Welcome to the Utah Royals FC Off-Season Updates page! Here we’re tracking all off-season moves made by the Bay as they prepare for their debut 2024 season.
Expansion Draft Protection Trades
Orlando Pride, November 15
Utah receives:
- Mikayla Cluff
- No. 26 Pick in 2024 NWSL Draft
Orlando receives:
- $90,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
San Diego Wave FC, November 20
Utah receives:
- Kaleigh Riehl
San Diego receives:
- $60,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
North Carolina Courage, November 20
Utah receives:
- Emily Gray
- Frankie Tagliaferri
North Carolina receives:
- $30,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
Washington Spirit, December 12
Utah receives:
- Pick No. 20 in the 2024 NWSL Draft
- Pick No. 21 in the 2024 NWSL Draft
Washington receives:
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
Gotham FC, December 12
Utah receives:
- Mandy Haught
Gotham receives:
- $150,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
Portland Thorns, December 12
Utah receives:
- Hannah Betfort
- Pick No. 33 in the 2024 NWSL Draft
- $10,000 in Allocation Money
Portland receives:
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
Kansas City Current, December 12
Utah receives:
- Kate Del Fava
- Pick No. 4 in the 2024 NWSL Draft
Kansas City receives:
- $75,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
Angel City, December 12
Utah receives:
- International Spot
- $50,000 in Allocation Money in 2023
- $50,000 in Allocation Money in January 2024*
Angel City receives:
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
* Teams are give the opportunity to purchase Allocation Money from the NWSL to use as an asset each year, up to a certain amount, as mentioned above. The configuration of this trade, as announced by the NWSL, leads us to believe this means the January 2024 payment to Utah will be made with Allocation Money that will not become available for purchase by Angel City until January 2024. We await official confirmation from the parties involved.
Houston Dash, December 12
Utah receives:
- Cameron Tucker
Houston receives:
- $50,000 in Allocation Money
- Protection from Utah in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
November 21, 2023
Free agent midfielder Michele Vasconcelos signed with Utah through 2025.
November 29, 2023
Free agent defender Imani Dorsey signs through 2025 with Utah.
December 7, 2023
Free agent defender Madison Pogarch signs with Utah through 2025.
December 15, 2023
Utah Royals FC selects two players in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft.
- Forward Elyse Bennett, OL Reign
- Forward Paige Monaghan, Racing Louisville
December 16, 2023
Utah Royals FC acquires $40,000 in allocation money from San Diego Wave FC in exchange for forward Elyse Bennett.
December 18, 2023
Restricted free agent defender Addisyn Merrick signs with Utah through 2025.
December 30, 2023
Utah Royals FC acquired forward Ify Onumonu from Gotham FC in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.
January 2, 2024
Utah signs Swedish midfielder Agnes Nyberg through 2025, arriving as a free agent from Swedish side IK Uppsala.
January 5, 2024
Dutch midfielder Dana Foederer signs with Utah through 2025 from club Fortuna Sittard for an undisclosed transfer fee.
January 12, 2024 – NWSL Draft Day
Utah made two draft day trades.
The first sent the 21st overall pick to the Houston Dash in exchange for $120,000 in allocation money.
In the second, the Royals acquired $15,000 in allocation money from Angel City FC in exchange for the 44th overall pick.
Utah Royals FC made seven selections at the 2024 NWSL Draft:
- No. 1, midfielder Ally Sentnor, University of North Carolina
- No. 4, forward Brecken Mozinga, Brigham Young University
- No. 16, defender Lauren Flynn, Florida State University
- No. 20, defender Olivia Smith-Griffitts, Brigham Young University
- No. 26, midfielder Emma Jaskaniec, University of Wisconsin
- No. 29, defender Zoe Burns, University of Southern California
- No. 33, goalkeeper Cristina Roque, Florida State University
Utah Royals FC Roster as of January 19:
The following 17 players are under contract with Utah Royals FC for the 2024 season.
- Goalkeepers (2): Mandy Haught, Carly Nelson
- Defenders (4): Kaleigh Riehl, Madison Pogarch, Kate Del Fava, Addisyn Merrick
- Midfielders (6): Mikayla Cluff, Michele Vasconcelos, Emily Gray, Frankie Tagliaferri, Agnes Nybert, Dana Foederer
- Forwards (5): Hannah Betfort, Imani Dorsey, Paige Monaghan, Ify Onumonu, Cameron Tucker