Harvey Says ChatGPT Suggested Back-Five Formation

On the Soccerish Podcast, Seattle Reign head coach Laura Harvey said she experimented with ChatGPT in the offseason and asked “what formation should you play to beat NWSL teams?”, and the AI suggested a back-five against two opponents (which she declined to name). Harvey and her coaching staff studied the 3-5-2/5-3-2 setup and implemented it early in the season, switching to the formation four games in. They credited the tactical shift with helping win key matches, including a 1-0 victory over league-leading Kansas City Current. The back-five has become one fluid tactical option and helped Seattle rise from 13th last season to a top-four, playoff-position finish with a stronger defensive record. Harvey emphasized that ChatGPT provided idea-generation on formations rather than granular coaching instructions, prompting human-led analysis and adaptation rather than replacing coaching judgment.