Seattle Reign FC

A Letter from amy griffin:

I hope the holidays find you surrounded by people you cherish and a little time to breathe along the way. January’s arrival means the shortest day of the year is finally disappearing in our rear view. Here’s to more vitamin D daily!

Ringing in 2024 is often a benchmark for many to reset, re-energize and re-focus on a particular goal. It can also be a time to begin something new, whether it be a skill, a trade, a different mode of transportation or in this case – a new brand! As announced today, the club will be returning to its roots by adopting a transformed version of its original 2013 branding. The NWSL side of the club will once again be called Seattle Reign FC and the academy has gone back to its original name – Seattle Reign Academy.

Our main objective with this rebrand is to connect our past to the future and to honor the history of this club while respecting the progress and success we’ve experienced. I am excited about the opportunity of a rebrand and a reason to celebrate and promote the growth, vision and mission of the club in our community. And you know me! Nobody likes an opportunity to share information about how we roll at the Academy more than I do!


A rebrand is thrilling, but the foundation that makes our club special will always be the support our coaches and families extend to the players to create the best environment in youth sports. Adding programming to support the health and well-being of our athletes is important. Bree Rowe-Borth, Doug Sweaney-Herrick, Nicci Wright have been working with Seattle Children’s & University of Washington for the past 6 months to form a path to help coaches prevent, recognize, and navigate potential mental health crises. 

This month Reign staff will attend the 3-hour mental health training seminar fresh off the press and deliver feedback on the education and resources provided. I am grateful to Seattle Children’s and UW for the time and attention they have given to this project; acquiring information from players, parents, and coaches to listen to the perspective of the entire ecosystem. It has been eye-opening and a privilege to be a small part of building this program and I look forward to seeing the final product and having it live with our club daily.

Looking forward to seeing the players back out on the field. Whether it be at training, the winter showcase, or league games, seeing the players in action is the best part of my job.

Each year brings highlights and challenges, the ebb and flow of success and struggle is expected in life, and I am looking forward to both! As quoted by Fred DiVito, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,” and I totally agree. Bring it on 2024!

-- Amy Griffin, Seattle Reign Academy Executive Director


SEATTLE REIGN ACADEMY NEWS & UPDATES

Rebrand: The Queen is Back!

We are excited to announce our official, organization-wide rebrand.

While our look may begin to change, our core values of Respect, Energy, Integrity, Growth Mindset and  Never-Ending Process all remain bedrock of everything we do at the Reign Academy. We stay committed to our players in offering them a safe, competitive, challenging and fun environment to become better soccer players, and ultimately more confident human beings. 

Our transition from old to new may take some time, but we will get there together! We will be ordering and issuing new kits in the 2024/25 season, and will keep you all as informed as possible as we continue to stay unified with our NWSL leaders. More to come. GO REIGN!

Point Loma Division 2 Champions

Last month, three Reign Academy Alumni – Nikki Ross, Mara Sovde and Lily Paulson – helped make history for Point Loma University Women’s Soccer, as the Sea Lions took home the NCAA Division II National Title for the first time in their program’s history. 

Point Loma defeated Washburn University in a tightly-contested match that resulted in a thrilling 1-0 victory for the Sea Lions. 

“I cannot put this feeling into words. I am so grateful to have these women as my best friends,” Ross wrote on her Instagram page. “We did that.”

Congratulations to Nikki, Mara and Lily. Way to make your old club proud!

New Coach: Omar Juarez

We are excited to welcome the newest member of our coaching staff, Omar Juarez! 

“When one of our tightly knit coaches recommends a coach, I know it is worth looking into,” says Amy Griffin, Reign Academy Director. 

“Adding a staff member to our family is no easy task, when it comes to finding similar values in our mission to create the best place for  players to have fun and grow,” Griffin continued. “Omar has an engaging presence on the field and getting to know him these past few months has made it evident he will be a great addition to our staff. His passion for developing young players will most certainly shine in the Reign environment and the players will benefit from his experiences in Brazil, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest.  Welcome to the fun house!”

High School Players begin League Play

Washington Premier League  and Girls Academy League play begins this month for all of our high school-aged players.  These players have been taking time off from Reign Academy programming to take part in their high school soccer seasons. We are thrilled to see these players back on the field, and can’t wait to witness some great matchups this season. 


Check out the Washington Premier League and the Girls Academy League schedules to get a glimpse of the action to come!

Girls Academy League Fixtures for January

As our high school-aged players begin league play this month, our GA squads have begun preparations for their matchups against some great opponents this season. In January, our GA teams will take on Columbia Premier, Eugene Metro FC and Capital FC, all taking place over three separate days of Girls Academy League fixtures. Go Reign!

SEATTLE REIGN ACADEMY TEAM OF THE MONTH: 2009 GA


Each month, we will be highlighting a team in our ranks that has inspired us on and off the field. This January,  we are putting the spotlight on our 2008 GA squad, coached by Eric Rossitch. 

We asked Coach Rossitch to talk a bit about the 2008 GA season so far. Here is what he had to say:

“The 2008 GA group recently returned from the GA Winter Showcase in Norco, CA. The first competition of the new season offers a development opportunity competing against clubs from various parts of the country with varying styles of play, posing different challenges to solve. This  year we faced teams from Maryland, Illinois, and Minnesota. Heading into my 2nd season with this group, provided  a great measuring stick to reflect upon where we were last year vs now in terms of the level of football we are playing. Seeing the improvement within the team both individually and as a group has been  fulfilling! An added benefit to this year’s showcase was the opportunity for the team to visit some college campuses including a personal tour from Reign Academy alumna Neeku Purcell at UCLA who was kind enough to walk the girls through the women’s soccer facilities, answer questions and discuss her life as a student athlete. Our academy alumni rock!

“One of our curriculum concentrations heading into the showcase involved the  attacking third transition phase.  It was rewarding to see the players apply the tactical decision-making onto the field and control games with quality ball movement. In our staff’s opinion, our game vs Sockers SC (from Chicago IL) was particularly enjoyable to watch as the players put together some  strong stretches of defending and attacking play against a quality club. Tactically, technically, physically and mentally it was a battle between two high-level footballing groups, it tested us in new ways and ultimately ended 2-2 which was a fair result. At the end of the day, that's what the game is all about -- competition!

“I’m super proud of the players for their performance and effort. They’ve started to really take ownership in their preparation, recovery, overall development, and living out our club core values consistently – and it translates on the field and into their team culture. Even with new players in the roster this season as well as many with just a year at Reign under their belt, they’re an impressively cohesive unit, you’d think they’ve known each other for years. It’s a testament to their commitment to each other and to themselves to be the best teammate they can be. I’m personally excited to see more of their personalities emerge both on and off the field as they continue to develop their bond and grow into the academy this season!”

Our next Discovery Session is just around the corner. Spread the word to anyone born between 2011-2016 who may be looking for a safe, competitive and fun environment to hone their soccer skills. Register here! Spots are limited, so be sure to register today!

Pac NW Winter Classic

This month, we have 8 teams competing in this year’s Pac NW Winter Classic at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA. Our Legacy Pool 2014, 2012 Bleue, and our 2010 Rouge and 2011 Rouge Squads just finished their competitions last weekend, while our 05/06 Rouge, 2009 Rouge, 2007 Blanche and 2013 Bleue Squads begin their run in the Winter Classic this week. 

Good luck to all of our teams competing, GO REIGN!

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