# 2024 Utah Royals season

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 1–9–1 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

    As of October 21, 2024
| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| 1 | GK | Mandy Haught | United States |
| 2 | DF | Julia Grosso | United States |
| 3 | DF | Olivia Griffitts | United States |
| 4 | FW | Paige Monaghan | United States |
| 5 | FW | 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 |
| 12 | DF | Zoe Burns | Canada |
| 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 |
| 20 | FW | Cameron Tucker | United States |
| 21 | MF | Mikayla Cluff | United States |
| 22 | MF | Dana Foederer | Netherlands |
| 23 | DF | Darielle O'Brien | United States |
| 24 | FW | Cloé Lacasse | Canada |
| 26 | MF | Claudia Zornoza | Spain |
| 27 | GK | Carly Nelson | United States |
| 28 | DF | Imani Dorsey | United States |
| 29 | MF | Mina Tanaka | Japan |
| 32 | GK | Cristina Roque | Puerto Rico |
| 33 | FW | Hannah Betfort | United States |

### On loan

| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| 24 | MF | Emily Gray (at Odense Boldklub Q until December 31, 2024) | United States |

## Competitions
### NWSL regular season

The Royals were eliminated from playoff contention after Bay FC defeated the North Carolina Courage on October 19.

#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 9 | Racing Louisville FC | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 33 | 39 | −6 | 28 |
| 10 | San Diego Wave FC | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 35 | −11 | 25 |
| 11 | Utah Royals | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 40 | −18 | 25 |
| 12 | Angel City FC | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 29 | 42 | −13 | 24 |
| 13 | Seattle Reign FC | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 27 | 44 | −17 | 23 |
* ↑ Angel City FC were deducted three points for breaching spending cap rules.

### 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.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | UTA | POR | SEA | TIJ |
| 1 | Utah Royals | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 6 | — | 3–1 | 1–2 | 5–1 |
| 2 | Portland Thorns FC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 6 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 | 5–0 |
| 3 | Seattle Reign FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | — | 2–3 |
| 4 | Tijuana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 3 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — |

#### Matches
## Statistics
### Squad appearances

    As of November 2, 2024
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Total | Total | NWSL Regular Season | NWSL Regular Season | Summer Cup | Summer Cup |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | GK | | Mandy Haught | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | GK | | Carly Nelson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | | Cristina Roque | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | DF | | Olivia Griffitts | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | | Lauren Flynn | 12 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | | Kate Del Fava | 29 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | DF | | Zoe Burns | 24 | 16 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 2 |
| 16 | DF | | Madison Pogarch | 28 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | DF | | Ana Tejada | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 3 |
| 18 | DF | | Kaleigh Riehl | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 |
| 23 | DF | | Darielle O'Brien | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | | Imani Dorsey | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 6 | MF | | Agnes Nyberg | 12 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | | Macey Fraser | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | | Mikayla Cluff | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | | Dana Foederer | 26 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
| 26 | MF | | Claudia Zornoza | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 4 | FW | | Paige Monaghan | 25 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | FW | | Michele Vasconcelos | 17 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | Ally Sentnor | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | FW | | Brecken Mozingo | 21 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| 20 | FW | | Cameron Tucker | 19 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | FW | | Cloé Lacasse | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | | Mina Tanaka | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | | Hannah Betfort | 27 | 21 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 |
| Other players (Departed during season, short-term loan, etc.) ||||||||||
| 2 | MF | | Ellie Boren | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | | Amandine Henry | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | | Ifeoma Onumonu | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | | Addisyn Merrick | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | | Frankie Tagliaferri | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | | Emily Gray | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | | Shaelan Murison | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |

### Goals

    As of November 2, 2024
| Rank | Player | Total | NWSL Regular Season | Summer Cup |
| 1 | Ally Sentnor | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Hannah Betfort | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | Cloé Lacasse | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | Paige Monaghan | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | Kate Del Fava | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Brecken Mozingo | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Ana Tejada | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Cameron Tucker | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Michele Vasconcelos | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Claudia Zornoza | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | Dana Foederer | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Olivia Griffitts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Mina Tanaka | 1 | 1 | 0 |

### Assists

    As of November 2, 2024
| 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 |
| 3 | Claudia Zornoza | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Ana Tejada | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | Shaelan Murison | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Kaleigh Riehl | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Michele Vasconcelos | 1 | 1 | 0 |

### Clean sheets

    As of November 2, 2024
| 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.
| P | Player | Pos. | Previous team |
| 2 | Elyse Bennett | FW | Seattle Reign FC |
| 4 | Paige Monaghan | FW | Racing Louisville FC |
| 6 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 8 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 10 | PASS | PASS | PASS |

### 2024 NWSL Draft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2024 NWSL Draft was held on January 12, 2024.
| R | P | Player | Pos. | College | Status |
| 1 | 1 | Ally Sentnor | FW | University of North Carolina | Signed to a three-year contract on February 19, 2024. |
| 1 | 4 | Brecken Mozingo | FW | Brigham Young University | Signed to a two-year contract with an option on February 23, 2024. |
| 2 | 16 | Lauren Flynn | DF | Florida State University | Signed to a one-year contract with an option on March 12, 2024. |
| 2 | 20 | Olivia Griffitts | DF | Brigham Young University | Signed to a one-year contract with an option on March 21, 2024. |
| 2 | 26 | Emma Jaskaniec | MF | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Not signed. |
| 3 | 29 | Zoe Burns | DF | University of Southern California | Signed to a one-year contract on March 7, 2024. |
| 3 | 33 | Cristina Roque | GK | Florida State University | Signed to a one-year contract with an option on March 13, 2024. |

### Re-signings

| Date | Player | Pos. | Notes | Ref. |
| August 28, 2024 | Darielle O'Brien | DF | Former national team replacement player re-signed to an injury replacement contract. | |

### Loans out

| Date | Player | Pos. | Destination club | Fee/notes | Ref. |
| November 15, 2022 | Emily Gray | MF | Odense Boldklub Q | Loaned through the remainder of the 2024 NWSL season. | |

### Transfers in

| Date | Player | Pos. | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| November 15, 2023 | Mikayla Cluff | MF | Orlando Pride | Traded in exchange for $90,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| November 20, 2023 | Kaleigh Riehl | DF | San Diego Wave FC | Traded in exchange for $60,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| November 20, 2023 | Emily Gray | MF | North Carolina Courage | Traded in exchange for $30,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| November 20, 2023 | Frankie Tagliaferri | MF | North Carolina Courage | Traded in exchange for $30,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| November 21, 2023 | Michele Vasconcelos | FW | Portland Thorns FC | Free agent signed to a two-year contract. |
| November 29, 2023 | Imani Dorsey | DF | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Free agent signed to a two-year contract. |
| December 7, 2023 | Madison Pogarch | DF | San Diego Wave FC | Free agent signed to a two-year contract. |
| December 12, 2023 | Mandy Haught | GK | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Traded in exchange for $150,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| December 12, 2023 | Kate Del Fava | DF | Kansas City Current | Traded, 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. |
| December 12, 2023 | Hannah Betfort | FW | Portland Thorns FC | Traded, 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. |
| December 12, 2023 | Carly Nelson | GK | Orlando Pride | Traded, along with $65,000 in allocation money, in exchange for a 2024 international roster spot. |
| December 12, 2023 | Cameron Tucker | FW | Houston Dash | Traded, along with $50,000 of allocation money, in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft. |
| December 18, 2023 | Addisyn Merrick | DF | Kansas City Current | Free agent signed to a two-year contract. |
| December 30, 2023 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | NJ/NY Gotham FC | Traded in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money. |
| January 2, 2024 | Agnes Nyberg | MF | IK Uppsala | Free agent signed to a two-year contract. |
| January 5, 2024 | Dana Foederer | MF | Fortuna Sittard | Acquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a two-year contract. |
| April 16, 2024 | Macey Fraser | MF | Wellington Phoenix FC | Acquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a three-year contract with an option. |
| April 20, 2024 | Amandine Henry | MF | Angel City FC | Traded in exchange for $75,000 of allocation money. |
| April 22, 2024 | Ana Tejada | DF | Real Sociedad | Acquired in exchange for an undisclosed fee and signed to a three-year contract with an option. |
| July 5, 2024 | Mina Tanaka | FW | INAC Kobe Leonessa | Free agent signed to a two-year contract through 2025. |
| July 12, 2024 | Claudia Zornoza | MF | Real Madrid | Signed to a two-year contract through 2025 with an option. |
| July 17, 2024 | Ellie Boren | MF | BYU Cougars | Signed to a national team replacement contract. |
| July 17, 2024 | Shaelan Murison | MF | Oakland Soul SC | Signed to a national team replacement contract. |
| July 17, 2024 | Darielle O'Brien | DF | United City FC Women | Signed to a national team replacement contract. |
| August 14, 2024 | Cloé Lacasse | FW | Arsenal | Signed to a four-year contract through 2027. |
| September 1, 2024 | Julia Grosso | DF | Melbourne City | Free agent signed to a one-year contract through the remainder of 2024. |
| September 5, 2024 | Shaelan Murison | MF | Utah Royals | Signed to a national team replacement contract. |

### Transfers out

| Date | Player | Pos. | Destination club | Fee/notes |
| December 17, 2023 | Elyse Bennett | FW | San Diego Wave FC | Traded in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money. |
| August 19, 2024 | Shaelan Murison | MF | Utah Royals | National team replacement players released. |
| August 19, 2024 | Ellie Boren | MF | | National team replacement players released. |
| September 5, 2024 | Addisyn Merrick | DF | Carolina Ascent FC | Mutual contract termination. |
| September 6, 2024 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | Montpellier | Mutual contract termination. |
| September 6, 2024 | Amandine Henry | MF | Deportivo Toluca | Mutual contract termination. |
| October 10, 2024 | Frankie Tagliaferri | MF | | Waived. |

### Injury listings

| Date | Player | Pos. | List | Injury |
| April 11, 2024 | Imani Dorsey | DF | Season-ending injury | Ruptured left Achilles sustained in match against the North Carolina Courage. |
| August 28, 2024 | Lauren Flynn | DF | Season-ending injury | Bilateral compartment syndrome in lower legs. |
| October 30, 2024 | Cloé Lacasse | FW | Season-ending injury | Ruptured ACL and sprained MCL sustained in match against Angel City FC. |