Brittany Ratcliffe scored a late goal to give the Seattle Reign a 2-1 victory on the road against the Orlando Pride on Sunday in a rain-delayed game.
Angel City also opened the National Women’s Soccer League season with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Stars in Los Angeles.
Reign took the lead in the 24th minute. Nelilia Mondesir slipped a pass to Jess Fishlock, who made a nifty move to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
In the 42nd minute, defender Rafael seemed to have leveled the score from a corner kick by Jackie Aubaje, but it was canceled due to a foul.
After a long delay of nearly three hours due to bad weather, Haley McCutcheon scored the tying goal off Barbra Banda in the 51st minute. Orlando received a big boost earlier this week when Banda was taken off the season-ending injured list.
Five minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ratcliffe headed home the winning goal in the 83rd minute, while Mondesir also recorded his second assist of the match.
Fuller and Borges lead Angel City to loss in opening game
Midfielders Kennedy Fuller and Allie Borges each had a goal and an assist in Angel City’s dominant victory over the Stars.
Fuller scored the breakthrough goal for Angel City FC in the 33rd minute. Chicago goaltender Alyssa Neher tried to make the save, but the ball slipped through her outstretched arms.
After four consecutive corners, a breakdown in Chicago’s defense allowed Evelyn Shores to double the lead with an open header.
In the 66th minute, the Stars tried to play from the back, but they paid the price. Allie Borges intercepted the pass and slotted it into the goal, making it 3-0.
Svejndis Jónsdóttir found an open Maiara Niewes for the final score.
The four goals were ACFC’s most since a thrilling 4-3 win over the Washington Spirit on May 2, 2025.
defender of angel city Sabie King returns to play for the first time Since suffering a heart attack during a game on May 9, 2025, he underwent open heart surgery. She came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute.
Forward Jordyn Huitema, acquired from Seattle in a trade this week, started for Chicago.
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