2020 Utah Royals FC season explained

Club:Utah Royals FC
Season:2020
Stadium:Rio Tinto Stadium
League:NWSL
Chrtitle:Owner
Chairman:Dell Loy Hansen
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Amy LePeilbet (interim)
Cup1:2020 NWSL Challenge Cup
Cup1 Result:Quarter-finals
Pattern B1:_utahroyals20h
Pattern Sh1:_nikefootballnavylogo
Pattern So1:_nikegold
Leftarm1:000833
Body1:000833
Rightarm1:000833
Shorts1:FCB61A
Socks1:000833
Pattern B2:_utahroyals19a
Leftarm2:FFFFFF
Body2:FFFFFF
Rightarm2:FFFFFF
Shorts2:FFFFFF
Socks2:FFFFFF
American:true
Prevseason:2019
Nextseason:2021 (KC)
2024 (Utah)

The 2020 Utah Royals FC season marks the team's third year and final season of existence and its third season and last edition before to Kansas City NWSL, in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of the American soccer pyramid.[1]

On January 6, 2020 the team mutually parted ways with head coach Laura Harvey so she could take a position with U.S Soccer as the head coach for the U-20 Women's National Team.[2]

Competitions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NWSL did not hold a regular season as originally scheduled.[3] The season was replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in July and the Fall Series in September and October.[4]

2020 NWSL Challenge Cup

The Royals began their Challenge Cup against the Houston Dash on June 30. They were without forward Christen Press who opted out of the tournament and Desiree Scott who withdrew from the tournament for personal reasons.[5] [6]

Challenge Cup Match Results

Preliminary Round

Knockout Round

Fall Series

The Royals would be without several players for the NWSL Fall Series. Forward Christen Press signed with Manchester United. Rachel Corsie went on loan to Birmingham City and Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir was loaned to Valur. Kelley O'Hara, Desiree Scott and Diana Matheson all opted out of the Fall Series.[7]

Head Coach Craig Harrington and assistant coach Louis Lancaster were placed on administrative leave prior to the first game of the Fall Series, Amy LePeilbet was named interim head coach.[8]

Fall Series Match Results

Club

Roster

[9] [10] [11] [12]

No.NameNationalityPositionsDate of birth (age)Signed fromYear with club (year signed)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
1data-sort-value="Smith"September 20, 2020 Boston Breakers3 (2018)
2data-sort-value="Corsie"September 20, 2020 Seattle Reign3 (2018)
3data-sort-value="King"September 20, 2020 North Carolina State University1 (2020)
5data-sort-value="O'Hara"September 20, 2020 Sky Blue FC3 (2018)
6data-sort-value="Bowen"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
8data-sort-value="Rodriguez"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
7data-sort-value="Ball"September 20, 2020 Portland Thorns1 (2020)
9data-sort-value="LaBonta"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
10data-sort-value="Matheson"September 20, 2020 Seattle Reign FC3 (2018)
11data-sort-value="Scott"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
12data-sort-value="Lytle"September 20, 2020 Sky Blue FC3 (2018)
13data-sort-value="Leach"Chestley Strother September 20, 2020 Sundsvalls DFF1 (2020)
14data-sort-value="Vincent"September 20, 2020 University of Louisville2 (2019)
17data-sort-value="Ship"September 20, 2020 Washington Spirit1 (2020)
18data-sort-value="Barnhart"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
19data-sort-value="Maemone"September 20, 2020 Pepperdine University2 (2019)
20data-sort-value="Weber"September 20, 2020 Portland Thorns2 (2019)
21data-sort-value="Boquete"September 20, 2020 Beijing BG Phoenix2 (2019)
22data-sort-value="Nolf"September 20, 2020 Penn State University2 (2019)
24data-sort-value="Leach"September 20, 2020 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC1 (2020)
25data-sort-value="Ratcliffe"September 20, 2020 FC Kansas City3 (2018)
29data-sort-value="Del Fava"September 20, 2020 Illinois State University1 (2020)
38 data-sort-value="Diallo"September 20, 2020 Paris Saint-Germain1 (2020)
42data-sort-value="Strom-Okimoto"September 20, 2020 University of Hawaii2 (2019)
61data-sort-value="Lowder"Melissa Lowder Santa Clara University2 (2019)
66data-sort-value="Jónsdóttir"September 20, 2020 Vålerenga3 (2018)
data-sort-value="Vasconcelos"September 20, 2020 Chicago Red Stars1 (2020)

Player Transactions

Transfers In

DatePlayerPositions playedPrevious clubFee/notesRef.
11/05/19 Kyra CarusaFW Sky Blue FCRe-Entry Wire [13]
11/05/19 Cali FarquharsonFW Washington SpiritRe-Entry Wire
11/05/19 Arielle ShipFW Washington SpiritRe-Entry Wire
01/06/20 Taylor LeachDF Kopparbergs/Göteborg FCSigned [14]
01/07/20 Chestley StrotherMF Sundsvalls DFFSigned [15]
03/03/20 Elizabeth BallDF Portland ThornsAcquired in a trade with the Portland Thorns in exchange for Becky Sauerbrunn and allocation money. [16]
03/11/20 Aminata DialloMF Paris Saint-GermainSigned on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. [17]
09/10/20 Michele VasconcelosFW Chicago Red StarsAcquired in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for $55,000 in allocation money. [18]

Transfers Out

DatePlayerPositions playedDestination clubFee/notesRef.
12/12/19 Cali FarquharsonFW KIF Örebro DFFWaived[19]
12/19/19 Makenzy DoniakFW Chicago Red StarsTraded to the Chicago Red Stars, in exchange for Chicago's second round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft[20]
01/06/20 Erika TymrakMFRetired[21]
01/08/20 Katie StengelFW Houston DashTraded to the Houston Dash along with Utah's third round pick in the 2020 College Draft in exchange for Houston's second round pick in the 2020 and 2021 NWSL College Drafts[22]
02/03/20 Mandy LaddishMFRetired[23]
02/03/20 Becca MorosDFWaived
02/19/20 Sydney MiramontezDFRetired[24]
03/03/20 Becky SauerbrunnDF Portland ThornsTraded to the Portland Thorns in exchange for Elizabeth Ball and allocation money.
09/09/20 Christen PressFW Manchester UnitedSigned with Manchester United in the FA Women's Super League, Utah retains her rights in the NWSL. [25]

2020 NWSL College Draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League[26]

RoundPickPlayerPrevious Team
Round 18 F North Carolina State University
Round 212 M Illinois State University
Round 431 F University of Texas

Notes and References

  1. News: Here’s everything you need to know about the Utah Royals’ women’s soccer league, the NWSL. The Salt Lake Tribune. 2018-01-21. en-US.
  2. Web site: UTAH ROYALS FC PARTS WAYS WITH HEAD COACH LAURA HARVEY. January 8, 2020. January 6, 2020.
  3. Web site: NWSL announces full 2020 season schedule. September 9, 2020. February 20, 2020.
  4. Web site: NWSL announces remaining 2020 fall series schedule and CBS broadcast talent. September 9, 2020. September 3, 2020.
  5. Web site: Utah Royals looking to committee of forwards for goals after Christen Press opts out of Challenge Cup. September 9, 2020. June 29, 2020.
  6. Web site: Canadian Desiree Scott pulls out of NWSL's Challenge Cup for personal reasons. June 30, 2020. September 9, 2020.
  7. Web site: All of their national team players have opted out, so who's left for Utah Royals FC in fall opener?. September 19, 2020. September 20, 2020.
  8. Web site: @itsmeglinehan. September 20, 2020.
  9. Web site: Utah Royals FC Signs MF Vero Boquete. rsl.com . January 4, 2019 . January 4, 2019.
  10. Web site: Three Utah Royals FC Players Change Numbers for 2019 Season. March 16, 2019. March 4, 2019.
  11. Web site: URFC Signs Michelle Maemone, Madeline Nolf and Gaby Vincent to Supplemental Roster. April 21, 2019. April 17, 2019.
  12. Web site: Utah Royals FC Promotes Three Players. August 5, 2019. July 24, 2019.
  13. Web site: Utah Royals FC select 3 off the Re-Entry Wire. January 8, 2020. November 5, 2019.
  14. Web site: Breaking: Utah Royals sign defender Taylor Leach. January 8, 2020. January 6, 2020.
  15. Web site: Utah Royals FC Signs Midfielder Chestley Strother. January 8, 2020. January 7, 2020.
  16. Web site: Utah Royals FC Acquires Elizabeth Ball from Portland Thorns FC. March 4, 2020. March 3, 2020.
  17. Web site: Utah Royals FC Signs French Midfielder Aminata Diallo. March 21, 2020. March 11, 2020.
  18. Web site: Utah Royals FC Acquires Forward Michele Vasconcelos from Chicago Red Stars. September 11, 2020. September 10, 2020.
  19. Web site: KIF Örebro värvar in Cali Farquharson från Washington Spirit. January 8, 2020. December 19, 2019.
  20. Web site: Makenzy Doniak traded to the Chicago Red Stars. January 8, 2020. December 19, 2019.
  21. Web site: Utah Royals FC midfielder Erika Tymrak retires on day club confirms departure of head coach Laura Harvey. January 8, 2020. January 6, 2020.
  22. Web site: Utah Royals FC Receives Two Draft Picks in Trade With the Houston Dash. January 8, 2020. January 8, 2020.
  23. Web site: Utah Royals FC Midfielder Mandy Laddish Announces Retirement. February 17, 2020. February 3, 2020.
  24. Web site: Utah Royals FC Defender Sydney Miramontez Announces Retirement. February 19, 2020. February 29, 2020.
  25. Web site: CHRISTEN PRESS SIGNS FOR UNITED WOMEN. September 9, 2020. September 9, 2020.
  26. Web site: 2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT ORDER. National Women's Soccer League. March 21, 2020.