2024 Utah Royals season explained

Club:Utah Royals
Season:2024
Stadium:America First Field
League:NWSL
Chrtitle:Sporting Director
Chairman:Kelly Cousins
Ownertitle:Owners
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Jimmy Coenraets (interim since June 30; permanent since October 24)
Amy Rodriguez (until June 30)
Highest Attendance:20,370
(Mar 16 vs CHI)
Lowest Attendance:7,491
(May 25 vs KC)
Average Attendance:10,304
League Topscorer:Cloé Lacasse (4)
Season Topscorer:Ally Sentnor (5)
Cup1:NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
Cup1 Result:Group stage
Pattern La1:_navyborder
Pattern B1:_utahroyals24h
Pattern Ra1:_navyborder
Leftarm1:FDB71A
Body1:FDB71A
Rightarm1:FDB71A
Shorts1:0E1735
Socks1:FDB71A
Pattern B2:_nike24diagonal
Leftarm2:6B80AA
Body2:0E1735
Rightarm2:6B80AA
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American:true
Prevseason:2020
Nextseason:2025
Updated:November 2, 2024

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.[1] 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[2] and was named the permanent head coach on october 24.[3]

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.[4] [5] Club president Michelle Hyncik was a high-school teammate of Rodriguez's and offered the role to Rodriguez.[6]

On July 18, 2023, the Royals hired former Reading F.C. Women manager Kelly Cousins as the club's first sporting director.[7] [8]

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.[9]

On May 20, Brillant was announced as the head coach for DC Power FC of the newly formed USL Super League.[10] [11]

On June 7, the Royals hired Oud-Heverlee Leuven manager Jimmy Coenraets as an assistant coach and Sam Lismont as a performance analyst.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[3]

Club

Roster

[15] [16]

On loan

Competitions

NWSL regular season

See main article: 2024 National Women's Soccer League season.

The Royals were eliminated from playoff contention after Bay FC defeated the North Carolina Courage on October 19.[17]

Standings

NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

See main article: 2024 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.PlayerTotalNWSL Regular SeasonSummer Cup
AppsStartsAppsStartsAppsStarts
Goalkeepers
1GKMandy Haught2525242411
27GKCarly Nelson111100
32GKCristina Roque331122
Defenders
3DFOlivia Griffitts1514131321
5DFLauren Flynn1210121000
8DFKate Del Fava2929262633
12DFZoe Burns2416211432
16DFMadison Pogarch2824252133
17DFAna Tejada1818151533
18DFKaleigh Riehl1717141433
23DFDarielle O'Brien100010
28DFImani Dorsey222200
Midfielders
6MFAgnes Nyberg12811810
14MFMacey Fraser424200
21MFMikayla Cluff11511500
22MFDana Foederer2621231733
26MFClaudia Zornoza1010101000
Forwards
4FWPaige Monaghan2523222033
7FWMichele Vasconcelos17215220
9FWAlly Sentnor2323212122
15FWBrecken Mozingo2113181033
20FWCameron Tucker19418311
24FWCloé Lacasse989800
29FWMina Tanaka777700
33FWHannah Betfort2721241833
Other players (Departed during season, short-term loan, etc.)
2MFEllie Boren200020
10MFAmandine Henry10910900
11FWIfeoma Onumonu303000
13DFAddisyn Merrick714130
19MFFrankie Tagliaferri646400
24MFEmily Gray020200
35FWShaelan Grace Murison Brown614120

Goals

RankPlayerTotalNWSL Regular SeasonSummer Cup
1 Ally Sentnor532
2 Hannah Betfort422
Cloé Lacasse440
4 Paige Monaghan321
5 Kate Del Fava220
Brecken Mozingo202
Ana Tejada220
Cameron Tucker211
Michele Vasconcelos211
Claudia Zornoza220
11 Dana Foederer110
Olivia Griffitts110
Mina Tanaka110

Assists

RankPlayerTotalNWSL Regular SeasonSummer Cup
1 Ally Sentnor541
2 Dana Foederer422
3 Paige Monaghan312
Claudia Zornoza330
5 Ana Tejada211
6Shaelan Grace Murison Brown101
Kaleigh Riehl110
Michele Vasconcelos110

Clean sheets

RankPlayerTotalNWSL Regular SeasonSummer Cup
1 Mandy Haught440
2 Cristina Roque110

Notes and References

  1. News: NWSL Awards Expansion Team Rights to Utah. RSL.com. 2024-02-04. en-US.
  2. News: U.S. Women’s National Team Legend Amy Rodriguez Named Utah Royals FC Head Coach. RSL.com. 2024-02-04. en-US.
  3. News: Utah Royals hire Jimmy Coenraets as head coach through 2027 . October 24, 2024 . October 24, 2024 . . . Meg . Linehan.
  4. News: Utah Royals hire former USWNT player Amy Rodriguez as manager . April 19, 2023 . October 21, 2024 . . . registration.
  5. News: Why Amy Rodriguez's career is coming 'full circle' with Utah Royals FC, and the high school teammate who brought her back . April 20, 2023 . October 21, 2024 . Salt City FC . Sean . Walker.
  6. News: How 2 high school teammates reunited as leaders of Utah Royals . April 20, 2023 . October 21, 2024 . . KSL.com . Caleb . Turner.
  7. Utah Royals FC Name Kelly Cousins (Chambers) As First-Ever Sporting Director . July 18, 2023 . October 21, 2024 . Utah Royals.
  8. News: Utah Royals name Kelly Cousins, former Reading Women’s manager, as first sporting director . July 18, 2023 . October 21, 2024 . . . registration.
  9. URFC Unveils 2024 Coaching Staff . March 13, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . Utah Royals.
  10. News: Washington's new women’s soccer team gets a name, logo and coach . May 20, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . subscription . Steven . Goff.
  11. News: DC's new women's pro-soccer team unveils name, identity ahead of USL Super League launch . WJLA.com . . May 20, 2024 . October 21, 2024.
  12. Jimmy Coenraets And Sam Lismont Join Utah Royals FC Coaching Staff . June 7, 2024 . . October 21, 2024.
  13. News: Last-place Utah Royals fire head coach Amy Rodriguez . June 30, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . . Jeff . Kassouf.
  14. Utah Royals Announce James White as Goalkeeper Coach . October 9, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . Utah Royals.
  15. Web site: Roster . Utah Royals . rsl.com . October 21, 2024.
  16. 2024 Utah Royals Media Guide . January 22, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . Utah Royals.
  17. News: Utah Royals lose Lacasse, settle for 1-1 draw in final road game . October 20, 2024 . October 21, 2024 . . ksl.com . Caleb . Turner.