The 2020 Utah Royals FC season marks the team's third year and final season of existence in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of the American soccer pyramid. After this season, the team folded and transferred players and coaches to the new Kansas City NWSL, now known as the Kansas City Current.
On January 6, 2020 the team mutually parted ways with head coach Laura Harvey so she could take a position with U.S Soccer as the head coach for the U-20 Women's National Team.
Competitions Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NWSL did not hold a regular season as originally scheduled. The season was replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in July and the Fall Series in September and October.
2020 NWSL Challenge Cup
The Royals began their Challenge Cup against the Houston Dash on June 30. They were without forward Christen Press who opted out of the tournament and Desiree Scott who withdrew from the tournament for personal reasons.
Challenge Cup match results
Preliminary round
Knockout round
Fall Series
The Royals would be without several players for the NWSL Fall Series. Forward Christen Press signed with Manchester United. Rachel Corsie went on loan to Birmingham City and Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir was loaned to Valur. Kelley O'Hara, Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson all opted out of the Fall Series.
Head Coach Craig Harrington and assistant coach Louis Lancaster were placed on administrative leave prior to the first game of the Fall Series, Amy LePeilbet was named interim head coach.
Fall Series match results
Club
Roster
Age calculated as of the start of the 2020 Fall Series.
No. Name Nationality Positions Date of birth (age) Signed from Year with club (year signed) 1 Abby Smith GK Boston Breakers 3 (2018) 2 Rachel Corsie DF Seattle Reign 3 (2018) 3 Tziarra King FW North Carolina State University 1 (2020) 5 Kelley O'Hara DF Sky Blue FC 3 (2018) 6 Katie Bowen DF FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 7 Elizabeth Ball DF Portland Thorns 1 (2020) 8 Amy Rodriguez FW FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 9 Lo'eau LaBonta MF FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 10 Diana Matheson MF Seattle Reign FC 3 (2018) 11 Desiree Scott MF FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 12 Taylor Lytle MF Sky Blue FC 3 (2018) 13 Chestley Strother MF Sundsvalls DFF 1 (2020) 14 Gaby Vincent DF University of Louisville 2 (2019) 17 Arielle Ship FW Washington Spirit 1 (2020) 18 Nicole Barnhart GK FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 19 Michelle Maemone DF Pepperdine University 2 (2019) 20 Mallory Weber FW Portland Thorns 2 (2019) 21 Verónica Boquete FW Beijing BG Phoenix 2 (2019) 22 Madeline Nolf DF Penn State University 2 (2019) 24 Taylor Leach DF Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 1 (2020) 25 Brittany Ratcliffe FW FC Kansas City 3 (2018) 29 Kate Del Fava FW Illinois State University 1 (2020) 38 Aminata Diallo MF Paris Saint-Germain 1 (2020) 42 Raisa Strom-Okimoto FW University of Hawaii 2 (2019) 61 Melissa Lowder GK Santa Clara University 2 (2019) 66 Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir MF Vålerenga 3 (2018) Michele Vasconcelos FW Chicago Red Stars 1 (2020)
Player transactions
Transfers in DatePlayerPositions playedPrevious clubFee/notesRef.11/05/19 Kyra Carusa FW Sky Blue FC Re-Entry Wire 11/05/19 Cali Farquharson FW Washington Spirit Re-Entry Wire 11/05/19 Arielle Ship FW Washington Spirit Re-Entry Wire 01/06/20 Taylor Leach DF Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC Signed 01/07/20 Chestley Strother MF Sundsvalls DFF Signed 03/03/20 Elizabeth Ball DF Portland Thorns Acquired in a trade with the Portland Thorns in exchange for Becky Sauerbrunn and allocation money. 03/11/20 Aminata Diallo MF Paris Saint-Germain Signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. 09/10/20 Michele Vasconcelos FW Chicago Red Stars Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for $55,000 in allocation money.
Transfers out DatePlayerPositions playedDestination clubFee/notesRef. 12/12/19 Cali Farquharson FW KIF Örebro DFF Waived 12/19/19 Makenzy Doniak FW Chicago Red Stars Traded to the Chicago Red Stars, in exchange for Chicago's second round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft 01/06/20 Erika Tymrak MF Retired 01/08/20 Katie Stengel FW Houston Dash Traded to the Houston Dash along with Utah's third round pick in the 2020 College Draft in exchange for Houston's second round pick in the 2020 and 2021 NWSL College Drafts 02/03/20 Mandy Laddish MF Retired 02/03/20 Becca Moros DF Waived 02/19/20 Sydney Miramontez DF Retired 03/03/20 Becky Sauerbrunn DF Portland Thorns Traded to the Portland Thorns in exchange for Elizabeth Ball and allocation money. 09/09/20 Christen Press FW Manchester United Signed with Manchester United in the FA Women's Super League, Utah retains her rights in the NWSL.
2020 NWSL College Draft
Source: National Women's Soccer League
RoundPickPlayerPrevious TeamRound 18 F North Carolina State UniversityRound 212 M Illinois State UniversityRound 431 F University of Texas
References