The Seattle Reign FC are looking to redeem themselves after a disappointing 2016. Last season had injuries, an unusual to say the least off the field situation involving a national team, and a league game played on a mutant, barely-regulation field. Yet they were only two points away from a playoff spot at the end of last season. There are plenty of new faces joining the team, but seven players from the inaugural season are back, a testament to the culture of stability Laura Harvey has built.
The mammoth departure of Kim Little -- one of the best attacking midfielders in the world -- was supposed to be at least partially offset by the addition of Canadian international Diana Matheson, but her season-long injury leaves a lot of questions to be answered in the midfield.