Not 'just filling a roster,' Utah Royals got exactly what they needed from NWSL expansion draft
Not 'just filling a roster,' Utah Royals got exactly what they needed from NWSL expansion draft
The Royals added OL Reign FW Elyse Bennett and Racing Louisville winger Paige Monaghan in the eight-round NWSL expansion draft with Bay FC.
The six-round NWSL expansion draft produced two players for Utah Royals FC in the club’s return to the league prior to the 2024 season.
So how did the Royals do?
Utah, which picked second in the draft to fellow expansion club Bay FC, grabbed OL Reign forward Elyse Bennett and Racing Louisville winger Paige Monaghan with their top-two picks, then immediately shut down the rest of their draft by passing on four-straight selections.
Neither Bay FC nor Utah — which had the Seattle-based Reign, Louisville and the Chicago Red Stars available after trading expansion protection to the rest of the league prior to Friday — selected a player from Chicago.
Prior to Friday’s draft, Utah made a flurry of moves to bolster its roster, adding a two goalkeepers, a defender, two attacking players and other assets to begin to fill out its roster in addition to previous trades like adding former BYU and Davis High star Mikayla Cluff via trade with Orlando, one-time BYU and Alta High standout Michele Vasconcelos via free agency, and former NWSL Rookie of the Year Imani Dorsey, among others.
That led to a rather uneventful draft night, when “pass” became a common word from the Royals’ draft camp.
“We didn’t want to pick players for the sake of picking players and just filling a roster to keep that comfortable for us,” Royals sporting director Kelly Cousins said on a conference call with media after the draft. “We went into this draft knowing the players we needed to get players in, and the type of players that might complement the players that we’ve already got. I think we were very tactful, to make sure we got what we needed out of it, not just to fill our roster but to be particular about the type of player that we want and the positions we needed going into this draft.”
The moves included a homecoming for former Utah goalkeeper Carly Nelson, who prepped at Timpanogos High, and one-time BYU striker Cameron Tucker, who starred at Lone Peak.
In various trade conversations, Utah coach Amy Rodriguez said each of the players involved in trading were aware of their interest — and also interested in coming to Utah for Year 1 of the club’s relaunch.
“I think that’s a really special part of this, where we can bring a player back to their home market,” Rodriguez said. “I personally know what that can feel like, playing in front of a home crowd, in front of friends and family in a place where you grew up. The fact that we were able to do that with several players who align with the style of player that we’re looking forward to and the type of people that we want to bring in here, that they’re from Utah as well is an added bonus and really exciting for all parties.”
Bennett, 23, joins her third team in as many seasons as a pro. The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL draft out of Washington State appeared in 21 games, including six starts, as a rookie with Kansas City en route to 822 total minutes, three goals and two assists.
She was traded at the end of the year to OL Reign, which picked up her existing option for the 2023 season before scoring two goals in 22 appearances with the Seattle side.
Monaghan, 27, is equally well-traveled since the Butler product from New Jersey turned pro as the No. 10 overall selection in the 2019 NWSL draft.
The 5-foot-8 winger who can also play outside back scored four goals with two assists, both career highs, across all competitions in her lone season with Louisville, where she made 20 starts in 28 appearances after starting her career with Gotham FC.
Bay FC took OL reign defender Alyssa Malonson, North Carolina midfielder Tess Boade, San Diego forward Rachel Hill, Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and San Diego midfielder Sierra Enge while also passing twice during the draft, which aired live on CBS Sports Network.
The draft ended, but the work is just beginning for the Royals and their 14-player roster. Those plans are already in the works, though.
“You’ll be surprised,” Rodriguez said in an interview with “Attacking Third” on CBS Sports Golazo Network. “But things are definitely in the works right now.”
Here’s a look at Utah’s roster ahead of the holiday break, and as free agency resumes among the two expansion teams — with the rest of the league now able to join them.
GK (2): Mandy Haught (Gotham FC), Carly Nelson (Orlando Pride)
DF (3): Kaleigh Riehl (San Diego Wave), Madison Pogarch (San Diego Wave), Kate Del Fava (KC Current)
MF (4): Mikayla Cluff (Orlando Pride), Michele Vasconcelos (Portland Thorns), Emily Gray* (North Carolina Courage), Frankie Tagliaferri* (North Carolina Courage)
FW (5): Elyse Bennett (OL Reign), Hannah Betford (Portland Thorns), Imani Dorsey (Gotham FC), Paige Monaghan (Racing Louisville), Cameron Tucker (Houston Dash)
*Utah holds the players’ rights, but they are not under contract for 2024.
The NWSL transaction moratorium ends Saturday, ahead of the NWSL Draft to take place Friday, Jan. 12 in Anaheim, California.