For the second time this season, the OL Reign have beaten the Chicago Red Stars. In front of a home audience of almost 4,000 people, the Reign earned a berth in the 2021 NWSL playoffs with this win. The squad is still in second place, just one point behind the first-place Portland Thorns. The OL Reign struggled to connect passes early in the game against the Red Stars. As Chicago's momentum grew, they were able to capitalize on multiple opportunities to score goals. Mallory Pugh scored the game's first goal in the 14th minute with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The ball was deflected and ended up at the back of the net.

The Reign started to connect after the goal, but they were still chasing the game until Sofia Huerta and Jess Fishlock connected for an equalizer. Huerta found Fishlock's foot just beyond the 18-yard box, and Fishlock made no errors with a thunderous shot into the upper corner of the goal. Fishlock and Huerta didn't stop there; only four minutes later, they connected again to put the Reign in front. Fishlock was waiting at the back post to head the ball into the net and secure a brace after Huerta sent a pass into the crowded area. The Reign went into halftime with a 1-0 lead thanks to Fishlock's brace.

After the interval, OL Reign wasted no time finding a third goal, capitalizing on the momentum created by Fishlock's brace. Huerta pursued the ball down the field to the corner and cut it back to Rose Lavelle at the top of the 18-yard box in the 51st minute. Lavelle took one touch before burying her left-footed shot into the net to give OL Reign its first goal. Despite having 60.9 percent possession in the second half, Chicago scored in the 69th minute when Tatum Milazzo completed a rebounding ball from the top of the 18-yard box, but the Reign were unable to level. In the end, the Reign won 3-2, securing their place in the playoffs.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Jackie Shinstrom]