Match Coverage
The NWSL returns: Utah Royals FC host Bay FC
Utah Royals FC to host Bay FC as the NWSL resumes play after the Olympic break.
The NWSL is back! After a six-week Olympic break, NWSL is back on the schedule! Utah Royals FC (2-11-3, 9 points) host Bay FC (6-10-0, 18 points).
Match Details
Utah Royals FC vs. Bay FC
America First Field | 7:30 pm MT
WATCH on KMYU locally (2.2 over air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD) OR NWSL+
LISTEN via KSL Sports Radio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) starting at 7:00 p.m. MT
What we’re watching
It's been a while since we've had an NWSL game, and since we covered the Royals here at Wasatch Soccer Sentinel. Sorry about that! Summer apparently got busy. But here we are, ready to cover the second half of the season! The good news is that Utah had a pretty impressive summer during the break, winning their group in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with six points, but due to the tournament's format did not advance to the semifinals (weird, I know). Utah also defeated Crystal Palace FC 3-0 in a friendly game last Friday.
Does this mean Utah will be a more competitive team now? Has the team reached a turnaround point, just as the second half of the 2024 season gets underway? Those are questions likely to be answered versus Bay FC. For the first half of the season, Utah was plagued by their inability to score goals. In the past four games, rookie Ally Sentnor scored five goals. She was named Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month for July. Her contributions will be key as the Royals look to get their third win of the season.
Utah's second of the win of the season was a 1-0 victory over Bay FC at PayPal Park in San Jose, California back in June. Kate Del Fava's header in the 89th minute proved to be the difference-maker in the match. It was her second goal of the season, and the first road win for Utah. Since then, Utah has yet to win a game in the NWSL season. But also since then, Utah relieved head coach Amy Rodriguez of her coaching duties on June 30th and appointed assistant Jimmy Coenraets as the interim head coach.
Summer signings
Long has been the talk of Utah's roster full of young talent, but this summer, Utah went international and signed three players to boost that line up: Japanese forward Mina Tanaka, Spanish midfielder Claudia Zornoza, and Canadian forward Cloé Lacasse from England’s Women’s Super League side Arsenal W.F.C. All three will bring much-needed experience and hopefully help Utah get out of the bottom of the NWSL standings.
Injury Report
OUT: Imani Dorsey (SEI - achilles), Carly Nelson (excused absence), Brecken Mozingo (lower leg), Lauren Flynn (lower leg), Mikayla Cluff (foot), Macey Fraser (ankle), Frankie Tagliaferri (excused absence)
