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Utah Royals

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Utah Royals
FoundedNovember 16, 2017;6 years ago(2017-11-16)
StadiumAmerica First Field(Sandy, Utah)
Capacity20,213
Owners
PresidentJohn Kimball(interim)
Head coachJimmy Coenraets(interim)
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
2020Regular season: Canceled
Playoffs: Canceled
Challenge Cup:Quarter-finals
Fall Series:9th of 9
WebsiteClub website
Current season

TheUtah Royals(formerlyUtah Royals FC) are an American women's professionalsoccerclub based inSalt Lake City.Established on November 16, 2017, as anexpansion club,the Royals played its first stint in theNational Women's Soccer League(NWSL) from 2018 until ceasing operations in 2020, with their player-related assets transferred to the expansionKansas City Current.[1]In 2023,Real Salt LakeownersRyan SmithandDavid Blitzerreestablished the team.[2][3]

History

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Establishment

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See also:National Women's Soccer League

On November 16, 2017,Real Salt LakeofMajor League Soccerannounced that it had acquired a franchise in theNational Women's Soccer League.[4]On November 20, 2017, the league announced thatFC Kansas Cityof theNational Women's Soccer Leaguewould 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,Utah's sixNCAADivision I women's soccer teamsoutnumbered the men's,[6][7]a seventh women's soccer schoolmoved fromDivision IIto 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 asDell Loy Hansen's gut feeling and longtime interest in a team.[9]

The new Salt Lake City team announced its hiring of formerSeattle Reign FCcoachLaura Harveyas its inaugural head coach on November 27, 2017.[10]

Inaugural season

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Main article:2018 Utah Royals FC season

Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttirscored the first goal in franchise history on March 24, 2018 in the third minute of the club's inaugural match againstOrlando Pridein 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

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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 asAmerica 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

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In February 2018, the Royals announced a three-year multimillion-dollar deal with Conservice, a utility company based inLogan, Utah.[20]The company's logo is featured on the front of the team's jerseys.[21]Utah announced a multi-year partnership deal withYoung Living Essential Oilson 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 the2019 season.[22]

Stadium

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Utah Royals FC play atAmerica First Field(known before September 2022 as Rio Tinto Stadium), located 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City inSandy, 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 featuresKentucky Bluegrass[24]and is 120 × 75 yards.[25]The stadiums seats 20,213 for soccer matches.[25]

Players and staff

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See also:List of Utah Royals FC players

Current squad

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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

Technical staff

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

Records

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Season-by-season

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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 United StatesKatie Stengel 6
2019 24 10 4 10 25 25 34 6th Did not qualify United StatesAmy Rodriguez 9
2020
Canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic
 United StatesTziarra King
United StatesAmy Rodriguez[a] 		2
2024 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. ^Statistics from the2020 NWSL Challenge Cupand the2020 NWSL Fall Series.

Head coaches' records

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Name Nation Tenure P W D L GF GA Win%
Laura Harvey EnglandENG December 1, 2017– January 6, 2020 47 18 12 17 45 47 038.30
Scott Parkinson(interim) EnglandENG January 6, 2020– February 7, 2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Craig Harrington EnglandENG February 7, 2020– September 20, 2020 5 1 2 2 4 5 020.00
Amy LePeilbet(interim) United StatesUSA September 20, 2020– December 7, 2020 4 0 2 2 3 8 000.00
Amy Rodriguez United StatesUSA April 20, 2023– June 30, 2024 15 2 2 11 7 27 013.33
Jimmy Coenraets BelgiumBEL June 30, 2024– present 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—

Team records

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As of October 17, 2020.[32]
Top goalscorers
Player Goals scored
Name Nat. Pos. Royals career NWSL Playoffs Cup Other Total
Amy Rodriguez United StatesUSA FW 2018–2020 14 0 1 1 16
Christen Press United StatesUSA FW 2018–2020 10 0 0 0 10
Katie Stengel United StatesUSA FW 2018–2019 8 0 0 0 8
Most appearances
Player Appearances
Name Nat. Pos. Royals career NWSL Playoffs Cup Other Total
Gunny Jónsdóttir IcelandISL MF 2018–2020 48 0 4 0 52
Amy Rodriguez United StatesUSA FW 2018–2020 43 0 4 4 51
Rachel Corsie ScotlandSCO DF 2018–2020 43 0 5 0 48
Katie Stengel United StatesUSA FW 2018–2019 47 0 0 0 47
Katie Bowen New ZealandNZL DF 2018–2020 38 0 5 4 47
Lo'eau LaBonta United StatesUSA MF 2018–2020 38 0 5 4 47
Desiree Scott CanadaCAN MF 2018–2020 38 0 0 0 38
Becky Sauerbrunn United StatesUSA DF 2018–2019 34 0 0 0 34
Nicole Barnhart United StatesUSA GK 2018–2020 32 0 1 0 33
Becca Moros United StatesUSA DF 2018–2019 30 0 0 0 30

Broadcasting

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See also:National Women's Soccer League § Broadcasting

The Utah Royals announced that all matches in 2018, except for their six NWSLGame of the Weekappearances onLifetime,would be broadcast locally onKMYUMy Utah TVand streamed on theKSLapp, as an extension of the broadcast rights agreements withSinclair Broadcast Groupand KSL with Real Salt Lake.[33]KALLESPN 700would 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

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References

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  1. ^"Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021".NWSL. December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  2. ^"Utah Soccer LLC Transfers Ownership of Utah Royals FC to Group in Kansas City, Kansas".Real Salt Lake. December 6, 2020.RetrievedDecember 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.RetrievedDecember 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.RetrievedDecember 1,2017.
  6. ^"Utah's only Division 1 men's soccer program taking shape at UVU | KSL.com".RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  8. ^"Dixie State University to Join WAC in 2020-21"(Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 11, 2019.RetrievedMarch 11,2023.NB: Dixie State University changed its name toUtah Tech Universityin 2022.
  9. ^abc"Can the new women's pro soccer team generate a following in Utah?".The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedDecember 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.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  13. ^Ltd, Simplestream."Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars".www.nwslsoccer.com.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  14. ^ab"Utah Royals FC unveils name, identity for 2018 NWSL season".RSL.com.MLS Digital. December 1, 2017.RetrievedJune 4,2024.
  15. ^"UTAH ROYALS FC NAME, LOGO, SEASON TICKET INFORMATION REVEALED".NWSLSoccer.com(Press release). December 1, 2017.RetrievedJune 4,2024.
  16. ^"Newest NWSL club Utah Royals FC unveils crest, social media presence – Equalizer Soccer".RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  17. ^"Utah Royals: Logo, season ticket prices announced".RSL Soapbox.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  18. ^"Utah Royals are off to a fast start at the box office".The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  20. ^"Utah Royals land Conservice as jersey sponsor".The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  21. ^"Utah Royals ink jersey deal with Utah company Conservice; release secondary kit".RSL Soapbox.RetrievedApril 14,2018.
  22. ^"URFC Announces Multi-Year Deal With Young Living Essential Oils".April 2, 2019.RetrievedApril 10,2019.
  23. ^"RSL confirms Oct. 9 stadium opening".The Salt Lake Tribune.August 5, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2008.RetrievedNovember 19,2015.
  24. ^"Real Salt Lake: Long-awaited field renovation underway at Rio Tinto Stadium".The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 4,2018.
  25. ^ab"Rio Tinto Stadium | Sandy, UT 84070 | Salt Lake City Sports".Visit Salt Lake.RetrievedJanuary 4,2018.
  26. ^"Utah Royals Roster".Utah Royals.RetrievedJune 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.RetrievedJune 30,2024.
  30. ^"Utah Royals name Kelly Cousins, former Reading Women's manager, as first sporting director".The Athletic.July 18, 2023.RetrievedJuly 19,2023.
  31. ^rsl."Utah Royals FC Announce Reorganization | Utah Royals".rsl.RetrievedJune 30,2024.
  32. ^"Utah Royals FC Stats and History".FBref.RetrievedJuly 19,2023.
  33. ^ab"Utah Royals FC Unveils Inaugural Season Broadcast Options".March 22, 2018.RetrievedApril 13,2018.
  34. ^"Broadcast changes coming for Utah Royals FC's final 3 matches".August 17, 2018.RetrievedApril 10,2019.
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