The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) kicked off its 2021 season on Saturday with a matchup between the OL Reign and the Washington Spirit. Unfortunately for fans of the Reign, the team was unable to secure a victory in their season opener, falling to the Spirit 1-0.
The game was a tightly contested affair, with both teams having their fair share of chances to score. The Spirit were able to break the deadlock in the second half, however, when forward Ashley Sanchez scored the game’s only goal in the 64th minute. The Reign were unable to find an equalizer despite their best efforts, and the Spirit held on for the win.
The loss will be a disappointment for the Reign, who had high hopes for the 2021 season after making several key offseason acquisitions. The team added former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, as well as experienced international players such as Darian Jenkins and Celia Jiménez Delgado. Despite the addition of these talented players, however, the Reign were unable to find a way past the Spirit defense on Saturday.
The Reign will now look to bounce back from their opening day defeat when they face Sky Blue FC next weekend. The team will be hoping to get off to a better start this time around, and with their talented roster they should have no trouble doing so. With a full season ahead of them, the Reign will be looking to make a statement and prove that they are one of the top teams in the NWSL.
Overall, Saturday’s loss was a setback for the OL Reign, but with a full season ahead of them there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around. With their talented roster and experienced coaching staff, the Reign will be looking to make a statement this season and prove that they are one of the top teams in the NWSL.
