Know Your Foe with Susie Rantz of Ride of the Valkyries/Sounder at Heart

Susie Rantz is a writer for the OL Reign/Seattle Sounder website Sounder at Heart. Ride of the Valkyries is the dedicated OL Reign blog on that site.

OL Reign seemed to have turned their season around in a matter of a few weeks. What has been the key?

Susie: It might sound like simple fixes, but I think there are two important factors in OL Reign's recent run of form: more time together and simplifying things. OL Reign had a lot of players show up into the regular season, including the three loaned players from OL, in addition to Rose Lavelle, Alana Cook, Jimena Lopez, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Integrating these new players isn't always as easy as it sounds. They finally hit a stretch where the team had more time to train together and get to know each other's strengths and tendencies.

Former head coach Farid Benstiti also did a lot of roster rotation along the backline. That led to inconsistent performances where the team had trouble closing out games. Interim head coach Sam Laity said after their recent win against Orlando that it was important to him to start a consistent backline to keep some order to the team. They finally seem to be holding it together for 90 minutes.

The last factor is just a little more confidence in the attack. There were matches earlier where the Reign created plenty of chances but seemed to get stuck in the 18-yard-box. They seem closer to solving this puzzle after putting a few more goals in the net.

Has it been tough on the team not to have a true home stadium upon moving to Tacoma?

While a true soccer stadium would be great, Tacoma has really embraced the Reign. Their attendance in 2019 was higher than it ever was in Seattle, and the team is building real connections with the community in Tacoma. With the Reign sharing their stadium with a USL and minor league baseball team, they really do get to be kind of the marquee team at the stadium. While a soccer stadium in Tacoma is still the dream -- and something the team is pushing toward -- it's worked out well, given their limited alternative options.

I'm not sure how closely you've followed the opening of Racing's new training facilities, but the ownership group in Louisville has been deliberate about making the dressing rooms at the stadium equal in size and quality as well as the training facilities. Is OL Reign expecting the same treatment when their new stadium is built?

Yes. OL Reign CEO Bill Predmore, who was previously the majority owner before OL Groupe's purchase, has always tried to give the players the most professional experience possible. One good development this year is that OL Reign became equal partners in the planning for the new stadium in Tacoma. Previously, they were just considered tenants of the space, with the Seattle Sounders and Tacoma Rainiers driving the process. That equal seat at the table can only mean good things as the work progresses.

Has the fan base in Seattle stayed engaged since the move?

I'd say that the dynamic of who is able to attend matches has changed a little. It's not that simple to get to Tacoma from Seattle, especially during rush hour. At the same time, people in the south end of the Puget Sound region suddenly had a professional team closer to them. I think it is fair to say that there's been some healthy skepticism of the recent changes, with OL Groupe's purchase and Farid Benstiti's hire in 2020. But most fans have stuck with the team through all of that because the club has some really fun players and a core of four veterans -- Jess Fishlock, Lauren Barnes, Megan Rapinoe, and Steph Cox -- who have been with this team since the beginning. This is still the same Reign, and fans are realizing that.

How much has the team benefited so far from its association with Olympique Lyonnais?

I think we're just starting to see that relationship shine. The roster this year is loaded. Obviously, it would have been a little harder to get players like Dzsenifer Marozsan, Eugenie Le Sommer, and Sarah Bouhaddi onto one team without that association. But I think there are behind-the-scenes ways that the partnership is having a real impact that fans don't always see. OL flew all the players out for a few weeks of training in Montana last year ahead of the Challenge Cup, putting them on charter flights and housing for nearly a month. They had plans to fly the team to France for a tournament in August after the Challenge Cup, but the pandemic halted that. Instead, they flew three players out to train with OL. And they now have more staff behind the scenes, including Bruno Cheyrou, who was recently named the new Sporting Director of OL Reign.

Laura Harvey, who is returning to OL Reign as head coach after the Olympics, spoke to the possibilities of this relationship during her announcement press conference. Harvey is beloved by Reign fans, and it's exciting to see her back with the club. “That the best women’s team in the world decided to jump on board and be a huge part of it and lead the ship only elevates the club even more," Harvey shared. It feels like just the beginning of what these two clubs can do together.

Who should Racing fans pay close attention to on Saturday?

Good question! I think Eugenie Le Sommer is due for a goal. She's been a ton of fun to watch since she joined the club, but hasn't found the back of the net -- despite creating a number of chances. I know it's kind of obvious to choose France's all-time scoring leader, but I truly feel like the floodgates are going to open after she gets her first goal.

Thanks to Susie again for answering my questions. Follow her on Twitter @SusieRants.