Valkyratings: Familiar stakes

Not for the first time this season, the Reign were the categorically better team and eked out a 1-0 win. Unlike the first time they did that, their opponent wasn't the historically hapless Chicago Tsars. This time, it was a familiar opponent and a familiar situation – a season-ending matchup with Orlando with playoffs on the line.

While this is not the unstoppable Pride of two seasons ago, and the Reign had actually already eliminated them from postseason contention with a prior win, it's still a team with some real quality. The Pride had taken points off of good sides throughout the season, and the Reign could not afford to join that list.

The outcome was never in doubt, but also always in…