Seattle Reign might have an edge vs. formidable Kansas City on Friday

Motivation won’t be hard to find Friday when the Reign host Kansas City.

The Current lost their first match of the season last week (3-2 on the road to the North Carolina Courage) and don’t want it to become a streak. The Reign lost 5-2 to Kansas City in their last meeting in June 2024 and don’t want another blowout.

Seattle might have an edge. The club is 3-1-1 all-time against the Current at Lumen Field.

Here’s a look at the match:

Reign (2-2-2) vs. Kansas City (5-1-0)

Time/place: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle.

TV: Fox 13+, NWSL+, Paramount+

Radio: None

Series history: The all-time series is even at 5-5-1 since 2021.

Storylines

Lock it down

Kansas City is a front-runner to win the NWSL Shield and championship this season. The Current are strong on both sides of the ball with forward Temwa Chawinga and midfielders Debinha and Lo’eau LaBonta leading the team with three goals each. KC is tied for first in the league with 31 shots on target and 14 overall goals.

Defensively, former Reign center back Alana Cook has helped the Current concede a league-best four goals. It will be the U.S. international’s first return to Lumen since being traded in July 2024.

Seattle was able to limit the league’s other potent team — defending champs Orlando — in a 1-0 loss last month. A tighter defensive performance will be needed Friday to pull an upset against KC.

Injury update

Reign defender Madison Curry subbed off at halftime due to an undisclosed injury suffered during the team’s 1-1 draw against Bay FC last week. Curry was expected to miss Friday’s match but after a “miraculous” recovery, she could be available to play, according to Reign coach Laura Harvey. The question is whether it’s a risk to play her “so close to having such a big reaction that meant she had to come out of a game,” Harvey added.

Seattle will likely be without midfielders Jess Fishlock and Nérilia Mondesir due to leg injuries.

Quotable

“Connections take time to build,” said Reign midfielder Angharad James-Turner of her play with teammate Sam Meza, who’s replaced Fishlock in the starting lineup the past four matches. “We only have limited training sessions leading into games, too, so these connections take time. Me and Sammy have worked on and off the field together. We’re in several meetings off the field, too, to make sure that I know what she wants, and she knows what I want and trying to build that relationship. … We complement each other very well. It’s exciting to see. It’s only three or four games that we’ve played together, I’m excited to see how that partnership develops.”