Seattle Reign FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC Pre-Match Press Conference • Sunday, September 15, 2024

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Head Coach Laura Harvey and Captain/Defender Lauren Barnes

 

Head Coach Laura Harvey

 

On her overall thoughts ahead of the match against NJ/NY Gotham FC:

“Yeah, I think we’re excited to get back in front of the fans at Lumen. We’ve had a good week of training. Obviously coming off a Friday game and then not having a game until Monday, gives us a little bit of time, which has been nice. Hopefully, the weather sorts itself out. Yeah, we’re excited for it.”

 

On what will be key for the team to continue its momentum and get three points:

“I think much of the same. I think we’ve defensively been good. We’ve got to continue that. Gotham are a good team, they’ve got a lot of threats. When we create chances, we’ve got to take them, and I think that’s been what we’ve done over the last couple of weeks, and we want that to continue moving into tomorrow.”

 

On how Hanna Glas has settled into the team:

“She’s been doing great. I think she is someone that’s obviously had some injury stuff go on over recent years, but she’s been fully healthy now for quite a while, just been playing behind two people in Kansas that were doing a good job. So yeah, we brought her in with the thought process that this may happen with Sofia. But I think the thing with Hanna that’s really great is, I think previous to her injury, she’d have been spoken about as one of the best right backs in the world, so we know we’re getting someone who’s really talented, just hasn’t played a ton of minutes in the NWSL. But in the short time she’s been with us, she’s looked great.”

 

On the work Tziarra King has put in to achieve success and how the team has helped her find a rhythm:

“Yeah, I think she’s – just everything to be honest. I think she’s just worked on her game, and for some people, that can be like one specific thing. I think the thing that Zee’s (Tziarra King) always been very good at is the defensive side of the game. She understands it. She understands what we need. She understands how to execute it. And now, I think she’s in a a phase of her career where she can execute that for 90 minutes, which is huge. Secondly, she then also is becoming an attacking threat more and more week on week. So, I think that the areas that we have always spoken about, honestly for a while, was just this intangible or unquantifiable thing, there was just something missing. So, we tried working on everything. We tried doing little sessions together on our own, where she would just get a ton of reps in front of goal. But I think, I’m not going to take any credit for it. I think Zee needs to take all the credit for it. I think she’s pushed herself, challenged herself, evolved herself into what she wants her career to look like. I’m always a big believer of that. We’re just a vessel for players. We’re not the reason players succeed or don’t. We’re just the vessel that they choose to use or not. I think she’s been really focused on making sure she gives herself the best possible chance over the whole time I’ve known her, actually. I think this past season, she’s really found what it takes for her to give herself the best chance. So yeah, I’m really happy for her because I think she’s worked really hard at it.”

 

On the team’s mentality given recent changes to the roster:

“Yeah, I think we always have a mentality where we believe in the group. We believe in the players that we have here. We’ve always been that way. I think the players have taken what could be quite – change is often difficult – I think they’ve taken it in their stride and they’re ultimately professionals. I think that they know what is something that maybe happens to someone else is an opportunity for someone else. So, Sofia leaving is an opportunity for someone else. So, I think that that’s always the mentality. That’s what enables sort of the next-player-up mentality to be there and evolve.”

 

On the mental challenge of focusing on the task at hand while also looking at scores of other games:

“Not really. I think you always know in this league you have to take care of your own business. I do believe that we’re in a unique situation, arguably with everybody around us that, we don’t play many teams that aren’t in the same fight as us, obviously Gotham is one of them and Orlando is one of them. But outside of that, everyone we play is in and around it with us. So, obviously we want to go out and we want to win tomorrow, absolutely, but arguably beating Angel City and getting a result against Bay in our next two home games is arguably more important than beating Gotham. So, it’s not that any of it doesn’t matter, it all matters, but if we want to go and get where we want to get, which is the playoffs every year, we’ve got to try and take care of business at home. And that, obviously, is another opportunity tomorrow.”

 

On the pending availability report:

“Good. The only one that we that we are deciding on late is Jess.”

 

Captain/Defender Lauren Barnes

On her overall thoughts ahead of the match:

“Yeah, I’m excited. We’re obviously, you know, have a lot of momentum moving forward after these last couple of games, and I think for us, tomorrow’s a huge game. It’s going to really change our season. In the NWSL, it’s always kind of how you end, not necessarily how you start, and we’ve had that mentality for a while, so we keep plugging away and we’re really excited for Monday and to play a good side and really challenge ourselves and challenge this group. I think we’re up for the task. Yeah, it’s just been really good vibes and we’re ready to go.”

 

On how she has seen King evolve over the years, especially this season:

“Yeah, I think for me, she’s always had it. I’ve always seen this in Zee. I’ve played behind her a couple of times. But yeah, I think her commitment to really focusing on what we’ve asked of her, she’s done. I think that’s really incredible. It’s hard to do when you’re not getting the minutes you think you deserve or you’re in and out of the roster. To stay plugged in and continue to fight for a position is really hard to do and she’s done an exceptional job at that and has been very professional along the way. I think it’s paid off and that’s what we’re seeing right now through Zee. She’s such a beautiful mix of footballer and athlete and has really just slot in what we needed in that winger position and she’s thriving. And that’s been so truly fun for me to watch. I just told her in the gym a couple of days ago that she’s been our best player in the last four games and to continue to push that and challenge herself and continue to grow in what she sees she’s valued at and what we value her at. So, I think that’s been really incredible to see that development. But yeah, for me, she’s always had it. It’s just now she’s able to shine.”

 

On what she saw from Lily Woodham during her time here before going on loan:

“I think Lily was an incredible addition to the team, both on and off the field. She’s got a great personality and brought a lot of new energy and healthy energy that we needed in this group. Her raw ability as an athlete is something that’s going to be – she’s going to suit this league very well. I always think jumping from Europe over here, she’s young, she needs time to develop. And I think, when you can’t get the games that you need and that you need to still get games, unfortunately it’s the business of what we do. So, I think her going to get games is really incredible and we’re excited for her to get those minutes. And a lot of that, you get your confidence back, you get more development, more minutes, and I think slotting her back in in January is going to be incredible. She’s very much missed in this locker room. We feel it every single day. So yeah, I’m really excited for her future. She’s a natural fullback, which is also hard to find. She’s naturally left footed. She’s got the speed. She’s got everything, all the qualities. So, I’m really excited for those all to come together and watch her kill the NWSL.”

 

On what she has seen from Hanna Glas:

“Yeah, for me, what she’s brought and exactly what we needed right now is experience and leadership and I’ve seen that since the day she’s walked into this locker room. I think, historically, especially this year, we’ve changed the backline quite a bit and that’s just hard to manage and maneuver within games. So, I think bringing her in gives us that calmness and she’s able to kind of just come in and do exactly what we need her to do because she’s experienced. I think not having to do too much coaching around that is exactly what we need, so I think bringing her in was a great decision. Yeah, she slotted in really well. She fits in this group really well, so I’m excited to see her.”

 

On leading the team as a captain and ensuring the locker room still has a positive vibe while also missing time due to injury:

“I think this has been one of the most difficult years for me in that sense because of the minutes missed and not being around the group as much as I want to. So yeah, I’ve been having to navigate that myself, but I think it’s also given us a unique opportunity for people to step into those roles and we’ve done it seamlessly, and I’m really proud of the group for doing that and being able to carry really anything from a lot of different players. We’ve seen the leadership come through from so many different players and that’s what you want to see when something like this happens. Honestly, when we’re transitioning as well, we’re not going to be here forever, so this needs to happen organically and naturally and it is. So yeah, I mean, I think this group has been great. Change is always beautiful. So, I think the new people coming into the group have brought new energy. They haven’t really had to endure the first part of the season that we did, which is hard to when you’re not winning and you’re losing and they’ve kind of come in without that mindset, so it’s great. And they’re coming just like, we want to win, we want to change the season around and we’ve seen that. It’s been, yeah, super healthy and helpful. Yeah, the vibes are amazing right now, so it’s been really, really fun to see. I’m excited to see what the end of the season has.”

 

On if she has learned anything new about herself while missing time from the team:

“Oh yeah, I mean, I’ve never really had to deal with a bad injury, and this one has been a unique one. It’s not even necessarily bad, but I’ve never had to really sit out. So, I think for me, yeah, there was a lot of tears, a lot of confusion, a lot of frustration all mixed together. So yeah, I think I learned a lot about myself and to really accept what’s happening and trust the process, which you know, when you’re older and you’re having to do this later in your career, it’s hard to do. I’m not young. I’m not recovering as well as I used to, so my time is short. So yeah, there’s kind of a clock ticking in the back of my head at all times, and I want to get out there as much as I can, but I also realize that my role is always going to be evolving and changing and for me to accept whatever role that is, I’m going to do the best I can at it and still be able to impact the team as much as I can. I realize that I can do that in other ways than being on the field, which has been a good reminder.”