2020 Utah Royals FC season
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox football club season
| club = Utah Royals FC
| image = URFC WordmarkLong Cobalt.svg
| season = 2020
| stadium = Rio Tinto Stadium
| league = NWSL
| league result = {{nowrap| }}
| chrtitle = Owner
| chairman = Dell Loy Hansen
| ceo =
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = Amy LePeilbet (interim)
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| average attendance =
| league topscorer =
| season topscorer =
| cup1 = 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup
| cup1 result = Quarter-finals
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 = _utahroyals20h
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_sh1 = _nikefootballnavylogo
| pattern_so1 = _nikegold
| leftarm1 = 000833
| body1 = 000833
| rightarm1 = 000833
| shorts1 = FCB61A
| socks1 = 000833
| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b2 = _utahroyals19a
| pattern_ra2 =
| pattern_sh2 =
| pattern_so2 =
| 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 in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of the American soccer pyramid.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2018/01/06/heres-everying-you-need-to-know-about-the-utah-royals-womens-soccer-league-the-nwsl/|title=Here’s everything you need to know about the Utah Royals’ women’s soccer league, the NWSL|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=2018-01-21|language=en-US}} After this season, the team folded and transferred players and coaches to the new Kansas City NWSL, now known as the Kansas City Current.
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2020/01/06/utah-royals-fc-parts-ways-head-coach-laura-harvey|title=UTAH ROYALS FC PARTS WAYS WITH HEAD COACH LAURA HARVEY|access-date=January 8, 2020|date=January 6, 2020}}
Competitions
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NWSL did not hold a regular season as originally scheduled.{{cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-announces-full-2020-season-schedule|title=NWSL announces full 2020 season schedule|access-date=September 9, 2020|date=February 20, 2020}} The season was replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in July and the Fall Series in September and October.{{cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-announces-remaining-2020-fall-series-schedule-and-cbs-broadcast-talent|title=NWSL announces remaining 2020 fall series schedule and CBS broadcast talent|access-date=September 9, 2020|date=September 3, 2020}}
=2020 NWSL Challenge Cup=
{{Main|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2020/06/29/utah-royals-looking/|title=Utah Royals looking to committee of forwards for goals after Christen Press opts out of Challenge Cup|access-date=September 9, 2020|date=June 29, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/nwsl-desiree-scott-nwsl-challenge-cup-1.5632971|title=Canadian Desiree Scott pulls out of NWSL's Challenge Cup for personal reasons|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020}}
{{2020 NWSL Challenge Cup preliminary round|showteam=UTA}}
==Challenge Cup match results==
Preliminary round
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 1
|date = June 30, 2020
|team1 = Houston Dash
|time = 10:30
|score = 3–3
|report = https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/houston-dash-vs-utah-royals-2020-06-30
|team2 = Utah Royals FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
|location = Herriman, Utah
|attendance =
|referee = Karen Abt
|result = D
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 2
|date = July 4, 2020
|team1 = Utah Royals FC
|time = 10:30
|score = 1–0
|report = https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/utah-royals-vs-sky-blue-2020-07-04
|team2 = Sky Blue FC
|goals1 =
- Rodriguez {{goal|41}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
|location = Herriman, Utah
|attendance =
|referee = Katja Koroleva
|result = W
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 3
|date = July 8, 2020
|team1 = Utah Royals FC
|time = 10:30
|score = 0–1
|report = https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/utah-royals-vs-ol-reign-2020-07-08
|team2 = OL Reign
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Balcer {{goal|90+1}}
|stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
|location = Herriman, Utah
|attendance =
|referee = Danielle Chesky
|result = L
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 4
|date = July 12, 2020
|team1 = Chicago Red Stars
|time = 20:00
|score = 1–0
|report = https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/chicago-red-stars-vs-utah-royals-2020-07-12
|team2 = Utah Royals FC
|goals1 =
- Short {{goal|85}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
|location = Herriman, Utah
|attendance =
|referee = Michael Radchuk
|result = L
}}
Knockout round
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = Quarter-final
| date = July 17, 2020
| time = 20:00
| team1 = Houston Dash
| score = 0–0
| report = https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/houston-dash-vs-utah-royals-2020-07-17
| team2 = Utah Royals FC
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
| penaltyscore = 3–2
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Zions Bank Stadium
Herriman, Utah
| attendance =
| referee =
|result = L
}}
= Fall Series =
{{Main|2020 National Women's Soccer League season#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.{{cite web|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50019263/all-of-their-national-team-players-have-opted-out-so-whos-left-for-utah-royals-fc-in-fall-opener|title=All of their national team players have opted out, so who's left for Utah Royals FC in fall opener?|date=September 19, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1307761360303001605|title=@itsmeglinehan|access-date=September 20, 2020}}
{{2020 NWSL Fall Series|showteam=UTA}}
==Fall Series match results==
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 1
|date = September 20, 2020
|team1 = Portland Thorns FC
|time =
|score = 3–0
|report =
|team2 = Utah Royals FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Providence Park
|location = Portland, Oregon
|attendance =
|referee =
|result = L
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 2
|date = September 26, 2020
|team1 = Utah Royals FC
|time =
|score = 2–2
|report =
|team2 = OL Reign
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Rio Tinto Stadium
|location = Sandy, Utah
|attendance =
|referee =
|result = D
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 3
|date = October 3, 2020
|team1 = Utah Royals FC
|time =
|score = 1–1
|report =
|team2 = Portland Thorns FC
|goals1 =
- Rodriguez {{goal|9}}
|goals2 =
- Sinclair {{goal|59}}
|stadium = Rio Tinto Stadium
|location = Sandy, Utah
|attendance =
|referee =
|result = D
}}
{{footballbox collapsible
|round = 4
|date = October 17, 2020
|team1 = OL Reign
|time =
|score = 2–0
|report =
|team2 = Utah Royals FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Cheney Stadium
|location = Tacoma, Washington
|attendance =
|referee =
|result = L
}}
Club
=Roster=
- Age calculated as of the start of the 2020 Fall Series.
{{updated|September 11, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2019/01/04/utah-royals-fc-signs-mf-vero-boquete|title=Utah Royals FC Signs MF Vero Boquete|publisher=rsl.com |date=January 4, 2019 |access-date=January 4, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2019/03/04/three-utah-royals-fc-players-change-numbers-2019-season|title=Three Utah Royals FC Players Change Numbers for 2019 Season|access-date=March 16, 2019|date=March 4, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2019/04/17/urfc-signs-michelle-maemone-madeline-nolf-and-gaby-vincent-supplemental-roster|title=URFC Signs Michelle Maemone, Madeline Nolf and Gaby Vincent to Supplemental Roster|access-date=April 21, 2019|date=April 17, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2019/07/24/utah-royals-fc-promotes-three-players|title=Utah Royals FC Promotes Three Players|access-date=August 5, 2019|date=July 24, 2019}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%; width:70%;" |
style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| No.
! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Name ! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Nationality ! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Positions ! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Date of birth (age) ! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Signed from ! style="background:#FFB81C; color:#001E62; text-align:center;"| Year with club (year signed) |
---|
|align="center"| 1 |data-sort-value="Smith"| Abby Smith | {{USA}} |align="center"| GK |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1993|10|04}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Boston Breakers | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 2
|data-sort-value="Corsie"| Rachel Corsie | {{SCO}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1989|08|17}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Seattle Reign | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 3
|data-sort-value="King"| Tziarra King | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1998|08|24}} | {{flagicon|USA}} North Carolina State University | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 5
|data-sort-value="O'Hara"| Kelley O'Hara | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1988|08|04}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Sky Blue FC | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 6
|data-sort-value="Bowen"| Katie Bowen | {{NZL}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1994|04|15}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 8
|data-sort-value="Rodriguez"| Amy Rodriguez | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1987|02|17}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 7
|data-sort-value="Ball"| Elizabeth Ball | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1995|10|20}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Portland Thorns | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 9
|data-sort-value="LaBonta"| Lo'eau LaBonta | {{USA}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1993|03|18}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 10
|data-sort-value="Matheson"| Diana Matheson | {{CAN}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1984|04|06}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Seattle Reign FC | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 11
|data-sort-value="Scott"| Desiree Scott | {{CAN}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1987|07|31}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 12
|data-sort-value="Lytle"| Taylor Lytle | {{USA}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1989|03|31}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Sky Blue FC | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 13
|data-sort-value="Leach"| Chestley Strother | {{USA}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1994|06|13}} | {{flagicon|SWE}} Sundsvalls DFF | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 14
|data-sort-value="Vincent"| Gaby Vincent | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1997|12|7}} | {{flagicon|USA}} University of Louisville | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 17
|data-sort-value="Ship"| Arielle Ship | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1995|05|02}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Washington Spirit | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 18
|data-sort-value="Barnhart"| Nicole Barnhart | {{USA}} |align="center"| GK |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1981|10|10}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 19
|data-sort-value="Maemone"| Michelle Maemone | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1997|03|18}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Pepperdine University | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 20
|data-sort-value="Weber"| Mallory Weber | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1994|04|04}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Portland Thorns | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 21
|data-sort-value="Boquete"| Verónica Boquete | {{ESP}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1987|04|09}} | {{flagicon|CHN}} Beijing BG Phoenix | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 22
|data-sort-value="Nolf"| Madeline Nolf | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1996|03|29}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Penn State University | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 24
|data-sort-value="Leach"| Taylor Leach | {{USA}} |align="center"| DF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1992|01|19}} | {{flagicon|SWE}} Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 25
|data-sort-value="Ratcliffe"| Brittany Ratcliffe | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1994|02|07}} | {{flagicon|USA}} FC Kansas City | 3 (2018) |
align="center"| 29
|data-sort-value="Del Fava"| Kate Del Fava | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1998|07|23}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Illinois State University | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 38
|data-sort-value="Diallo"| Aminata Diallo | {{FRA}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1995|04|03}} | {{flagicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain | 1 (2020) |
align="center"| 42
|data-sort-value="Strom-Okimoto"| Raisa Strom-Okimoto | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1997|10|25}} | {{flagicon|USA}} University of Hawaii | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 61
|data-sort-value="Lowder"| Melissa Lowder | {{USA}} |align="center"| GK |align="center"| | {{flagicon|USA}} Santa Clara University | 2 (2019) |
align="center"| 66
|data-sort-value="Jónsdóttir"| Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir | {{ISL}} |align="center"| MF |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1988|09|28}} | {{flagicon|NOR}} Vålerenga | 3 (2018) |
align="center"|
|data-sort-value="Vasconcelos"| Michele Vasconcelos | {{USA}} |align="center"| FW |align="center"| {{Birth date and age2|2020|09|20|1994|05|11}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Chicago Red Stars | 1 (2020) |
Player transactions
{{updated|September 11, 2020}}
=Transfers in=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |
style="width:125px;"|Date
! style="width:250px;"|Player ! style="width:120px;"|Positions played ! style="width:220px;"|Previous club ! style="width:450px;"|Fee/notes ! style="width:40px;"|Ref. |
---|
11/05/19
| {{flagicon|USA}} Kyra Carusa | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Sky Blue FC | Re-Entry Wire |
11/05/19
| {{flagicon|USA}} Cali Farquharson | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Washington Spirit | Re-Entry Wire |
11/05/19
| {{flagicon|USA}} Arielle Ship | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Washington Spirit | Re-Entry Wire |
01/06/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Taylor Leach | DF | {{flagicon|SWE}} Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | Signed |
01/07/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Chestley Strother | MF | {{flagicon|SWE}} Sundsvalls DFF | Signed |
03/03/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Elizabeth Ball | DF | {{flagicon|USA}} Portland Thorns | Acquired in a trade with the Portland Thorns in exchange for Becky Sauerbrunn and allocation money. |
03/11/20
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Aminata Diallo | MF | {{flagicon|FRA}} Paris Saint-Germain | Signed on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. |
09/10/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Michele Vasconcelos | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Chicago Red Stars | Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for $55,000 in allocation money. |
=Transfers out=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |
style="width:125px;"|Date
! style="width:250px;"|Player ! style="width:120px;"|Positions played ! style="width:220px;"|Destination club ! style="width:450px;"|Fee/notes ! style="width:40px;"|Ref. |
---|
12/12/19
| {{flagicon|USA}} Cali Farquharson | FW | {{flagicon|SWE}} KIF Örebro DFF | Waived |
12/19/19
| {{flagicon|USA}} Makenzy Doniak | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Chicago Red Stars | Traded to the Chicago Red Stars, in exchange for Chicago's second round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft |
01/06/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Erika Tymrak | MF | | Retired |
01/08/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Katie Stengel | FW | {{flagicon|USA}} Houston Dash | Traded 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 |
02/03/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Mandy Laddish | MF | | Retired |
02/03/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Becca Moros | DF | | Waived |
02/19/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Sydney Miramontez | DF | | Retired |
03/03/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Becky Sauerbrunn | DF | {{flagicon|USA}} Portland Thorns | Traded to the Portland Thorns in exchange for Elizabeth Ball and allocation money. |
09/09/20
| {{flagicon|USA}} Christen Press | FW | {{flagicon|ENG}} Manchester United | Signed with Manchester United in the FA Women's Super League, Utah retains her rights in the NWSL. |
=2020 NWSL College Draft=
{{Main|2020 NWSL College Draft}}
: Source: National Women's Soccer League{{cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/collegedraft|title=2020 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT ORDER|publisher=National Women's Soccer League|access-date=March 21, 2020}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||
Round
!Pick !{{tooltip|Nat.|FIFA national affiliation}} !Player !{{tooltip|Pos.|Player position}} !Previous Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round 1 | 8 | {{flagicon|USA}} | {{sortname|Tziarra|King}} | F | North Carolina State University |
Round 2 | 12 | {{flagicon|USA}} | {{sortname|Kate|Del Fava}} | M | Illinois State University |
Round 4 | 31 | {{flagicon|USA}} | {{sortname|Cyera|Hintzen}} | F | University of Texas |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Utah Royals FC}}
{{National Women's Soccer League}}
{{2020 NWSL season by team}}
{{2020 in American soccer}}