Seattle Reign Coach Laura Harvey Employs ChatGPT for Tactical Success

Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey has turned to innovative technology for a tactical advantage this season, utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT to enhance her team’s performance in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Following a challenging previous season where the team finished second from the bottom, Harvey’s approach appears to be yielding positive results as the team heads into the final weekend of the regular season in fourth place, firmly in playoff contention.

During an interview on the Soccerish Podcast released on March 15, 2024, Harvey revealed her initial experiment with the AI chatbot. She sought tactical advice during the off-season, testing various prompts that evolved from general strategies to specific formations tailored to NWSL opponents.

“I put in, ‘What formation should you play to beat NWSL teams?'” Harvey shared. The response was specific and actionable, detailing formations against each team in the league. Notably, ChatGPT recommended that Seattle employ a back five against certain opponents. “For two teams, it went, ‘You should play a back five.’ So I did. No joke, that’s why I did it,” she said.

Traditionally, a back five formation consists of three centre backs and two wing backs, a strategy that Harvey had not previously implemented. Intrigued by the suggestion, she and her coaching staff conducted extensive research into how the formation could be adapted for their style of play.

“We did a deep dive on it. We thought about how we could play it, and we went for it, and we liked it,” Harvey explained. The adoption of this new tactical approach has proven successful, with the team winning the game following the implementation of the back five formation.

As the Seattle Reign gears up for the playoffs, Harvey’s willingness to explore unconventional methods such as leveraging AI for tactical decisions demonstrates a forward-thinking mindset in a competitive league. It highlights how technology can intersect with sports, potentially reshaping traditional coaching methodologies and strategies.

With the NWSL season nearing its conclusion, the Seattle Reign’s rise to fourth in the standings showcases the effectiveness of their revamped tactics. The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT not only indicates a shift in how coaches may gather insights but also illustrates a broader trend in sports where technology and analytics are becoming integral to team strategies.