to celebrate the history of women’s soccer.
The game specifically honored the 1985 United States Women’s National Team, which was the first of its kind and debuted internationally exactly 40 years to the day. The team traveled to Jesolo, Italy to play at the Mundalito tournament.
Those 17 women, eight of whom came from Washington, pioneered women’s soccer.
The stadium played 80s music during breaks and showcased the team beside the field before the game, all of whom were cheering and holding up Reign scarves.
A short video documentary of the national team played on the jumbotron during halftime, before the women were introduced one-by-one on a stage in the middle of the field. They each received a bouquet of flowers, and Reign FC general manager Lesle Gallimore gave a speech.
Up next: The Reign head east to face the Houston Dash on Sunday, their second of three games in a 12-day span.
This story will update.