OL Reign raise flag atop Seattle Space Needle – ` 7 News Seattle

Seattle

For the first time in club history, the OL Reign flag was raised atop the Space Needle before another big “first” for the team.

The OL Reign, of the National Women’s Soccer League, play the Kansas City Current on Sunday in the NWSL semifinal, which will be the first NWSL playoff game played at Lumen Field.

The flag was raised on Friday by OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey, forward Megan Rapinoe, defender Lu Barnes and midfielder Jess Fishlock.

“We’ve wanted to play there when it was CenturyLink, and it was something that we felt we had deserved for a long time,” Fishlock said. “We love it. We can’t wait for Sunday.”

“I can see my apartment from here, so it’s very much home. So to be able to do this in Seattle, be a part of this, and have the city recognize our club like this is really special,” Rapinoe said. “I’ve said for a long time that Seattle is very much a Sounders city. And I think it’s becoming much more of a soccer city and supporting both teams. Obviously, being here for 10 years, just seeing the growing support is amazing. (I’m) really excited going into Sunday.”

Sunday will also be the only NWSL playoff game played in Seattle this year. If OL Reign win on Sunday, they’ll move onto the NWSL final. The championship matchup will be played in Washington DC next Saturday at a predetermined location.

Ticket sales indicate the team is expected to break its all-time attendance record.