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San Diego Wave FC returned home this afternoon to face Seattle Reign at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave hoped to improve their current form, with a 1-1-1 record since returning from the FIFA World Cup international break.
The Wave faced a lot of injuries today, with Kenza Dali and Gabi Portilho listed as questionable, and Dudinha and Trinity Armstrong on the SEI list.
Seattle Reign enter the game coming off a 3-2 loss to Gotham FC, where they allowed three goals after holding a 2-0 lead. With both teams motivated to earn points, today's game in the heat would prove to be a battle.
The First Half
The Wave opened the game with a great cross from Ludmila to Melanie Barcenas. Mel B gave the ball to Trinity Byars, but her shot wasn't powerful enough to beat the goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
Seattle Reign pressed high into their final third, but the Wave's compactness prevented the visitors from firing meaningful shots on goal.
The Wave earned the ball back just to lose it to Seattle again. Taking advantage of a disorganized Wave back line on counterattack, the visitors opened scoring with a cross from Sally Menti that found the head of Maddie Mercado. Sandra Paños
couldn't stretch enough to cover the far post, and the Reign took the lead.
Seattle staying AHEAD of the game 😉
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 26, 2026
Maddie Mercado and Jordyn Bugg score back-to-back goals with headers! pic.twitter.com/LXAQSALqYy
Quickly the Wave's goal deficit doubled. Mercado scored again, from a corner. The Wave needed to turn the game around quickly.
Seattle staying AHEAD of the game 😉
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 26, 2026
Maddie Mercado and Jordyn Bugg score back-to-back goals with headers! pic.twitter.com/LXAQSALqYy
Right back Mimi Van Zanten understood the assignment. She carried the ball down the right flank, and crossed it back to the Wave's leading goalscorer, Trinity Byars. Byars barely mistimed her shot, but the effort was the momentum shift needed.
Gia Corley followed Byars' lead, and took a shot of her own from a central position at the top of the box, just outside the left goalpost.
Kimmi Ascanio carried the ball through the midfield, ignoring the Reign's attempts to regain possession. Ascanio's run earned a dangerous free kick for the Wave, and Phoebe McClernon earned the first yellow card of the night for the Reign.
Melanie Barcenas took the free kick, opting to go straight for goal. Her shot screamed over the cross bar.
The game paused for a much needed hydration break at the 30 minute mark. The team surrounded head coach Jonas Eidevall, hoping for guidance to turn the game around.
Mel B shot from the right side into the near post of USWNT goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. The shot was the first meaningful attempt since the hydration break.
Shortly after, Barcenas found herself at the end of a cross. Her header was saved by Dickey's fingertips, but the Siren's exploded with cheers hoping the Wave had cut the deficit in half before half time.
Unfortunately, the Wave ran out of time. They hurried to the locker room to hatch a plan for the second part of the game.
The Second Half
The Wave came into the second half with more energy and intensity. Off the ball, they pressed the Reign and forced them to make risky passes. When the Wave had the ball, they attacked aggressively, and positioned themselves to recover under pressure from Seattle.
Ludmila launched a rocket at goal that forced a save from Claudia Dickey. The ball rested in front of goal as the Wave and Reign raced toward it. The Reign won the race and were able to clear the ball.
With half an hour left in the game, Laurina Fazer left the field to make way for Lia Godfrey. Fazer's defensive-mindedness helped tire out the Reign, but Godfrey's ability to score goals was more important now.
Godfrey and Corley muscled the ball up the midfield, setting up Van Zanten so she could carry the ball wide and cross it into the box. The physicality, athleticism, and speed from these three forced the Reign to defend.
Head Coach Jonas Eidevall brought Adriana Leon on the pitch for the first time this season, in place of Trinity Byars hoping to refresh the attack. Leon moved into Ludmila's position on the left wing, and Ludmila lined up centrally.
The Wave continued to prod at the Reign's defense, but none of the shots had enough power to get past Dickey.
Eidevall brought on Jordan Fusco and Tatum Wynalda in place of Morroni and Corley.
The Wave continued to shoot on goal. Fusco shot into the upper right corner, and the fans held their breath hoping the ball made it past the keeper. Unfortunately, for the eighth and final time today, a shot on target for the Wave failed to hit the back of the net.
The Wave had a much better second half than the first. The defense stayed organized, the midfield created opportunities to enter the box, but the attempts at goal weren't sharp enough to earn points today. The Wave will need to work out the details before their next match against Washington Spirit.
