Kelsey Branson is officially a Seattle Reign player, signing on as a National Team Replacement Player through September 27, 2026. This isn’t just any signing; it’s a critical move for our Emerald City squad as they navigate some big absences over the next month.
Reign’s Midfield Depth Gets a Boost for the World Cup Window
Our beloved Reign announced Wednesday that Branson, a former University of Washington midfielder, is stepping in while Emeri Adames, Ainsley McCammon, and Evan O’Steen head off to represent the United States at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Yep, three of our own are off to Poland for next month, which is massive for them, but leaves a gap here at home. The NWSL lets clubs sign short-term players specifically for injury replacements or, like this, to cover national team duties, so this move makes total sense. Branson, a 22-year-old defensive midfielder, has been training with the team as a non-roster invitee for the past month, so she’s already familiar with the squad. She’s presumably stepping into McCammon’s role while she’s away.
Branson’s Husky Roots and What She Brings
Branson’s got serious local ties, coming off a four-year career at the University of Washington. She was a beast for the Huskies, starting every single match during her final three seasons. In her senior year in 2025, she grabbed Third Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches Fourth Team All-North Region honors. Across her four seasons, she played in 81 matches, bagging 16 goals and 13 assists. Her five goals and three assists in 2025 were huge, helping Washington snag the Big Ten championship and push all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2010. She even played every minute during that entire tournament run, talk about clutch! She also had a brief stint earlier this year with the Kansas City Current as an injury replacement, playing 58 minutes in a start where she completed 20/29 passes, added two tackles, and two interceptions, notably in a 3-0 loss to *our* Reign. She’s got the chops to step up.
With Sam Meza and Jess Fishlock expected back this weekend, and Branson now officially on board, our midfield is looking to have plenty of options once again. Plus, forward Ruby Hladek’s short-term contract was already extended through August 2026 and could get another extension, which would be huge as another forward option with Adames away. It’s all about staying strong and deep during these critical regular season stretches. Let’s go, Reign!
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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