Utah Royals

American women's professional soccer team

Soccer club

Utah Royals

Founded| November 16, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-11-16)
Stadium| America First Field (Sandy, Utah)
Capacity| 20,213
Owners|

* Ryan Smith
* David Blitzer

President| John Kimball (interim)
Head coach| Jimmy Coenraets (interim)
League| National Women's Soccer League
2020| Regular season: Canceled
Playoffs: Canceled
Challenge Cup: Quarter-finals
Fall Series: 9th of 9
Website| Club website

Home colors

Away colors

|

Current season

The Utah Royals (formerly Utah Royals FC) are an American women's professional soccer club based in Salt Lake City. Established on November 16, 2017, as an expansion club, the Royals played its first stint in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from 2018 until ceasing operations in 2020, with their player-related assets transferred to the expansion Kansas City Current.[1] In 2023, Real Salt Lake owners Ryan Smith and David Blitzer reestablished the team.[2][3]

## History

[edit]

### Establishment

[edit]

See also: National Women's Soccer League

On November 16, 2017, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer announced that it had acquired a franchise in the National Women's Soccer League.[4] On November 20, 2017, the league announced that FC Kansas City of the National Women's Soccer League would fold their club, and the team's player contracts, draft picks, and other rights would be transferred to the new Salt Lake City club.[5] As of August 2017[update], Utah's six NCAA Division I women's soccer teams outnumbered the men's,[6][7] a seventh women's soccer school moved from Division II to Division I in 2020,[8] and the state has the highest rate of girls' high school soccer players recruited by Division I colleges.[9] Attendance at Division I women's soccer games in Utah is among the highest in the NCAA.[9] The decision to bring a NWSL team to Utah was based on the established interest in men's soccer in the state as well as Dell Loy Hansen's gut feeling and longtime interest in a team.[9]

The new Salt Lake City team announced its hiring of former Seattle Reign FC coach Laura Harvey as its inaugural head coach on November 27, 2017.[10]

### Inaugural season

[edit]

Main article: 2018 Utah Royals FC season

Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir scored the first goal in franchise history on March 24, 2018 in the third minute of the club's inaugural match against Orlando Pride in Orlando.[11] 18,500 tickets were sold ahead of their first home match (with only club seats and standing-only tickets remaining).[12] Official attendance the day of the match, in which they played the Chicago Red Stars, was reported as 19,023.[13]

## Colors and badge

[edit]

Historical badges

2018–20 (primary)

The team was officially launched on December 1, 2017 with the announcements of its name, branding, season tickets, and social media.[14][15] The badge features a gold Lioness head and “Claret Red”, “Cobalt Blue” and “Victory Gold” colors. Two stylized balls surround the name “UTAH ROYALS FC” in the lower half of the badge which represent the team's connection to the organization's MLS and United Soccer League teams.[16] Rio Tinto Stadium, now known as America First Field, was named as the team's playing ground.[17] By the end of December 2017 over 2,000 season tickets had been sold.[18] By early April 2018, the number of season tickets sold had increased to 5,000.[19]

### Sponsorship

[edit]

In February 2018, the Royals announced a three-year multimillion-dollar deal with Conservice, a utility company based in Logan, Utah.[20] The company's logo is featured on the front of the team's jerseys.[21] Utah announced a multi-year partnership deal with Young Living Essential Oils on April 2, 2019. The Young Living partnership will include an original video series called ‘Rise up to Royalty’ which profiles URFC players personal lives. This 12-episode series, will run throughout the course of the 2019 season.[22]

## Stadium

[edit]

Utah Royals FC play at America First Field (known before September 2022 as Rio Tinto Stadium), located 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City in Sandy, Utah, as the men's team, Real Salt Lake, does.[14] America First Field is a soccer-specific stadium which opened on October 9, 2008.[23] The pitch features Kentucky Bluegrass[24] and is 120 × 75 yards.[25] The stadiums seats 20,213 for soccer matches.[25]

## Players and staff

[edit]

See also: List of Utah Royals FC players

### Current squad

[edit]

As of July 12, 2024[26]
No.  | Pos.  | Player  | Nation

|
|
|

1  | GK | Mandy Haught |  United States
3  | DF | Olivia Griffitts |  United States
4  | FW | Paige Monaghan (Captain) |  United States
5  | DF | Lauren Flynn |  United States
6  | MF | Agnes Nyberg |  Sweden
7  | FW | Michele Vasconcelos |  United States
8  | DF | Kate Del Fava |  United States
9  | FW | Ally Sentnor |  United States
10  | MF | Amandine Henry |  France
11  | FW | Ifeoma Onumonu |  Nigeria
12  | DF | Zoe Burns |  Canada
13  | DF | Addisyn Merrick |  United States
14  | MF | Macey Fraser |  New Zealand
15  | FW | Brecken Mozingo |  United States
16  | DF | Madison Pogarch |  United States
17  | DF | Ana Tejada |  Spain
18  | DF | Kaleigh Riehl |  United States
19  | MF | Frankie Tagliaferri |  United States
20  | FW | Cameron Tucker |  United States
21  | MF | Mikayla Cluff |  United States
22  | MF | Dana Foederer |  Netherlands
24  | MF | Emily Gray |  United States
27  | GK | Carly Nelson |  United States
28  | DF | Imani Dorsey |  United States
32  | GK | Cristina Roque |  Puerto Rico
33  | FW | Hannah Betfort |  United States
—  | FW | Mina Tanaka |  Japan
—  | MF | Claudia Zornoza |  Spain
—  | FW | Cloe Lacasse |  Canada

### Technical staff

[edit]

As of June 30, 2024[27][28][29]

* Sporting director:  Kelly Cousins[30]
* Head coach:  Jimmy Coenraets (interim)[31]
* Assistant coach:  Vanessa Mann
* Assistant coach:  Sam Lismont

## Records

[edit]

### Season-by-season

[edit]

As of October 23, 2023
Season  | NWSL | Playoffs  | Top scorer

|
|
|

P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts. | Pos. | Player  | Goals
2018 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 23 | 35 | 5th  | Did not qualify |  Katie Stengel | 6
2019 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 25 | 34 | 6th  | Did not qualify |  Amy Rodriguez | 9
2020 |

Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

|  Tziarra King
Amy Rodriguez[a] | 2
2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |

1. ^ Statistics from the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the 2020 NWSL Fall Series.

### Head coaches' records

[edit]

Name  | Nation | Tenure  | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win%

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Laura Harvey |  ENG | December 1, 2017 – January 6, 2020  | 47 | 18 | 12 | 17 | 45 | 47 | 038.30
Scott Parkinson (interim)  |  ENG | January 6, 2020 – February 7, 2020  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !—
Craig Harrington |  ENG | February 7, 2020 – September 20, 2020  | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 020.00
Amy LePeilbet (interim)  |  USA | September 20, 2020 – December 7, 2020  | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 000.00
Amy Rodriguez |  USA | April 20, 2023 – June 30, 2024  | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 27 | 013.33
Jimmy Coenraets |  BEL | June 30, 2024 – present  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | !—

### Team records

[edit]

As of October 17, 2020.[32]
Top goalscorers  Player  | Goals scored

|

Name  | Nat. | Pos. | Royals career | NWSL | Playoffs | Cup | Other | Total
Amy Rodriguez |  USA | FW  | 2018–2020  | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16
Christen Press |  USA | FW  | 2018–2020  | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10
Katie Stengel |  USA | FW  | 2018–2019  | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8
Most appearances  Player  | Appearances

|

Name  | Nat. | Pos. | Royals career | NWSL | Playoffs | Cup | Other | Total
Gunny Jónsdóttir |  ISL | MF  | 2018–2020  | 48 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52
Amy Rodriguez |  USA | FW  | 2018–2020  | 43 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 51
Rachel Corsie |  SCO | DF  | 2018–2020  | 43 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48
Katie Stengel |  USA | FW  | 2018–2019  | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47
Katie Bowen |  NZL | DF  | 2018–2020  | 38 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 47
Lo'eau LaBonta |  USA | MF  | 2018–2020  | 38 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 47
Desiree Scott |  CAN | MF  | 2018–2020  | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38
Becky Sauerbrunn |  USA | DF  | 2018–2019  | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34
Nicole Barnhart |  USA | GK  | 2018–2020  | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33
Becca Moros |  USA | DF  | 2018–2019  | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30

## Broadcasting

[edit]

See also: National Women's Soccer League § Broadcasting

The Utah Royals announced that all matches in 2018, except for their six NWSL Game of the Week appearances on Lifetime, would be broadcast locally on KMYU My Utah TV and streamed on the KSL app, as an extension of the broadcast rights agreements with Sinclair Broadcast Group and KSL with Real Salt Lake.[33] KALL ESPN 700 would carry the majority of Royals games on local radio – as it does for Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs.[33] On August 17, 2018, KSL announced that Utah Royals games would no longer be broadcast on television or radio, but they would continue to be streamed on the KSL website and app.[34]

## See also

[edit]

* List of top-division football clubs in CONCACAF countries
* List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
* Real Salt Lake Women

Portals:

* Women's association football
* Association football

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
2. ^ "Utah Soccer LLC Transfers Ownership of Utah Royals FC to Group in Kansas City, Kansas". Real Salt Lake. December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
3. ^ "Returning to NWSL, Utah Royals bring same name but plenty of changes".
4. ^ Torres, Maria (November 16, 2017). "Announcement of new team in Salt Lake means women's pro soccer is likely done in KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
5. ^ Torres, Maria (November 20, 2017). "FC Kansas City women's soccer team folds, NWSL sends players to Salt Lake City". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
6. ^ "Utah's only Division 1 men's soccer program taking shape at UVU | KSL.com". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
7. ^ Coon, John (July 12, 2008). "De-flated: With soccer popular among boys, why only one NCAA-sanctioned men's team in Utah?". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
8. ^ "Dixie State University to Join WAC in 2020-21" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2023. NB: Dixie State University changed its name to Utah Tech University in 2022.
9. ^ a b c "Can the new women's pro soccer team generate a following in Utah?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
10. ^ Lee, Maddie (November 27, 2017). "Real Salt Lake hires Laura Harvey to coach new women's soccer team". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
11. ^ "The Iceland international who scored the first goal in Utah Royals history is making an immediate impact in the NWSL". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
12. ^ "Utah Royals sell out Rio Tinto Stadium for their inaugural home game against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
13. ^ Ltd, Simplestream. "Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
14. ^ a b "Utah Royals FC unveils name, identity for 2018 NWSL season". RSL.com. MLS Digital. December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
15. ^ "UTAH ROYALS FC NAME, LOGO, SEASON TICKET INFORMATION REVEALED". NWSLSoccer.com (Press release). December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
16. ^ "Newest NWSL club Utah Royals FC unveils crest, social media presence – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
17. ^ "Utah Royals: Logo, season ticket prices announced". RSL Soapbox. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
18. ^ "Utah Royals are off to a fast start at the box office". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
19. ^ McDonald, Ryan (April 11, 2018). "A look at the fans who will be backing Utah Royals FC as its home debut draws near". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
20. ^ "Utah Royals land Conservice as jersey sponsor". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
21. ^ "Utah Royals ink jersey deal with Utah company Conservice; release secondary kit". RSL Soapbox. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
22. ^ "URFC Announces Multi-Year Deal With Young Living Essential Oils". April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
23. ^ "RSL confirms Oct. 9 stadium opening". The Salt Lake Tribune. August 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
24. ^ "Real Salt Lake: Long-awaited field renovation underway at Rio Tinto Stadium". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
25. ^ a b "Rio Tinto Stadium | Sandy, UT 84070 | Salt Lake City Sports". Visit Salt Lake. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
26. ^ "Utah Royals Roster". Utah Royals. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
27. ^ "URFC Unveils 2024 Coaching Staff". Real Salt Lake. March 13, 2024.
28. ^ "Jimmy Coenraets And Sam Lismont Join Utah Royals FC Coaching Staff". Real Salt Lake. June 10, 2024.
29. ^ rsl. "Utah Royals FC Announce Reorganization | Utah Royals". rsl. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
30. ^ "Utah Royals name Kelly Cousins, former Reading Women's manager, as first sporting director". The Athletic. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
31. ^ rsl. "Utah Royals FC Announce Reorganization | Utah Royals". rsl. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
32. ^ "Utah Royals FC Stats and History". FBref. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
33. ^ a b "Utah Royals FC Unveils Inaugural Season Broadcast Options". March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
34. ^ "Broadcast changes coming for Utah Royals FC's final 3 matches". August 17, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Utah Royals FC.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Utah Royals

* Founded 2017
* Based in Sandy, Utah

Franchise|

* Records
* Players
* All-time list of players
* All articles

Stadiums|

* America First Field

Affiliated clubs|

* Real Salt Lake
* MLS

Key personnel|

Owners
Ryan Smith
David Blitzer
Sporting director
Kelly Cousins
Head coach
Jimmy Coenraets
Former executives
Dell Loy Hansen

National Women's Soccer League

Seasons (4)|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Utah Royals - current squad

* 1 Haught
* 2 Boren
* 3 Griffitts
* 4 Monaghan
* 5 Flynn
* 6 Nyberg
* 7 Vasconcelos
* 8 Del Fava
* 9 Sentnor
* 10 Henry
* 11 Onumonu
* 12 Burns
* 13 Merrick
* 14 Fraser
* 15 Mozingo
* 16 Pogarch
* 17 Tejada
* 18 Riehl
* 19 Tagliaferri
* 20 Tucker
* 21 Cluff
* 22 Foederer
* 23 O'Brien
* 24 Lacasse
* 27 Nelson
* 28 Dorsey
* 32 Roque
* 33 Betfort
* 35 Murison
* Tanaka
* Zornoza

* Interim head coach: Coenraets
* Assistant coach: Lismont
* Assistant coach: Mann

* v
* t
* e

National Women's Soccer League

* Records and statistics
* Players Association
* U.S. Soccer

Current teams|

* Angel City FC
* Bay FC
* Chicago Red Stars
* Houston Dash
* Kansas City Current
* NJ/NY Gotham FC
* North Carolina Courage
* Orlando Pride
* Portland Thorns FC
* Racing Louisville FC
* San Diego Wave FC
* Seattle Reign FC
* Utah Royals
* Washington Spirit

Future team|

* NWSL Boston (2026)

Former teams|

* Western New York Flash (2013–16)
* Boston Breakers (2013–17)
* FC Kansas City (2013–17)

Seasons|

* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Competition|

* NWSL Shield
* Playoffs
* Challenge Cup
* Summer Cup
* Stadiums
* Attendance
* Expansion
* Broadcasters

Personnel|

* Players Association
* Draftees
* Drafts
* Foreign players
* Owners
* Under-18 Entry Mechanism
* Federation players (2013–21)
* Jessica Berman

Awards|

* League awards
* Player of the Month
* Rookie of the Month
* Team of the Month
* Player of the Week
* Players' awards

Related articles|

* Sexual harassment
* Yates Report

* Category
* Portal
* Multimedia

* v
* t
* e

Real Salt Lake

* Founded 2004
* Based in Sandy, Utah

Franchise|

* History
* Seasons
* Records
* Players

Stadiums|

* America First Field
* Rice–Eccles Stadium

Affiliated clubs|

* Real Monarchs
* MLSNP
* Utah Royals
* NWSL
* Utah Royals FC Reserves
* WPSL

Culture / supporters|

* Branden Steineckert

Rivalries|

* Colorado Rapids (Rocky Mountain Cup)

Key personnel|

Owners
Ryan Smith
David Blitzer
Head coach
Pablo Mastroeni
Former executives
Dave Checketts
Dean Howes
Dell Loy Hansen

Seasons|

* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Utah

Baseball|

PCL
Salt Lake Bees

Ogden Raptors

Basketball|

NBA
Utah Jazz
G League
Salt Lake City Stars

Football|

WFA
Utah Blitz
IWFL
Utah Falconz

Hockey|

NHL
Utah Hockey Club
ECHL
Utah Grizzlies

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Happy Valley Derby Darlins
Junction City Roller Dolls
Wasatch Roller Derby

Rugby|

MLR
Utah Warriors

Soccer|

MLS
Real Salt Lake
NWSL
Utah Royals
MLSNP
Real Monarchs
USL2
Park City Red Wolves SC
Salt City SC

College
athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

* BYU Cougars
* Southern Utah Thunderbirds
* Utah Utes
* Utah State Aggies
* Utah Tech Trailblazers
* Utah Valley Wolverines
* Weber State Wildcats

|

NCAA
Division II|

* Westminster Griffins

NJCAA|

* CEU Golden Eagles
* SLCC Bruins
* Snow College Badgers

* v
* t
* e

Women's soccer in the United States

* U.S. Soccer Federation
* USASA
* USCS
* League system
* History
* Hall of Fame
* Awards
* Clubs
* Champions
* Venues (stadiums by capacity
* SSS)

Overview|

* Club/Association teams
* Women's football

National teams|

* National team
* Under-23
* Under-20
* Under-17

Leagues|

* National Women's Soccer League
* USL Super League
* Women's Premier Soccer League
* United Women's Soccer
* USL W League

Cup competitions|

* NWSL Challenge Cup
* Women's Open
* Women's Amateur

International tournaments|

* SheBelieves Cup
* Tournament of Nations
* Women's U.S. Cup
* The Women's Cup
* Women's International Champions Cup

Collegiate soccer|

* NCAA Championships (Division I
* Division II
* Division III)
* NAIA Championship

Youth soccer|

* Leagues: AYSO
* NFHS
* USYSA
* U.S. Development Academy
* Competitions: US Youth Soccer National Championships
* Jefferson Cup

Defunct Leagues|

* Women's United Soccer Association
* Women's Professional Soccer
* Women's Premier Soccer League Elite
* USL W-League

* v
* t
* e

Sports properties owned by David Blitzer

Year of acquisition listed; equity stake included if known

Teams|

| Majority stake|

* Philadelphia 76ers (2011)
* New Jersey Devils (2013)
* G.D. Estoril Praia (2019)
* AD Alcorcón (2019)
* S.K. Beveren (2020)
* ADO Den Haag (2021)
* Real Salt Lake (2022)
* Brøndby IF (2022)
* Utah Royals (2023)

|

Minority stake / other|

* Delaware Blue Coats (2013)
* Crystal Palace (18%, 2015)
* Dignitas (2016)
* FC Augsburg (45%, 2021)
* Utica Comets (2021)
* Real Monarchs (2022)
* Cleveland Guardians (25%, 2022)
* Joe Gibbs Racing (2023)
* Washington Commanders (2023)
* Jupiter Links Golf Club (2023)

Former stake|

* Albany Devils (2013–2017)
* Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (12.5%, 2014–2021)
* Binghamton Devils (2017–2021)
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2.4%, 2020–2024)

Venues|

* Prudential Center (2013)
* Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex (2016)
* America First Field (2022)
* Zions Bank Stadium (2022)
* 76 Place at Market East (planned 2031)

Companies|

* Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment

* Category

*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[P]: Games played
*[W]: Games won
*[D]: Games drawn
*[L]: Games lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[Pts.]: Points
*[Pos.]: Association football position
*[Nation]: Nationality
*[Win%]: Percentage of games won
*[Nat.]: FIFA nationality
*[Royals career]: Years as an active player for Utah Royals FC
*[NWSL]: Appearances in NWSL regular season matches
*[Playoffs]: Appearances in NWSL playoff matches
*[Cup]: Appearances in NWSL Challenge Cups matches
*[Other]: Appearances in other NWSL competitions; as of 2021, the NWSL Fall Series
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template