The Seattle Reign put in an absolutely commanding performance against Chicago, completely demolishing the Stars despite what the box score might tell you. While it technically came down to just one goal from Maddie Mercado, make no mistake: this was a pure domination, the kind that makes you stand up and cheer for the Emerald City.
When The Numbers Scream Louder Than The Score
Okay, yeah, Chicago’s a genuinely bad team. We know. But you can only play the team in front of you, and what the Reign did to them in terms of raw stats was frankly absurd. We’re talking a 24-5 shot advantage, with a mind-boggling 20-3 edge inside the penalty area and a 15-0 advantage in the second half alone. Seriously, 15-0! Add to that a 44-9 advantage on touches in the opposition penalty area, and a 3.33 – 0.32 advantage in expected goals. Oh, and a 6-0 lead in big chances created. These are numbers you expect from a top-tier team going up against some plucky lower-division side, not two professional teams in what’s supposed to be the hardest, most balanced league in the world. The only reason it wasn’t a five-goal rout? The finishing boots just weren’t there on the day, and Chicago’s Katie Atkinson really had to show up big several times to keep it close.
Shutouts and Engine Room Dominance
So Maddie Mercado got the one goal, right? Clutch. But let’s talk about the rest of the crew. Goalie Claudia Dickey, earning a 7 Plus, got the shutout without breaking much of a sweat. Chicago manufactured one, single moment of genuine threat, a break by Mallory Swanson in the 7th minute, and Clawds parried it perfectly. After that, Chicago was quiet, and Dickey spent most of her time “coaching” from the top of her penalty area, completing 100% of her 31 passes. Our defense was on fire too. Sofia Huerta, another 7 Plus, was the absolute focal point for the Reign’s buildout. She led the field with 83 touches and completed 87% of her passes, constantly driving the ball forward. She completed both her dribbles, won five of six ground duels, and racked up 10 recoveries. The Stars tried to take the ball from her, and they almost uniformly failed. Jordyn Bugg also earned a 7 Plus, showing off her usual strong passing with 85% completion, including 6 of 10 long balls and 5 big switches. Talk about a wall!
The Reign extended their unbeaten streak and snagged three massive points in the tightly contested standings. This match was a statement: if the finishing clicks, and those 5 missed big chances start finding the back of the net, this team is going to be unstoppable. Get ready, NWSL, because the Reign are just getting warmed up, and T-Mobile Park is gonna be rocking when they convert this kind of dominance into a goal fest.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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