Seattle, WA
Lauren Barnes returns to Seattle Reign for the 2025 season
Seattle Reign announced on Tuesday that the club has re-signed Lauren Barnes for the 2025 season. The 35-year-old defender and Reign original returns to Seattle for her 13th season with the club.
Barnes currently has the league record for the most appearances (232), starts (224), and minutes (19,795). She was the first player in league history to reach 200 games played. When the 2025 season kicks off, she’ll join Jess Fishlock as the only two players to feature for the same club since the league launched in 2013.
“I’m thrilled to sign a new contract with the Reign, a place that has been my home since I first joined the club in 2013,” said Barnes in a team release. “This club means so much to me – not just for what we’ve accomplished on the field but for the impact we’ve been able to make in the community. I’m proud to continue this journey with my teammates, our incredible fans and the city I love. Together, we’re building something special, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
The team’s long-time captain will continue to be a veteran presence in the locker room and on the soccer field, helping provide leadership to an increasingly young roster. Playing both centerback and left back over the years, Barnes has been a key figure on the Reign’s defense, which has been one of the stingiest in the league until last year. In 2016, Barnes was named NWSL Defender of the Year – helping the Reign earn eight clean sheets in their 20-game season and set a new NWSL record for consecutive shutouts (5).
She was named to the NWSL Best XI First Team in 2015 and 2016 and earned Best XI Second Team honors in 2014 and 2019. In three separate years (2019, 2022, and 2023), Barnes finished the NWSL season in the top 10 in the number of dribblers tackled. She also was in the top five in interceptions in 2023. As one of the core leaders on the team, Barnes has helped the Reign earn three NWSL Shields (2014, 2015, 2022), advance to three NWSL finals (2014, 2015, 2023), and play in seven NWSL semifinal matches.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Lu Barnes back to the Reign this season,” said Reign General Manager Lesle Gallimore. “From the very beginning, Lu has been the heart and soul of this club, and her legacy here is unparalleled. As a world-class defender and leader in the NWSL, her influence extends far beyond the field. We are excited to see the immense impact she will continue to have on our team and the Reign community this season.”
In addition to her strong defensive chops, Barnes has been important to how the Reign builds their attack from the backline. Last year, the Reign struggled to break down presses, which has been one of Barnes’ strengths in the NWSL. In 2023, for example, she completed the third-most passes into the final third and had the seventh-most touches. While it doesn’t always show up in stats this clearly, this is a truly underrated part of Barnes’ skillset.
While Barnes dealt with injuries and health challenges in 2024, she still played nearly 1,500 minutes and made 21 appearances. As June/Ash Eden highlighted in the 2024 Valkyratings, like many Reign players last season, Barnes had mixed performances throughout the year. She has great field vision and is often the one communicating with and leading the backline, but she was prone to a few costly mistakes. While Barnes might not be a regular starter in 2025, she should continue to provide veteran leadership and mentor young defenders like Jordyn Bugg.
The club veteran has also established important roots in the region. She’s been active in environmental efforts in the Pacific Northwest and other community outreach activities led by the Reign and Seattle Sounders. Last fall, she joined current and former Reign teammates Olivia Van der Jagt, Fishlock, and Sam Hiatt in becoming part of the ownership group of Salmon Bay FC, Ballard’s new pre-professional women’s soccer team that will compete in the USL W League this spring.
The Reign captain has been involved in several other community efforts. Barnes has pledged 1% of her salary toward Common Goal to fund the growth and development of Football For Her, a California-based nonprofit that provides safe spaces for youth who identify as female or nonbinary to play soccer. She also works with Players for the Planet, an organization of professional athletes who are striving to make a difference by eliminating plastic, creating recycling initiatives and prioritizing conservation efforts.
The California native attended UCLA (2007-10), where she started in 95 of 97 games played and led the Bruins in assists in back-to-back seasons as a junior and senior.
The Seattle Seahawks’ new ownership group may be just like the old one: a team of basketball owners.
In addition to being the first known bidders for the Seahawks, Mittal and Grousbeck were the only names listed on their letter of interest to the Allen Estate. Since Mittal lives in London, Grousbeck would likely be running operations from Seattle and live there part-time, as per Sportico.
But wait, there’s more.
Vinod Khosla, an investor in the division rival San Francisco 49ers, has also been named as a potential buyer. Last year, Khosla was one of a few nearby investors to purchase equity in the 49ers, with the team’s total valuation reaching north of $8.5 billion at the time. The specifics of the individual stakes were not made public, but Sportico reports that Khosla’s was the largest of the group.
The Seahawks are valued at just under $7 billion, but they will likely be sold for more. If Khosla were to purchase the team from Jody Allen, he would obviously need to sell his stake in the Niners. This type of move is becoming increasingly common in today’s NFL, which has seen former Pittsburgh Steelers minority owners David Tepper and Josh Harris acquire the Panthers and Commanders, respectively.
Harris, who bought a controlling interest in the Commanders in 2023, purchased the team from Dan Snyder for over $6 billion, the largest figure for such an acquisition for an NFL franchise. No matter who ends up purchasing the Seahawks from the Allen Estate, Harris’s record will surely be broken.
GRAHAM, Wash. – As Washington faces a spring with severely low snowpack, fire districts across the state are ramping up preparations for Wildfire Awareness Month. At Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, some of the most effective team members are focusing on prevention, through meal time.
Station 96, now affectionately nicknamed “The Goat House,” deployed a herd of goats to serve as official “fuel mitigation specialists.” These four-legged lawnmowers are tasked with clearing thick vegetation and maintaining the retention pond area around the station to ensure dry brush doesn’t become fuel for a potential fire.
The ‘G.O.A.T.’ of mitigation
While they may not look like your typical firefighters—and they certainly lack a sense of professional decorum—officials say the herd is setting a regional standard for wildfire prevention.
“They are the GOAT of […] fuel mitigation,” joked Wildfire Coordinator Jake Weigley.
The strategy is as practical as it is adorable. By having the goats graze the land, the department avoids spending crew downtime on weed whackers. This keeps firefighters ready for what they do best: responding to emergencies.
“It does save the taxpayers money, because our crews are able to focus on training and responding to calls,” Weigley said.
The “GoatFundMe’ account
Despite their official titles, these specialists aren’t on the public payroll. Their snacks, veterinary care, and general upkeep are funded internally through a “GoatFundMe” account, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions from fire department and county employees.
The department hopes these stubborn workers will inspire residents to take notes on their own “defensible space” at home. Much like the goats clearing the field, fire officials recommend homeowners hardscape and remove any fuels that could carry a fire toward buildings.
A heightened season of awareness
The timing is critical. Following a winter with low precipitation, officials are on high alert for the upcoming fire season, though the full severity remains a question mark until the summer heat truly hits.
“We’re in a heightened level of awareness based on our snowpack and precipitation over the winter,” Weigley said. “But until fire season really gets started, we won’t know how severe it will be.”
Residents interested in meeting the herd can monitor the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Facebook page for upcoming station events and community open houses. They ask to protect the goat’s health, you do not feed them.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting from FOX 13 Seattle reporter Taylor Winkel.
Bryan Woo was the best pitcher the Seattle Mariners had in 2025 as they made their run to the playoffs.
He looked like that guy again on Wednesday afternoon.
Seattle Mariners 3, Atlanta Braves 1: Recap | Box score | Standings
Woo shook off a pair of recent shaky outings to go six scoreless, one-hit innings to lead the Mariners to a 3-1 win that clinched a series victory over the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves.
The 26-year-old right-hander worked around a pair of walks while tying his season-high with nine strikeouts.
Woo had a 2.25 ERA through his first five starts of the season, but he ran into trouble on Seattle’s last road trip, allowing seven runs on nine hits including four home runs at St. Louis on April 25. He struggled again last Friday, giving up four runs in the first inning and six runs total over six frames in a loss at home to Kansas City.
Those two outings pushed Woo’s ERA up to 4.61, but he lowered it to 4.02 on the year with his start Wednesday.
What Rowland-Smith sees in Woo’s recent struggles
With Woo dominant on the mound, the Mariners’ offense didn’t need to do too much to build a lead against the Braves. Seattle went up 1-0 when designated hitter Cal Raleigh came up with no outs and hit into a bases-loaded double play in the third inning, scoring catcher Jhonny Pereda.
Julio Rodríguez contributed with a little more volume in the sixth inning, blasting a 436-foot solo home run to center off of Braves starter Martín Pérez to put the M’s up 2-0. And after the Braves scored one in the eighth, team RBI leader Cole Young added some insurance by bringing home Josh Naylor home with his second double of the game.
The Mariners came back to beat Atlanta 5-4 on Monday, then had to bounce back Wednesday after falling 3-2 Tuesday night following Braves slugger Matt Olson’s go-ahead homer off of closer Andrés Muñoz in the ninth inning.
Seattle improved to 18-20 with the win, while the Braves dropped to 26-12. It was the first series loss of 2026 for Atlanta.
Houston Astros lose star Carlos Correa for season
The M’s are off Thursday, then begin a seven-game road trip at 4:40 p.m. Friday against the White Sox in Chicago. Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports of that series opener will begin at 3:30 with the pregame show.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Top prospect Colt Emerson snaps slump with HR, three-hit game
• M’s prospect Kade Anderson could benefit from new challenge
• Mariners place Gabe Speier on IL, add two lefty relievers
• Mariners showing some concerning signs on defense
• Seattle Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten on a tear in High-A
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