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Jeff Kassouf
Seattle Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey revealed that she utilized ChatGPT for tactical insights during the offseason, resulting in her team experimenting with a five-defender formation.
A three-time NWSL Shield winner and three-time NWSL Coach of the Year, Harvey shared her experience on the “Soccerish Podcast,” noting that she had never used a back-five formation or researched it extensively before.
Initially, she found the AI’s take on her team’s identity underwhelming, but continued to ask broader questions regarding NWSL strategies.
“I asked, ‘What formation should you use to defeat NWSL teams?'” Harvey recounted on the podcast. “It listed out every team in the league along with suggested formations.” She noted that for two specific teams—whose identities she chose to keep private—the recommendation was to “play a back five.” Curious, Harvey decided to implement it earlier in the season, sharing her decision with her coaching staff who found it intriguing.
The coaching team then dived deep into studying the formation to see how it could be effectively applied. “We liked the approach, and it paid off—we won the game,” she emphasized.
<pWhile Harvey was tight-lipped about which team she tested the formation against, she clarified it wasn't the Portland Thorns, but instead a particularly formidable opponent.
This season, Seattle has frequently employed a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation, though their tactical approach has varied widely.
According to TruMedia, the Reign made their initial shift to a 3-5-2 formation four games into the season, following a 1-0 loss against the Orlando Pride.
Three weeks later, they secured a 1-0 victory against the league-leading Kansas City Current while utilizing this formation.
“ChatGPT didn’t provide specifics on how to execute it, but it presented options for us to consider,” Harvey stated. “That sparked my interest to explore it further.”
Seattle is currently fourth in the NWSL standings and has secured a playoff spot ahead of the final round of regular-season matches. Last year, the Reign finished 13th in the 14-team league.