Offseason check-in: Utah Royals rebuilding without a draft, including some tough native cuts
Michele Vasconcelos announced she has asked the club to terminate her contract on the same day the Royals revealed a long-term contract extension with goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn through 2029.
Ever since Utah Royals FC joined the NWSL in what became Michele Vasconcelos’ rookie season with Chicago, the former Alta High and BYU soccer star tried to get back to her home state.
She asked for a trade from the then-Red Stars (now Chicago Stars) in 2020 with Utah — shortly before the organization was put on professional hiatus and the club moved to Kansas City.
After ending the 2023 season with NWSL champion Portland Thorns, Vasconcelos opted for free agency and swiftly signed a new contract with the reborn Royals — one of the club’s first free-agent signees as it relaunched for the 2024 season.
“I knew I wanted to come home to play in front of my hometown with the return of the Royals,” the former three-time state champion and 37 goal-scorer for Alta said.
But the most recent reunion also had an ending, which the midfielder revealed after playing 254 minutes in 15 matches with one assist in 2024.
“I want to thank the organization for a mutual termination of my contract so I could become a free agent again,” Vasconcelos wrote Thursday on Instagram. “It can be hard and disappointing when we have such high hopes for an opportunity and it falls short, but I learned a lot this year and am grateful for the amazing women I got to call my teammates! They persevered no matter what was thrown their way. I’m also so grateful I got to play with my BYU girls.
“The Utah community is incredible and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I had to interact with the youth of Utah. Your spirit and love for the game reignited mine.
”I always be cheering on my teammates at the Royals and am excited for what’s next. Thank you Utah!”
Vasconcelos is the third Utah native removed from Utah Royals FC following the club’s 2024 season. The Royals waived former Utah goalkeeper Carly Nelson after the Timpanogos High alum missed most of the regular season citing mental health, and then waived former BYU and Lone Peak forward Cam Tucker in a flurry of offseason moves.
They’ve added to the roster, as well — even in an offseason where the league determined an end of the annual NWSL entry draft at the players’ behest. Former Texas star Mia Justus signed with the club as the team’s third goalkeeper shortly before being named to Emma Hayes’ roster for the U.S. women’s national team’s 2025 futures camp in late January in Carson, California.
The team also added 15-year-old Utah native KK Ream, who played for Utah Avalanche as the youngest signing in club history, a former of just 15 years and 157 days at the time; and made a trade with Bay FC for midfielder Alexis Loera in exchange for $25,000 in intra-league transfer fees.
The Royals have also been shoring up established players to long-term deals, including signing forward Paige Monaghan to an extension through the 2027 season after the captain scored three goals with three assists in 22 appearances in her first season in Utah from Racing Louisville FC.
The latest move came Thursday, when Utah announced a long-term contract extension with starting goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn. The former Gotham FC keeper who was called into Hayes’ January camp is now under contract through the 2029 season, after earning four clean sheets in 24 starts to draw the attention of the national team.
“I’m extremely excited to keep Mandy with the Royals long term. Mandy is a big part of the future of this club and what we are building.” said Utah sporting director Kelly Cousins, whose team also added an assistant coach in former Birmingham City player-turned-assistant Emily Simpkins to Jimmy Coenraets’ staff. “Her recent call ups to the US National Team are a testament to her talent and hard work and I'm excited to see her growth continue.”
Here’s a look at Utah Royals FC roster as it stands ahead of the Tuesday, Jan. 14 deadline for trades under current CBA parameters:
UTAH ROYALS FC ROSTER (As of Jan. 9, 2024):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Mandy McGlynn, Cristina Roque, Mia Justus
DEFENDERS (6): Kate Del Fava, Imani Dorsey, Olivia Griffitts, Madison Pogarch, Kaleigh Riehl, Lauren Flynn
MIDFIELDERS (9): Mikayla Cluff, Dana Foederer, Macey Fraser, Emily Gray, Ana Tejada, Agnes Nyberg, Ally Sentnor, Claudia Zornoza, Alexis Loera
FORWARDS (5): Cloé Lacasse, Paige Monaghan, Brecken Mozingo, Mina Tanaka, KK Ream