# 2020 OL Reign season

The 2020 OL Reign season was the team's eighth season of play and their eighth season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. It is the team's first season under new majority owner OL Groupe, the parent company of French soccer clubs Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and the resultant new team name.
After leading the team for the past two seasons, former head coach Vlatko Andonovski departed in October 2019 to become the head coach of the United States women's national soccer team. Frenchman Farid Benstiti was named the third head coach in team history in January 2020.
On March 12, 2020, the preseason match schedule was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the NWSL announced on March 20 that the regular season start will be delayed.
On May 27, 2020, the NWSL announced that the 2020 Challenge Cup will mark the return to action following the COVID-19 pandemic. The 25-game tournament, to be held from June 27 to July 26, will be hosted by the owner of Utah Royals FC Dell Loy Hansen. Subsequently, OL Reign resumed team preseason training in Missoula, Montana, on June 1.
On June 22, 2020, the NWSL announced, in conjunction with the full rules and regulations for the 2020 Challenge Cup, that the 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs have been canceled.
On August 25, 2020, the NWSL announced that the season will continue with the Fall Series, where the nine teams are divided into three regional pods and play four games each.

## Team
### Coaching staff

| Position | Staff |
| Head Coach | Farid Benstiti |
| Assistant Coach | Sam Laity |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Ljupčo Kmetovski |
| Video Analyst | Matt Dorman |
| Director of High Performance | Nick Leman |
Last updated: August 14, 2020 Source: https://www.reignfc.com/roster

### Roster

    As of October 10, 2020.
| No. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Since | Previous team | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | Michelle Betos | (1988-02-20)February 20, 1988 (aged 32) | 2018 | Vålerenga | |
| 26 | Casey Murphy | (1996-04-25)April 25, 1996 (aged 23) | 2019 | Montpellier | |
| 29 | Carly Nelson | (1997-02-11)February 11, 1997 (aged 23) | 2020 | Utah Utes | STA |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | Amber Brooks | (1991-01-23)January 23, 1991 (aged 29) | 2020 | Adelaide United | |
| 3 | Lauren Barnes (co-captain) | (1989-05-31)May 31, 1989 (aged 30) | 2013 | Philadelphia Independence | LOA |
| 13 | Celia Jiménez Delgado | (1995-06-20)June 20, 1995 (aged 24) | 2019 | FC Rosengård | INT, LOA |
| 14 | Steph Cox | (1986-04-03)April 3, 1986 (aged 34) | 2019 | Retirement | |
| 16 | Julia Ashley | (1996-11-11)November 11, 1996 (aged 23) | 2020 | Adelaide United | |
| 19 | Kristen McNabb | (1994-04-17)April 17, 1994 (aged 26) | 2017 | Virginia Cavaliers | |
| 23 | Taylor Smith | (1993-12-01)December 1, 1993 (aged 26) | 2019 | Washington Spirit | |
| 27 | Sam Hiatt | (1998-01-06)January 6, 1998 (aged 22) | 2020 | Stanford Cardinal | STA |
| 30 | Machaela George | (1997-10-03)October 3, 1997 (aged 22) | 2020 | Santa Clara Broncos | LOA |
| 33 | Kimberly Hazlett | (1998-03-16)March 16, 1998 (aged 22) | 2020 | Portland Pilots | STA |
| 99 | Madison Hammond | (1997-11-15)November 15, 1997 (aged 22) | 2020 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 5 | Quinn | (1995-08-11)August 11, 1995 (aged 24) | 2019 | Paris FC | INT, LOA |
| 6 | Allie Long | (1987-08-13)August 13, 1987 (aged 32) | 2018 | Portland Thorns | FED |
| 10 | Jess Fishlock | (1987-01-14)January 14, 1987 (aged 33) | 2013 | Bristol Academy | LOA |
| 12 | Morgan Andrews | (1995-03-25)March 25, 1995 (aged 25) | 2018 | Boston Breakers | |
| 17 | Dani Weatherholt | (1994-03-17)March 17, 1994 (aged 26) | 2020 | Orlando Pride | |
| 25 | Kelcie Hedge | (1997-09-19)September 19, 1997 (aged 22) | 2020 | Santa Clara Broncos | |
| 28 | Shirley Cruz | (1985-08-28)August 28, 1985 (aged 34) | 2020 | Alajuelense | INT |
| 31 | Rosie White | (1993-06-06)June 6, 1993 (aged 26) | 2019 | Chicago Red Stars | INT |
| Forwards |||||||
| 11 | Darian Jenkins | (1995-01-05)January 5, 1995 (aged 25) | 2019 | North Carolina Courage | LOA |
| 15 | Megan Rapinoe (co-captain) | (1985-07-05)July 5, 1985 (aged 34) | 2013 | Lyon | FED |
| 18 | Miranda Nild | (1997-04-01)April 1, 1997 (aged 23) | 2020 | Gintra Universitetas | STA |
| 20 | Sofia Huerta | (1992-12-14)December 14, 1992 (aged 27) | 2020 | Sydney FC | |
| 21 | Nicole Momiki | (1996-04-09)April 9, 1996 (aged 24) | 2020 | Nippon TV Beleza | LOA |
| 22 | Jasmyne Spencer | (1990-08-27)August 27, 1990 (aged 29) | 2018 | Orlando Pride | |
| 24 | Bethany Balcer | (1997-03-07)March 7, 1997 (aged 23) | 2019 | Spring Arbor Cougars | |
| 35 | Leah Pruitt | (1997-09-05)September 5, 1997 (aged 22) | 2020 | North Carolina Courage | |
* ↑ denotes a season-ending injury.
* ↑ Until September 2020 known as Rebecca Quinn

## Competitions

Win  Tie  Loss
All times are in PT unless otherwise noted.

### Regular season

On February 25, 2020, the NWSL announced the full, 24-game schedule for the regular season. However, the regular season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 22, 2020, the NWSL announced that the 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs have been canceled.

### Playoffs

On June 22, 2020, the NWSL announced that the 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs have been canceled.

### Challenge Cup
#### Preliminary round
##### Preliminary round standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | North Carolina Courage | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 12 |
| 2 | Washington Spirit | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | OL Reign | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 5 |
| 4 | Houston Dash | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
| 5 | Utah Royals FC (H) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 7 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 8 | Portland Thorns FC | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 |
* 1 2 Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).

#### Knockout round
### Fall Series
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 10 | Community Shield |
| 2 | Houston Dash | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 9 | Runners-up |
| 3 | Washington Spirit | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | Third place |
| 4 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 6 | |
| 5 | North Carolina Courage | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 5 | |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | |
| 7 | OL Reign | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 4 | |
| 8 | Orlando Pride | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 2 | |
| 9 | Utah Royals FC | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | |

## Appearances and goals

    As of October 18, 2020; only players who have made appearances are listed.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Challenge Cup | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Fall Series |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers: ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | USA | Michelle Betos | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | USA | Casey Murphy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Defenders: ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | USA | Amber Brooks | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 14 | DF | USA | Steph Cox | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | USA | Kristen McNabb | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | USA | Taylor Smith | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | USA | Sam Hiatt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | USA | Kim Hazlett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 99 | DF | USA | Madison Hammond | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| Midfielders: ||||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | USA | Allie Long | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | USA | Morgan Andrews | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | USA | Dani Weatherholt | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | CRC | Shirley Cruz | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | NZL | Rosie White | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 |
| Forwards: ||||||||||||||
| 18 | FW | THA | Miranda Nild | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | USA | Sofia Huerta | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 22 | FW | USA | Jasmyne Spencer | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | USA | Bethany Balcer | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 35 | FW | USA | Leah Pruitt | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 |
| Players who left the team during the season: ||||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | USA | Lauren Barnes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | USA | Alana Cook | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | CAN | Quinn | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Jodie Taylor | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Jess Fishlock | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | USA | Darian Jenkins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | ESP | Celia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | USA | Mariah Lee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | JPN | Nicole Momiki | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | USA | Adrienne Jordan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Own goals for: ||||||||||||||
* Source:

## Transfers

For incoming transfers, dates listed are when OL Reign officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired (e.g., draft picks) are not listed. For outgoing transfers, dates listed are when OL Reign officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another team. If a player later signed with another team, her new team will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when she was officially removed from the OL Reign roster.

### Transfers in

| Date | Player | Pos | Signed From | Notes |
| January 22, 2020 | Dani Weatherholt | MF | Orlando Pride | Traded in exchange for the team's natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft |
| March 4, 2020 | Julia Ashley | DF | Adelaide United | Free |
| March 4, 2020 | Amber Brooks | DF | Adelaide United | Free |
| March 4, 2020 | Sofia Huerta | FW | Sydney FC | Free |
| March 6, 2020 | Kelcie Hedge | MF | Santa Clara Broncos | Free |
| March 17, 2020 | Shirley Cruz | MF | Alajuelense | Free |
| May 22, 2020 | Nicole Momiki | FW | Nippon TV Beleza | Free |
| June 1, 2020 | Adrienne Jordan | DF | Birmingham City | Free |
| June 23, 2020 | Carly Nelson | GK | Utah Utes | Signed to short-term agreement |
| June 23, 2020 | Machaela George | DF | Santa Clara Broncos | Signed as National Team Replacement Player |
| June 23, 2020 | Madison Hammond | DF | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Free |
| June 23, 2020 | Mariah Lee | FW | FF Lugano | Signed to short-term agreement |
| June 23, 2020 | Leah Pruitt | FW | North Carolina Courage | Claimed off waivers |
| August 16, 2020 | Rose Lavelle | MF | Washington Spirit | Traded in exchange for the team's natural first-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft, $100,000 in allocation money, and conditional allocation money |
| September 4, 2020 | Kimberly Hazlett | DF | Portland Pilots | Signed to short-term agreement |
| September 4, 2020 | Sam Hiatt | DF | Stanford Cardinal | Signed to short-term agreement |
| September 4, 2020 | Miranda Nild | FW | Gintra Universitetas | Signed to short-term agreement |
| September 10, 2020 | Carly Nelson | GK | OL Reign | Signed to short-term agreement |

#### Draft picks

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as incoming transfers. Only trades involving draft picks and executed on the day of the 2020 NWSL College Draft will be listed in the notes.
| Player | Pos | Previous Team | Notes |
| Kelcie Hedge | MF | Santa Clara Broncos | Round 1, Pick 9 (9th overall) |
| Sam Hiatt | DF | Stanford Cardinal | Round 4, Pick 6 (33rd overall) |
| Meg Brandt | MF | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Round 4, Pick 7 (34th overall); pick acquired from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the rights to Christen Westphal |

### Transfers out

| Date | Player | Pos | Destination Team | Notes |
| November 4, 2019 | Scout Watson | GK | | Team option not exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Jaycie Johnson | FW | Kansas City | Team option not exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Lydia Williams | GK | Melbourne City | Free |
| November 27, 2019 | Theresa Nielsen | DF | Brøndby | Free |
| January 16, 2020 | Christen Westphal | DF | Portland Thorns | Traded in exchange for the 34th overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft |
| January 17, 2020 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | Sky Blue FC | Traded in exchange for the rights to Julia Ashley |
| January 22, 2020 | Schuyler DeBree | DF | | Player Elected Leave; retired on June 23 |
| January 22, 2020 | Morgan Proffitt | MF | | Retired |
| January 22, 2020 | Addison Steiner | FW | | Waived |
| February 3, 2020 | Shea Groom | FW | Houston Dash | Traded, along with Megan Oyster and a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft, in exchange for the rights to Amber Brooks and Sofia Huerta |
| February 3, 2020 | Megan Oyster | DF | Houston Dash | Traded, along with Shea Groom and a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft, in exchange for the rights to Amber Brooks and Sofia Huerta |
| February 10, 2020 | Bev Yanez | MF | California Storm | Retired |
| February 13, 2020 | Sammy Jo Prudhomme | GK | | Waived |
| March 4, 2020 | Rumi Utsugi | MF | Tokyo Verdy Beleza | Free |
| May 27, 2020 | Steph Catley | DF | Arsenal | Elected not to return |
| July 31, 2020 | Carly Nelson | GK | OL Reign | Out of contract |
| July 31, 2020 | Mariah Lee | FW | Celtic | Out of contract |
| August 4, 2020 | Jodie Taylor | FW | Lyon | Undisclosed |
| August 12, 2020 | Adrienne Jordan | DF | UDG Tenerife | Free |
| August 18, 2020 | Rose Lavelle | MF | Manchester City | Free |

### Loans in

| Start | End | Player | Pos | Parent Team | Notes | Ref |
| June 16, 2020 | July 31, 2020 | Alana Cook | DF | Paris Saint-Germain | For the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup | |

### Loans out

| Start | End | Player | Pos | Destination Team | Notes |
| November 4, 2019 | March 22, 2020 | Lauren Barnes | DF | Melbourne City | For the 2019–20 W-League season |
| November 4, 2019 | March 22, 2020 | Steph Catley | DF | Melbourne City | For the 2019–20 W-League season |
| November 5, 2019 | March 15, 2020 | Darian Jenkins | FW | Melbourne Victory | For the 2019–20 W-League season |
| November 7, 2019 | March 1, 2020 | Celia Jiménez Delgado | DF | Perth Glory | For the 2019–20 W-League season |
| November 7, 2019 | March 1, 2020 | Morgan Andrews | MF | Perth Glory | For the 2019–20 W-League season |
| August 12, 2020 | December 31, 2020 | Quinn | MF | Vittsjö | |
| August 14, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | Lauren Barnes | DF | Kristianstad | |
| August 14, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | Nicole Momiki | FW | Linköping | |
| August 19, 2020 | April 5, 2021 | Jess Fishlock | MF | Reading | |
| August 28, 2020 | December 31, 2020 | Machaela George | DF | Fortuna Hjørring | |
| August 28, 2020 | February 28, 2021 | Darian Jenkins | FW | Bordeaux | |
| September 23, 2020 | February 28, 2021 | Celia Jiménez Delgado | DF | Lyon | |

### New contracts

| Date | Player | Pos | Notes |
| November 4, 2019 | Sammy Jo Prudhomme | GK | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Casey Murphy | GK | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Steph Catley | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Steph Cox | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Schuyler DeBree | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Celia Jiménez Delgado | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Kristen McNabb | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Megan Oyster | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Taylor Smith | DF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Morgan Andrews | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Allie Long | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Quinn | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Rosie White | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Bev Yanez | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Morgan Proffitt | MF | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Shea Groom | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Darian Jenkins | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Megan Rapinoe | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Addison Steiner | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Jodie Taylor | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Bethany Balcer | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | Team option exercised |
| November 4, 2019 | Jasmyne Spencer | FW | Team option exercised |
| January 22, 2020 | Jodie Taylor | FW | Signed to a new contract |
| February 10, 2020 | Jess Fishlock | MF | Re-signed |
| February 13, 2020 | Lauren Barnes | DF | Re-signed |
| February 25, 2020 | Bethany Balcer | FW | Signed to a new contract |
| March 5, 2020 | Michelle Betos | GK | Re-signed |
| August 12, 2020 | Machaela George | DF | Signed to a standard contract |
| August 12, 2020 | Quinn | MF | Signed to a new contract |
| August 28, 2020 | Darian Jenkins | FW | Re-signed |

## Awards
### FIFA FIFPro Women's World 11

* Megan Rapinoe: World 11
* Shirley Cruz: shortlisted

### BBC Women's Footballer of the Year

* Megan Rapinoe (nominee)

### Women's International Champions Cup

* Best XI: Megan Rapinoe