Following her suspension from the U.S Women’s National Team, Goalkeeper Hope Solo announced today that she will not play for the Seattle Reign, her NWSL club, for the remainder of the season. In a statement, Solo said “Coming to terms with the fact I was fired from the U.S. women’s national team after 17 years of service has been devastating. After careful consideration, I have decided to end my season with the Seattle Reign, an organization I love playing for. Mentally, I am not there yet.”
“After watching the team’s win against Portland this weekend and seeing Haley Kopmeyer playing so well in goal, I truly believe this decision is what’s best for me and for the Reign organization,” Solo said in her statement.
The Reign Head Coach Laura Harvey, in a statement to the media, said ““While disappointed that Hope will not return to Reign FC this season, we understand and respect her decision."
Seattle Reign Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer did have a solid performance against the Portland Thorns this weekend. The Reign won 3-1, with the lone goal getting past her in stoppage time by U.S Women’s National Team Midfielder Allie Long. But the loss of Solo will affect the Reign organization both physically and mentally, and will definitely have implications as the team seeks to make it to the playoffs.
Out of the ten teams in the NWSL, the top four make it to the playoffs. Currently, the Reign are sitting in fifth place, just behind Western New York. But of their four remaining opponents, three are in the top four. They play the #1 ranked Washington Spirit twice. The incident with Solo provides an opportunity for other teams to take advantage of a possibly rattled Seattle Reign-- teams including the current 4th place holders, Western New York, and Sky Blue FC and the Orlando Pride who are right on the Reign’s tail. But if this weekend’s performance is any indication, the Reign might be able to hold on without their star goalkeeper.
