The Rise of the Utah Royals, Looking to 2025
When it was announced that the Utah Royals were returning to the NWSL, excitement was in the air. Almost everyone had high hopes for the team and this new chapter. In the previous chapter, the Utah Royals had a large fan base that followed the team in their matches. Despite the excitement and the high hopes, the Utah Royals’ journey this season had some bumps. With the regular season ending, it’s time to look at the future. Looking forward to 2025, the rise of Utah Royals on the road to there is something to inspect.
Having a Tough Beginning
The rise of the Utah Royals will take some time to be fully appreciated, but the beginning wasn’t easy. With Amy Rodriguez as head coach, the Utah Royals started their season with several losses. It was Rodriguez’s first time as a head coach, but she didn’t have the best start. After the bumpy start, the Utah Royals made the decision to part ways with Rodriguez. It was then announced that assistant Jimmy Coenraets would be the Interim Head Coach.
Rodriguez left the team with a record of 2-11-2 (W-L-D). The several losses had put the team at the bottom of the table when Rodriguez left. At the time of Rodriguez’s departure, some criticized the team’s decision, especially since it was both the team and Rodriguez’s first season. Several fans had hoped that Rodriguez would be allowed to build the team, but the opposite happened. So fans wondered if letting go of Rodriguez was the right decision or a premature ending.
Jimmy Coenraets Helping With the Rise of the Utah Royals
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The doubt surrounding Coenraets’s hiring started to evaporate when better results started to come in. Coenraets had the chance to get to know the players even more. The young roster of the Utah Royals has started to take shape into something more. The results reflected a gradual shift happening under Coenraets, and fans appreciated that.
It came as a surprise to some that the team with a bad start to the season managed to change things. During the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the rise of the Utah Royals was clear. They managed to be at the top of Group A with two wins and only one loss. These results helped Coenraets gain the trust of fans. It appeared that the team was finally scoring more goals and keeping some away from their net.
Welcoming More Talents to Help With the Rise of Utah Royals
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Coenraets and anyone can realize that to build a great team, you have to have a great foundation. The Utah Royals had an advantage with their young roster, which includes many talents, such as Ally Sentnor. Sentnor proved herself to be a valuable player who can help the team in its journey to proving itself as the new team. However, Sentnor wasn’t enough on her own. The team needed experienced players and more signings. So fans breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the new names added.
The rise of the Utah Royals was already underway with a new coach and a new look to the team. It started to take more shape as experienced players such as Cloé Lacasse, Mina Tanaka, and Claudia Zornoza came into the picture. The team also signed Julia Grosso. These additions proved themselves to be quite valuable. Unfortunately, Lacasse had an ACL injury, which ended her season. She became the first player in the Utah Royals’ history to score a hat-trick. Therefore, the Utah Royals fans will patiently await Lacasse’s return. She and the entire roster have started to turn things around for the Utah Royals. Having young talents along with experienced players can help with the rise of any team and not just the Utah Royals.
The Utah Royals Seeking Consistency
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One reason people criticize the Utah Royals for letting go of Rodriguez is the inconsistency. Consistency bolsters any team’s success. This is why some believe the team should have given Rodriguez a chance until the end of the season. The Utah Royals, however, are now seeking consistency. After the change in performance and results under Coenraets, the interim head coach title needed a change.
In October, the Utah Royals announced that Coenraets had become the new head coach. The news was met with positive comments as fans were waiting to hear it. Coenraets already has a goal in mind: to help the Utah Royals succeed. “My focus is not only on winning but also on developing each player and colleague so that we can excel both as a team and as individuals, on and off the field. We’ve already seen a fantastic support base in our first year as an expansion team, and it’s my goal to give them even more reasons to support us and come back,” said Coenraets.
The Rise of the Utah Royals Can’t Stop
Now, the Royals and head coach Coenraets have to keep their gradual success and improvement going. The team ended the season in 11th place in the NWSL league table. While this might not be the best position out there, it’s definitely an improvement. Everyone saw the shift happening in the Utah Royals. This shift indicated that the Utah Royals’ performance is witnessing a much-needed rise.
There are positive points to appreciate in this season, such as having talented players. For example, Ally Sentnor is a Rookie of the Year Finalist in the 2024 NWSL Awards, while Mandy Haught is a Goalkeeper of the Year Finalist in the same awards. At the beginning of the season, no one would have expected that the Utah Royals’ name would appear in the awards. This is a positive end to the season of a team many thought would remain at the bottom of the table.
Looking To 2025, What’s Next for the Utah Royals
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Utah has a lot to learn from. Their first season back had successes as well as failures. A major positive point is their rise. They proved themselves as a team that can win tough games when everyone has the right mindset. It’s now time for the Royals to keep this improvement going. The signings made after Coenraets’ appointment were great, but the team still needs more players, especially experienced ones.
If the Utah Royals utilize the build-up to the new season, they can come back in 2025 as a completely different team. They have the chance for the players to get used to playing with each other and become more familiar. Plus, Coenraets will prepare for the new season from the very beginning instead of coming in the middle. With a contract until 2027, Coenraets can make the Utah Royals a successful team to be feared.
The Utah Royals’ rise is only beginning, and the team has much to do. They have certainly come a long way since their return was announced. In 2025, the fans look forward to seeing a more refined team. This is possible since the Utah Royals has the building blocks but still need additional ones. As players return from injuries and new signings could happen, everyone should look for a change in the Royals next season.
Image via @utahroyalsfc
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