The 2024 Utah Royals season marks the team's fourth season of existence in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of the American soccer pyramid. This season marks the team's first since 2020, after which the original club relocated to become the Kansas City Current. The club plays its home games at America First Field in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy. The club's head coach is Jimmy Coenraets, who served as interim head coach following the firing of former Royal and national team player Amy Rodriguez and was named the permanent head coach on October 24.
Staffing changes
On April 19, 2023, the Royals hired former Royals player and USC Trojans women's soccer assistant coach Amy Rodriguez as the club's head coach. The role was Rodriguez's first as a head coach. Club president Michelle Hyncik was a high-school teammate of Rodriguez's and offered the role to Rodriguez.
On July 18, 2023, the Royals hired former Reading F.C. Women manager Kelly Cousins as the club's first sporting director.
On March 13, 2024, the Royals announced the hiring of Reno MVLA Soccer Club coaching director Vanessa Mann and D.C. United assistant coach Frédéric Brillant as the club's assistant coaches, and UConn Huskies women's soccer assistant coach Maryse Bard-Martel as goalkeeping coach.
On May 20, Brillant was announced as the head coach for DC Power FC of the newly formed USL Super League.
On June 7, the Royals hired Oud-Heverlee Leuven manager Jimmy Coenraets as an assistant coach and Sam Lismont as a performance analyst.
After 11 league matches and a record putting the team in last place, the Royals organization fired Rodriguez and Bard-Martel on June 30. The Royals also reassigned team president Michelle Hyncik, who had hired Rodriguez, to a position with the Blitzer Family Office and appointed Coenraets as the team's interim head coach.
On October 9, the Royals hired former Bristol City Women goalkeeping coach James White as the team's goalkeeping coach. White had previously worked for Cousins at Reading Women.
On October 24, the Royals named Coenraets the club's permanent head coach and announced that he had signed a contract to remain with the club through the 2027 season.
Club
Roster
NationPlayer
On loan
Nation Player
Competitions
NWSL regular season
The Royals were eliminated from playoff contention after Bay FC defeated the North Carolina Courage on October 19.
Matches
Standings
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
The Utah Royals competed in the first edition of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Group stage play began on July 19. The Royals finished at the top of Group A, but were the fifth-ranked group winner of the five groups and failed to advance to the tournament's knockout rounds.
Matches
Statistics Squad appearances
No. Pos. Nat. Player Total NWSL Regular Season Summer Cup Apps Starts Apps Starts Apps StartsGoalkeepers 1GKMandy Haught252524241127GKCarly Nelson11110032GKCristina Roque331122Defenders 3DFOlivia Griffitts1514131321 5DFLauren Flynn1210121000 8DFKate Del Fava292926263312DFZoe Burns241621143216DFMadison Pogarch282425213317DFAna Tejada181815153318DFKaleigh Riehl171714143323DFDarielle O'Brien10001028DFImani Dorsey222200Midfielders 6MFAgnes Nyberg1281181014MFMacey Fraser42420021MFMikayla Cluff1151150022MFDana Foederer262123173326MFClaudia Zornoza1010101000Forwards 4FWPaige Monaghan2523222033 7FWMichele Vasconcelos17215220 9FWAlly Sentnor232321212215FWBrecken Mozingo211318103320FWCameron Tucker1941831124FWCloé Lacasse98980029FWMina Tanaka77770033FWHannah Betfort2721241833Other players (Departed during season, short-term loan, etc.) 2MFEllie Boren20002010MFAmandine Henry1091090011FWIfeoma Onumonu30300013DFAddisyn Merrick71413019MFFrankie Tagliaferri64640024MFEmily Gray02020035FWShaelan Murison614120
Goals
Rank Player Total NWSL Regular Season Summer Cup 1 Ally Sentnor 5 3 2 2 Hannah Betfort 4 2 2 Cloé Lacasse 4 4 0 4 Paige Monaghan 3 2 1 5 Kate Del Fava 2 2 0 Brecken Mozingo 2 0 2 Ana Tejada 2 2 0 Cameron Tucker 2 1 1 Michele Vasconcelos 2 1 1 Claudia Zornoza 2 2 0 11 Dana Foederer 1 1 0 Olivia Griffitts 1 1 0 Mina Tanaka 1 1 0
Assists
Rank Player Total NWSL Regular Season Summer Cup 1 Ally Sentnor 5 4 1 2 Dana Foederer 4 2 2 3 Paige Monaghan 3 1 2 Claudia Zornoza 3 3 0 5 Ana Tejada 2 1 1 6 Shaelan Murison 1 0 1 Kaleigh Riehl 1 1 0 Michele Vasconcelos 1 1 0
Clean sheets
Rank Player Total NWSL Regular Season Summer Cup 1 Mandy Haught 4 4 0 2 Cristina Roque 1 1 0
Transactions
2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
The 2024 NWSL expansion draft was held on December 18, 2023. PlayerPrevious team2 Elyse BennettSeattle Reign FC4 Paige MonaghanRacing Louisville FC6PASS8PASS10PASS
2024 NWSL Draft
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2024 NWSL Draft was held on January 12, 2024. PlayerCollegeStatus11 Ally SentnorUniversity of North CarolinaSigned to a three-year contract on February 19, 2024.14 Brecken MozingoBrigham Young UniversitySigned to a two-year contract with an option on February 23, 2024.216 Lauren FlynnFlorida State UniversitySigned to a one-year contract with an option on March 12, 2024.220 Olivia GriffittsBrigham Young UniversitySigned to a one-year contract with an option on March 21, 2024.226 Emma JaskaniecUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonNot signed.329 Zoe BurnsUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSigned to a one-year contract on March 7, 2024.333 Cristina RoqueFlorida State UniversitySigned to a one-year contract with an option on March 13, 2024.
Re-signings DatePlayerNotesAugust 28, 2024 Darielle O'BrienFormer national team replacement player re-signed to an injury replacement contract.
Loans out DatePlayerDestination clubFee/notesNovember 15, 2022 Emily Gray Odense Boldklub QLoaned through the remainder of the 2024 NWSL season.
Transfers in DatePlayerPrevious clubFee/notesNovember 15, 2023 Mikayla Cluff Orlando PrideTraded in exchange for $90,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft.November 20, 2023 Kaleigh Riehl San Diego Wave FCTraded in exchange for $60,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. Emily Gray North Carolina CourageTraded in exchange for $30,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. Frankie TagliaferriNovember 21, 2023 Michele Vasconcelos Portland Thorns FCFree agent signed to a two-year contract.November 29, 2023 Imani Dorsey NJ/NY Gotham FCFree agent signed to a two-year contract.December 7, 2023 Madison Pogarch San Diego Wave FCFree agent signed to a two-year contract.December 12, 2023 Mandy Haught NJ/NY Gotham FCTraded in exchange for $150,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. Kate Del Fava Kansas City CurrentTraded, along with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, in exchange for $75,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. Hannah Betfort Portland Thorns FCTraded, along with $10,000 if allocation money and the 33rd overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft, in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. Carly Nelson Orlando PrideTraded, along with $65,000 in allocation money, in exchange for a 2024 international roster spot. Cameron Tucker Houston DashTraded, along with $50,000 of allocation money, in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft.December 18, 2023 Addisyn Merrick Kansas City CurrentFree agent signed to a two-year contract.December 30, 2023 Ifeoma Onumonu NJ/NY Gotham FCTraded in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.January 2, 2024 Agnes Nyberg IK UppsalaFree agent signed to a two-year contract.January 5, 2024 Dana Foederer Fortuna SittardAcquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a two-year contract.April 16, 2024 Macey Fraser Wellington Phoenix FCAcquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a three-year contract with an option.April 20, 2024 Amandine Henry Angel City FCTraded in exchange for $75,000 of allocation money.April 22, 2024 Ana Tejada Real SociedadAcquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a three-year contract with an option.July 5, 2024 Mina Tanaka INAC Kobe LeonessaFree agent signed to a two-year contract through 2025.July 12, 2024 Claudia Zornoza Real MadridSigned to a two-year contract through 2025 with an option.July 17, 2024 Ellie Boren BYU CougarsSigned to a national team replacement contract. Shaelan Murison Oakland Soul SC Darielle O'Brien United City FC WomenAugust 14, 2024 Cloé Lacasse ArsenalSigned to a four-year contract through 2027.September 1, 2024 Julia Grosso Melbourne CityFree agent signed to a one-year contract through the remainder of 2024.September 5, 2024 Shaelan Murison Utah RoyalsSigned to a national team replacement contract.
Transfers out DatePlayerDestination clubFee/notesDecember 17, 2023 Elyse Bennett San Diego Wave FCTraded in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.August 19, 2024 Shaelan Murison Utah RoyalsNational team replacement players released. Ellie BorenSeptember 5, 2024 Addisyn Merrick Carolina Ascent FCMutual contract termination.September 6, 2024 Ifeoma Onumonu MontpellierMutual contract termination. Amandine Henry Deportivo TolucaMutual contract termination.October 10, 2024 Frankie TagliaferriWaived.
Injury listings DatePlayerListInjuryApril 11, 2024 Imani DorseySeason-ending injuryRuptured left Achilles sustained in match against the North Carolina Courage.August 28, 2024 Lauren FlynnSeason-ending injuryBilateral compartment syndrome in lower legs.October 30, 2024 Cloé LacasseSeason-ending injuryRuptured ACL and sprained MCL sustained in match against Angel City FC.
References