A familiar face is returning to Seattle Reign, as the club announced today that Lauren (Lu) Barnes will become an interim assistant coach for the rest of the 2026 NWSL season. Barnes replaces assistant coach Lee Nguyen, who departed last month to become the head coach and technical director of Dallas Trinity FC in the USL Gainbridge Super League. It's possible Barnes will enjoy the role and will be the best candidate for that permanent assistant coach position, but the club wants to be fair to both Barnes and their process. Barnes, who retired at the end of the 2025 NWSL season, was named assistant girls ECNL Director at Seattle United in February. The Reign legend spent her entire 13-year NWSL career in Seattle.