Post-Training Press Conference • 3-21-23

Head Coach Laura Harvey and Defender Sofia Huerta

 

Head Coach Laura Harvey

 

On how training went today:

“Yeah, good. Just a little session back after a long trip. So yeah, wanted to get a little bit of work in, but not too much.”

 

On balancing wear and tear on the players:

“Yeah, the Portland Tournament is always a long week. We sort of plan the week where we train really hard in between the games. So yeah, we wanted to sort of taper down this week in preparation for the game on Sunday.”

 

On how excited she is to start the season on Sunday:

“Can’t wait. Yeah, can’t wait. It’s been a long preseason. We’re excited to get at it again. I think that the tournament we play in preseason down in Portland sets us up for that because playing against them, it’s never a friendly – it’s like a proper game, so I feel like we set the tone in that game of what we want to try and do.”

 

On the final roster:

“Yeah, I feel great. I think we did our moves early on, so we haven’t done too many. We’re still waiting for (midfielder) Luany to come to market. We’ve got a couple of little niggling injuries, but nothing major. Yeah, just excited to get going.”

 

On what to expect against Washington:

“Yeah, they’re a talented roster. I think with (Washington Spirit head coach) Mark (Parsons) coming back to league, he knows what this league is about. It’s not like a new coach coming to the league who doesn’t understand the NWSL. He knows what it takes to win in this league, so yeah. We expect a really difficult game.”

 

On Memorial Stadium renovations and memories there:

“I knew a little bit, but I haven’t read too much about it. I did love it, yeah. I mean it would be amazing. Building a new site there, having a modern stadium on that complex was always a dream for anyone who was there, and I have amazing memories of Memorial. There’s too many to probably name. Beating Portland 5-0 is one. But yeah, too many honestly, I think. To have soccer there at some point would be a fantastic thing for the city.”

 

On the idea of OL Reign going to play at Memorial:

“I truly don’t know how big it would be. I think, for us, building the fanbase and getting people out to games is priority. If it lent into the amount of fans that we could get into the stadium and we could expand from there, then yeah, I would be interested. But I think Lumen is a fantastic home for us. Obviously with the World cup coming to Seattle in 2026, we know that there’s going to have to be things done to Lumen that actually benefit us, so I’m as excited for what Lumen could like in the near future as I am for the potential of Memorial.”

 

On how the league has progressed since 2013:

“Yeah, I mean it’s exploded probably over the last two years on levels that I think were things we always wanted. I think it was a slow burner to start, but those that stuck it out and could always believe that what we are starting to gradually see now could be what the future could hold, I think we all believed it, and thankfully, now, we are starting to see it. So, I’m really excited for it.”

 

On how the competition has been:

“It’s always the most competitive league in the world. There’s no concept anywhere else in the world that’s like this, where everyone can beat anyone on any given day. Obviously, the thing that we were always striving for, which other leagues around the world have, are the facilities and the support mechanisms that other clubs around the world have for their players. Thankfully, we are starting to hit the ground on what they can be and make that better as we go. So, I think this league will always be the most competitive, we now just need to brush on all the other things off the field to make sure that we continue to be the best.”

 

On starting the season on the road:

“I can’t remember the last time that we opened at home – not since I’ve been back. So yeah, going to the East Coast is always hard. The fact that we are staying over there for the second game, I think is good, is that we don’t have to come back and go back. Obviously, I think the league just loves playing Seattle-Washington as the first game of the season. I’d love to know how times that’s happened for 10 years. Yeah, I think going East [Coast] is tough, but we’re prepared for it. We’ve obviously been on the road a lot in preseason, so it’s just another trip.”

 

On if there’s anything specific that isn’t quite there for the team this preseason:

“Not anything specific. I just think until you really play against NWSL opposition, which obviously we did Louisville and the Portland game, you don’t really know the things that you really have to work on, so obviously that Portland game was a good eye-opener for us on that. I’m glad that we were able to do it in that and not the first game of the season, so there’s nothing specific, I just think when you start a season and it’s long, ideally you want to hit the ground running and be amazing from day one, but I think you know that there’s going to be things that you’re not going to be unbelievable at. I think they just have to be things that aren’t going to define a game, so we know we need to be really good in both 18-yard boxes, be solid defensively and we’re always a threat going forward.”

 

 

Defender Sofia Huerta

 

On today’s practice:

“Practice was good today. We had a long tournament in Portland. We love going to that tournament, but it is a longer time to be away from home and it is hard on your body. So, we got two days off and we’re back for training this week. It was very good, thank God it’s not raining, it’s always a plus.”

 

On getting ready for the season: 

“I feel like since I’ve been in the league, the preseasons have become longer, longer and longer, which is a good thing because we have so much time to work on certain things. I think we are really prepared, our coaching staff has gotten us ready. Even playing in the Portland Tournament, I feel like we knew exactly what we were supposed to do. Now, it’s just fine-tuning those things. Before we came to practice, we watched film for 40 minutes because we’re inches off of it just being really good. This week is just focusing on what we do well. Obviously, Washington is a team that has definitely given us trouble for the last couple years. People don’t forget two years ago when we lost in the semifinal. So, we just have to go out and do what we can do and hopefully cause problems for them.”

 

On traveling to Washington for the first game:

“I think this year is really exciting. I think we’ve made some pretty good additions to the team and (defender Emily) Sonnett is just such an addition, asset for this team. Such a good player and another winner on our team. So, I think we’re all just very excited and last year we got (forward) Jordyn Huitema and we have just been adding pieces over the years, I got here not too long ago. I think we are really excited for this year. I think we have such good players in every spot that we have and then our bench is super deep. I think we have a lot of excitement surrounding this season. Obviously, we want to repeat winning the Shield but most importantly, we want to win the championship. “

 

On balancing between the World Cup and the season and if there is a different approach she is taking into the season:

“I think that, personally, I just try to pretend like there is not [a different approach]. Of course, in the back of my mind, the World Cup is coming up, you know (USWNT head coach) Vlatko (Andonovski) is going to be making decisions but ultimately, the way I’m going to make that team is if I’m playing well with my club team. We have this camp coming up, hopefully if I get invited, and then we have a month and a half, a pretty long stint with our club team. So, for me, I’m not really focusing on the World Cup, I’m just focusing everyday with the Reign and then I feel like if I do well, then that will pay off and hopefully I’ll be selected for the World Cup.”

 

On her personal approach to the World Cup:

“I just think I’ve been a pro for a long time and I’ve realized that thinking ahead never serves me. It’s just staying in the moment and being present because if I think too far ahead, then I just feel like I won’t be able to focus on the task at hand and right now, what I’m focusing on is our game against Washington.”

 

On the Washington Spirit:

“They have some very dangerous players on their team. They obviously have had a lot of changes over the last couple of years – a new coaching staff, even a new front office. They’ve had a lot of change, which I think will be difficult for a team going into a new season. But they have really good players on their team, we’re always talking about their goal scorers, even their backline is solid. I think they’re always going to be a good team regardless, so we’re excited and again, I think we just need to focus on ourselves. That’s ultimately what (head coach) Laura (Harvey) always tells us. It’s about what we can do because we’re on an away game. I do think we’re a little unstoppable.”

 

On the positioning of players:

“Going off of what I said, we have so many versatile players on our team. If you look at (defender Emily) Sonnett, who, right now, is playing in the midfield, she’s very familiar with playing out wide and then in the center. Same with (midfielder) Jess (Fishlock) and (midfielder) Rose (Lavelle), we can kind of interchange. Rose as well can play out wide or inside. So, I just think it’s just knowing that we all need to be aware of where each other are. If I see someone out wide, then I’m just going to go in. I just think that we have the key players that we need to be able to play a system like that because the more we’re moving, the harder it is for teams to deal with us.

 

On having more time to prepare this season:

“I think that, last year we added (forward) Jordyn (Huitema), so even getting her into the team, it’s always difficult to do that. Now that we’ve had more time this year, I just think that our team is going to be really good and I’m really excited.”

 

On the biggest key of this season:

“I think the biggest key is always just fine-tuning what we’re good at. Last year, our defense was really good, we allowed the least amount of goals the whole season, which obviously, as a defender, I’m really proud of, our backline is really good. Last year, we created all of these opportunities, but we weren’t scoring a lot of goals and we’re going to continue creating opportunities because that’s just the type of players we have on this team – very creative, very goal-oriented. Now, it’s just, can we finish those opportunities and get the goals up because I think that we have some really quality goal scorers: Jordyn Huitema, (forward Bethany) Balcer, they are unreal. They could be a starter on any team in this league. So, that could be the biggest key for us and again, fine-tuning where we’re good at ourselves.”

 

On defender Sam Hiatt:

“(Defender) Sam Hiatt is absolutely incredible. We have some pretty big names on our team, so her name kind of flies under the radar. Last year, there were some funny nicknames for her on Twitter like, ‘Sammy the Shredder’ or Sammy the – I don’t even remember some of them, but it was just so funny. We were like, yes, people are starting to talk about Sammy because she is so good, she is such a solid player and such a good person as well. I just think, for someone like Sam, and I think she knows this but just knowing how important she is to the team, she’s so good at breaking lines, so solid defensively. She’s quiet but if we didn’t have her, it would be really noticeable. I think Sam Hiatt is one of the most underrated players in the league, for sure. I’ll go tell her that right now. I’m sure she’ll love to hear that. I have nothing but good things to say about Sam.”

 

Download Quotes Here: Post-Training Press Conference • 3-21-23