Latest news with #SeattleReign
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Welsh international Woodham joins Liverpool
Liverpool have completed the signing of Welsh international defender Lily Woodham on a free transfer. WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Reds this afternoon. The 24-year-old joins Liverpool upon her return from representing Wales at UEFA Women's EURO 2025. Woodham has been capped by The Red Dragons on 42 occasions in which she has scored three goals. At club level, Woodham was most-recently on the books of American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Seattle Reign. Her contract was terminated last week, allowing her to return to the English game. Woodham has built plenty of experience playing in the English game from spells with Bristol City, Reading, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace. She spent the second half of last season on loan with the latter club. After joining Liverpool, Woodham said 'It's amazing. Obviously I'm a fan of Liverpool, so it's a dream come true really. 'I'm really excited to meet everyone. It already feels like a home from home and everyone has been so nice to me and welcomed me. 'I just want to bring everything I can to the team and always give my all in games and training.' Woodham is Liverpool's fourth signing of the summer transfer window.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales defender Woodham signs for Liverpool
Wales defender Lily Woodham has joined Liverpool following her departure from Seattle Reign. Woodham, who started all Wales' games at Euro 2025, left Reign over the weekend having joined the National Women's Soccer League club in 2024. The 24-year-old left-back spent most of the 2024-25 season on loan at Crystal Palace, making 20 appearances in the Women's Super League. Woodham returns to the English top flight on a permanent basis after joining a Reds side who finished seventh last season. "I'm a fan of Liverpool so it's a dream come true really," Woodham told the Merseyside club's website. "I'm really excited to meet everyone. It already feels like a home from home and everyone has been so nice to me and welcomed me. "I just want to bring everything I can to the team and always give my all in games and training." Woodham, who is Liverpool's fourth signing of the summer, joins fellow Wales internationals Gemma Evans and Ceri Holland at the Merseyside club. The length of Woodham's contract has not been specified. She moved to America after six years at Reading, while she has also played for Bristol City and Charlton Athletic. Head here to get involved Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales full-back Woodham leaves Seattle Reign
Wales defender Lily Woodham has left National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) side Seattle Reign by mutual a member of Wales' Euro 2025 squad, joined Seattle in 2024 after six years at Reading and made a total of eight 24-year-old spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Women's Super League club Crystal Palace."We thank Lily for her time and commitment to the Reign," Seattle Reign General Manager Lesle Gallimore said."Her energy, professionalism and passion for the game have left a lasting mark on the club. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her journey - on and off the pitch."
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Chelsea forward Fishel signs for Seattle Reign
Seattle Reign have signed Chelsea and United States forward Mia Fishel on a contract until undisclosed transfer fee will be paid to the Women's Super League (WSL) champions who Fishel, 24, appeared for 21 signing from Mexican club Tigres for the start of the 2023-24 season, Fishel scored the winning goal against Tottenham on her WSL debut before an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury cut her campaign two-time WSL winner returned in March to make three appearances. "I'm incredibly excited to sign a long-term contract in the NWSL and take this next step in my career with Seattle Reign FC," said Fishel. "This league is one of the best in the world, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity. I can't wait to get started and contribute to the team's success."America's National Women's Soccer League is currently on a midseason break but Seattle Reign return to action against Angel City on 1 August.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USWNT's Mia Fishel joins Seattle Reign from Chelsea for the ‘long run,' signing through 2029
The Seattle Reign have signed U.S. women's national team forward Mia Fishel to a multi-year contract through 2029, the club announced Thursday. The move makes her the longest-contracted player on the club's roster. Fishel, a 24-year-old San Diego native affectionately known as 'Big Fish,' joins the Reign immediately from Chelsea in the Women's Super League (WSL) for an undisclosed transfer fee. She scored two goals in 14 appearances for the west London side, but spent the majority of her time there recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Advertisement 'Mia is a player with tremendous upside — a goalscorer with presence, creativity and a drive to keep growing,' said Seattle Reign general manager Lesle Gallimore in a statement. 'This move represents an important step in her return to top form, and we're committed to giving her the environment and support to thrive.' Fishel was selected fifth in the 2022 NWSL draft by the Orlando Pride, managed at the time by Fishel's former UCLA coach, Amanda Cromwell. However, Fishel forwent joining the league and instead signed with Liga MX Femenil side Tigres UANL in Monterrey, Mexico. (Later that year, the NWSL terminated Cromwell's contract after allegations of favoritism, verbal abuse, and retaliation were upheld by a league investigation.) With Tigres, Fishel scored 17 goals in the club's Apertura, the fall season, contributing to their title-winning campaign that year. In the Clausura, the spring season, Fishel netted another 13. 'I've always just wanted the best for myself, and I didn't really care what other people thought,' Fishel said from Seattle, fresh off the Reign training ground and a subsequent photoshoot. 'That mindset has taken me places that some players may not be as comfortable with. I'm the type of player, if you sit me down and I listen to how you think of me, how I fit in your system, living situation, lifestyle, and check all the boxes, I'm going to go there. That's what Tigres did for me.' Advertisement On August 4, 2023, Fishel signed with Chelsea, who were managed at the time by the current USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. The following month, Fishel earned her first senior national team camp invitation. But five months after that debut, while training with the national team in February 2024, she sustained an ACL injury. She has since worked her way back and made appearances for club and country, but Fishel knew she needed consistent play time — not an easy ask from any No. 9 on a stacked Chelsea roster, which includes Colombian striker Mayra Ramirez and the legendary Sam Kerr. 'Chelsea is different. There's a bunch of stars, so it can be very individualistic,' Fishel said. Last month, ESPN reported that Fishel was in talks with multiple NWSL clubs. Her Southern California roots hinted at a return home to the likes of the San Diego Wave or Angel City FC. Fishel told , however, that while her decision was informed by a desire to be closer to home so her family could more easily travel to her games, and she to see them, she also needed to feel at home at her next club. Advertisement 'I'm fortunate to be in a position where I had the privilege to choose where I wanted to go,' she said. 'I knew coming from Chelsea how important a coach is. I was with (Reign head coach) Laura (Harvey) for the under-20 (World Cup) qualifiers, and that was just an amazing experience for me — how she coached the team, the way that she ran it, the style of play.' With Hayes now at the helm of the USWNT and reconfiguring the system's developmental pipeline, Fishel recently spent time training with the under-23 U.S. women's national team, along with players such as Korbin Albert and Jaedyn Shaw, who also have senior caps. The trio were called up to the squad's late-May camp and played two matches against the under-23 German national team. By the time she arrived in Stuttgart, Fishel knew she was headed stateside. 'They all saw me with three big bags coming from England and were like, 'What's going on?'' Fishel recalled with a laugh. 'And I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm lowkey going to the NWSL.'' Advertisement That under-23 camp proved advantageous in more ways than one. Other participants included Seattle Reign players who are now Fishel's teammates: goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, defender Jordyn Bugg, and midfielder Sam Meza. Together, Meza and Fishel won Concacaf titles at each age group. 'It was cool that I was able to talk to some players from Seattle, kind of knowing that I wanted to go there, and talk about how the team culture is here,' Fishel said. 'Everyone's like family, and obviously, the players are quality.' The decision to leave a club like Chelsea is inherently heavy, but Fishel recognizes the weight of Seattle's history, too. Harvey has coached the team since its inception in 2012, and Fishel said that maturity, along with the star players who've come through the club, such as Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, added to its appeal — and to her intention to set her roots in the Pacific Northwest. 'I knew coming to the states, I'm gonna be on a team for the long run. I wasn't expecting to just hop from team to team. Like, no, I want to put stakes in the ground. I want to eventually lead this team at some point,' she said. Advertisement There's also the draw of Seattle's extracurricular activities. Fishel is a fan of the WNBA and is eager to check out Storm games. 'I heard the fishing is really good here,' she gushed. 'I'm excited to talk to (defender) Shay (Holmes) about salt fishing, freshwater, so I'm looking forward to that.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Chelsea, OL Reign, NWSL, Women's Soccer 2025 The Athletic Media Company
