OL Reign are actually leading the NWSL with 13 points ahead of Portland Thorns Washington Spirit and Gotham FC who are just one point behind. In fact, OL Reign’s current good run of form definitely deserves more attention since it is confirming that OL Reign are on the right path to finishing at the top of the league this regular season, just like they did last season when they finished at the top with 40 points, one point ahead of Portland Thorns.
Their mission will not be a simple one since the level is getting more advanced with each season and the competition is becoming more fierce. This being said, OL Reign have every possibility to still finish at the top since they have some quality players in most positions and they are good enough from both an attacking and defensive perspective.
In this tactical analysis scout report, we will explore what makes this team excel in the NWSL so far and what they improved compared to last year in terms of tactics and formations. Plus, the analysis will look at the team’s attacking strengths mainly and delve deeper into their attacking systems.
What OL Reign changed and improved from last season?
Compared to last season, OL Reign are actually looking a bit more decisive in terms of finishing and the numbers suggest that the team have been working on improving this finishing aspect in the off-season, and their work has been paying off.
The following two graphics highlight the difference between this seasons and last season’s xG, the number of shots and the number of scored goals. And although it is early to compare the two seasons’ statistics, it is however useful to notice the difference, especially in terms of the number of goals compared to the number of shots. In this first part of the season, OL Reign have already scored almost half of last season’s goals while shooting way less than last season. This backs up the idea that OL Reign are getting better in terms of concretisation and that they are exploiting the chances they create in a more concrete and decisive manner.
