Thorns D Reyna Reyes suspended for additional match

Reyes drew a red card for pulling Reign defender Madison Curry's hair in a March 20 match.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:10pm

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Portland Thorns defender Reyna Reyes has been suspended for an additional match by the NWSL Disciplinary Committee after receiving a red card for pulling the hair of Seattle Reign defender Madison Curry during their March 20 match. Reyes served the automatic one-match ban in the Thorns' 3-1 loss to the San Diego Wave on Wednesday, and the additional suspension will keep her out of Saturday's match against the Kansas City Current.

Why it matters

Hair-pulling incidents are considered serious violations of the league's conduct rules, as they pose a safety risk to players. The NWSL takes a strong stance against this type of behavior to protect the integrity of the game and the well-being of its athletes.

The details

Reyes, 25, was cited for violating Section 12.4.11 - 'Major Game Misconduct' - of the NWSL operations manual. She is in her fourth season with the Thorns, who selected her with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft out of the University of Alabama.

  • Reyes received the red card in the 57th minute of Portland's 2-0 win over Seattle on March 20.
  • Reyes served the automatic one-match ban in the Thorns' 3-1 loss to the San Diego Wave on March 29.
  • The additional suspension will keep Reyes out of the Thorns' match against the Kansas City Current on April 1.

The players

Reyna Reyes

A 25-year-old defender for the Portland Thorns, who was selected 5th overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft.

Madison Curry

A defender for the Seattle Reign, who was the victim of Reyes' hair-pulling incident.

NWSL Disciplinary Committee

The committee responsible for reviewing and issuing disciplinary actions for violations of the league's operations manual.

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What’s next

Reyes will be eligible to return to the Thorns' lineup for their April 6 match against the Chicago Red Stars.

The takeaway

The NWSL's strict enforcement of its conduct rules, including suspensions for dangerous play like hair-pulling, demonstrates the league's commitment to player safety and fair competition.