Preview: KC NWSL visit OL Reign

Match Details

KC NWSL (0-6-3 ) @ OL Reign (2-5-1)

When: Sunday, July 11 | 6:00 PM CT

Where: Cheney Stadium | Tacoma, Washington

TV: Paramount+ | KSMO-TV (Kansas City)

Radio: 1510 ESPN Kansas City

Kansas City NWSL visit OL Reign Sunday with both teams are at the bottom of the standing but looking to improve their position in the table. KC NWSL have struggled to score but as the season progress they are looking better overall. In their last match they went down in the first half but a spectacular goal by Marianna Larroquette late in the match enable Kansas City to steal a point at NJ/NY Gotham FC. Argentinian forward Larroquette now leads Kansas City with two goals and an assist.

As Larroquette and Jessica Silva adapt to their new league, and rookies Victoria Pickett and Kiki Pickett adjust to professional play, Kansas City’s attack is slowly improving. With only five, they are last in the league in goals scored.

KC NWSL head coach said, “he would never criticize a player for taking a shot,” and then mentioned Pickett several times. Victoria Pickett as been a bright spot for KC but Williams is pushing her to go for the goal much more often.

OL Reign have lost their last two and five of their last six despite having a strong squad. Both teams are missing players having left for their respective Olympic teams and Kansas City is missing six players for sure and another two are questionable with injuries. “We’re tight as we have been all year, let’s just say that selecting a travel squad was easy,” head coach Huw Williams explained to media.

The Reign are missing five players for international duty, most notably Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle with the US National Team. “That is two of the best players in the world,” Williams stated. “This team was built for the Olympics, the players they brought in were World Class players that the Reign knew were not going to the Olympics. The squad they have is arguably one of the best in women’s soccer. Not just in this league, stacked, depth and a high level of quality.”

Availability:

OUT: Elizabeth Ball (right thigh), Darian Jenkins (left thigh), Taylor Leach (left foot), Maddie Nolf (left foot), Arielle Ship (right lower leg-SEI), Abby Smith (right thigh)

QUESTIONABLE: Rachel Corsie (left knee), Michelle Maemone (illness)

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Katie Bowen (NZL), Chloe Logarzo (AUS), Desiree Scott (CAN)

OUT: Ally Watt (right knee), Rosie White (illness)

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Angelina (BRA), Rose Lavelle (USA), Nicole Momiki (JPN), Quinn (CAN), Megan Rapinoe (USA)