Episode #25
WNBA Talking Points and Reign FC with Susie Rantz
August 4th, 2026 Episode Summary This episode of The Forecast, Seattle’s weekly women’s sports show on KVRU 105.7 FM hosted by independent journalist Maggie Mertens, opens with updates on recent results for the Seattle Reign and Seattle Storm, highlighting the Reign’s 3–2 win over Bay FC and the Storm’s continued struggles in close losses to the Fever and Dream. The hosts dive into the WNBA trade deadline, debating the Los Angeles Sparks’ decision to trade Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for minimal return, what the move signals about the Sparks’ rebuild and Nneka Ogwumike’s future, and whether the Storm should have pursued Plum or another high‑impact guard given their long‑term plan, cap space, and desire to develop a young core rather than add older veterans. They frame Seattle’s strategy as a deliberate investment in emerging players like Dom, Awa, and Fla’jae and a likely push for a top draft pick, while acknowledging the tension between “taking lumps” now and the risk of demoralization without a proven winner to help close out tight games. The show then turns to the growing national discourse around trans inclusion in sports and its local implications in Washington State. Mertens previews an upcoming episode on Ballot Initiative 638, which would ban trans girls from participating on sports teams, and introduces an interview with John Gallagher, a Seattle native, coach, teacher, and counseling student involved with No Hate in Washington State. Gallagher criticizes the large sums spent on anti‑trans campaigns compared to underfunded classrooms, recalling teaching a Title I class of 56 students due to lack of resources. He emphasizes the WNBA’s importance as a visible, queer‑inclusive space and laments that a single exclusionary player’s stance is dominating media coverage, overshadowing the league’s inclusive culture and affecting trans youth and questioning kids who are listening. Gallagher notes that Washington’s proposed policy would be among the most extreme in the country, raising concerns about invasive exams, abusive medical encounters, and emboldened parents policing children’s gender expression at youth sporting events—such as telling kids to cut their hair or stop painting their nails—and potentially confronting them about their gender or demanding “gender tests.” In the second half, Mertens focuses on the Seattle Reign with recurring guest Susie Rantz of Sounder at Heart. Rantz describes how Seattle’s men’s World Cup hosting created a powerful, unifying soccer atmosphere and how the Reign capitalized on that momentum and increased club outreach—family ticket deals, promotions, and a rivalry matchup with Portland—to draw nearly 15,000 fans on July 12, the club’s best non‑Rapinoe regular‑season attendance. On the field, the Reign have transformed their attack, jumping from just 10 goals in their first 11 games to eight goals since the World Cup break, with a new emphasis on scoring early and then defending leads. Rantz credits a consistent front four, improved pressing, and better defense‑to‑attack transitions for unlocking players like winger Maddie Darlene, who recently recorded a goal and an assist, and striker Mia Fischl, who has returned from an ACL tear and now has two goals and more dangerous touches. They revisit a dramatic 3–2 loss to Gotham FC in which the Reign led 2–0 until the 81st minute before conceding three late goals, including a stoppage‑time winner, after Gotham introduced star attackers such as Sam Kerr, Ester González, and Guro Reiten and former Reign favorite Rose Lavelle scored the decisive goal. Rantz notes that the Reign became too defensive too early in that match, a lesson they applied in subsequent road wins: a 2–0 shutout at San Diego, powered by a standout return from goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, and a 3–2 victory at Bay FC in which the Reign dominated early, saw momentum swing after a spectacular Bay goal, and then won late through a classic Jess Fishlock strike seconds after she entered as a substitute, assisted by impactful bench player Emory Adams. Fishlock, who announced her retirement before suffering a major injury earlier in the year, has recently returned in a limited “as‑needed” role but appeared to tweak her hamstring after the Bay winner, raising questions about how much she can feature as a super‑sub in the congested schedule. The Reign’s coaching staff has also evolved: assistant coach Lee Nguyen departed unexpectedly to become head coach of Dallas Trinity in the USL Women’s League, prompting the club to appoint longtime defender and franchise icon Lauren Barnes as interim assistant coach to satisfy league staffing requirements and maintain cultural continuity. Barnes, who retired only six months ago, is still processing the transition from player to coach, but her deep familiarity with Laura Harvey’s system and her role in shaping the Reign’s player‑driven culture make her a natural fit, at least through season’s end. Meanwhile, the Reign loaned young talents Miku Purcell and Sophia Cedeno to Dallas Trinity to secure valuable playing time in the USL Super League while retaining them on long‑term contracts, following a successful pattern established with previous loanees Sam Meza and Maddie Mercado; these moves also open three roster spots for potential additions during the current transfer window, which runs into September. Looking ahead, Rantz argues the Reign could still use a veteran attacking midfielder to help manage games and replace Fishlock’s leadership as she departs, though the eventual return of forward and proven scorer Lynn Biandolo—who recently rejoined the team in Seattle after giving birth in April—could provide a major late‑season boost if her postpartum recovery allows. In the standings, the Reign sit ninth, level on points with eighth‑place Angel City but with one to two games in hand on many teams above them; they now host Angel City in a pivotal match, followed by another home game—including a Pride Night on August 14—before entering a grueling stretch of three matches in one week, two of them on the road at Racing Louisville and at home‑dominant Kansas City. Rantz believes that if the Reign can navigate August successfully, they are well‑positioned to secure a playoff spot even if the top three remain out of reach. For new or returning fans, Rantz highlights the upcoming Angel City match as a showcase of high‑tempo, attacking soccer and singles out 18‑year‑old midfielder Ainsley McCammon—already with four assists and the youngest player in league history to record two assists in a game—as a must‑watch playmaker whose vision is now being matched by her physical execution alongside tenacious defensive midfielder Sam Meza. She also points to comeback stories like Ryan Brown’s first regular‑season NWSL goal after a long ACL layoff, Mercado’s team‑leading goal tally, Darlene’s recent breakout, and Claudia Dickey’s star performances in goal—complete with fan‑favorite foam claws—as evidence of a deep, balanced squad where a different player can shine every match. Episode Notes 0:00 - Weekly Sports Recap 2:43 - Kelsey Plum Trade + Storm Roster Moves 21:10 - Conversation with No Hate in Washington State advocate John Gallagher 29:38 - Interview with Sounder at Heart’s Susie Rantz ____________________________________________________________ Susie Rantz is a self proclaimed nerd, storyteller, and soccer fan. Susie writes mostly about the Seattle Reign and women’s soccer for Sounder At Heart : www.sounderatheart.com/author/susie/ _ ___________________________________________________________ The Forecast is a Production of : KVRU ( https://www.kvru.org/shows/the-forecast/ ) & JEFFSCOTTSHAW _____________________________________________________________ Executive Producer + Host // Maggie Mertens // Maggie@KVRU.org Executive Producer // JEFFSCOTTSHAW // Jeff@KVRU.org Additional Production Support Provided By // Crystal Fincher & Shannon Cheng & Maurice Jones Jr.
