Utah Royals' Mikayla Cluff explains why 'you can't top the opportunity to play in your hometown'

The inaugural signing of the Relaunched Royals joined Salt City FC and ESPN 960 radio to discuss her return home to Utah Royals FC, and following her alma mater BYU's run to the NCAA College Cup.

The No. 14 overall selection in the 2021 NWSL draft out of BYU, Cluff followed up her decorated career with the Cougars — when she started every game of her career and won West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors three times en route to a program-first NCAA College Cup national championship in 2021 — was taught to be a pro with the Pride.

After debuting in Orlando’s Challenge Cup opener after spending her final season of eligibility post-draft in Provo, Cluff scored her first professional goal not long after, a game-winner May 18, 2022 against the North Carolina Courage. In all, the former Davis High and LaRoca FC product made 40 appearances with Orlando, scoring four goals and learning to play a variety of midfield positions — not just the attack-minded No. 10 she had grown up playing.

But when the Utah Royals relaunched and announced a return to the NWSL for 2024, Cluff grew excited. Yes, Orlando had been good, and she’ll always be grateful for the chance the Pride took on him.

But the opportunity to play in front of her home state, with friends, family and a lifetime’s worth of relationships coming out to America First Field every weekend to watch her represent the crest that coincides with her home state — a home state she represented on the semiprofessional level with Utah Royals Reserves in the WPSL, even?

That was too much to pass up.

“I couldn’t be more excited, and can’t wait to get started with the Royals,” said Colohan, who was traded to refreshed Utah club along with the Pride’s No. 26 draft pick for $90,000 and expansion draft protection. “I don’t think that you can top the opportunity to play in your hometown. I was born here, raised here, grew here growing up, stayed close to home at BYU. Going to Orlando was really the first time I didn’t play in this environment.

“It was really exciting to have the chance to come back home, and when that was presented, I couldn’t pass the opportunity up.”

Cluff joined the crew on Cougar Sports on ESPN 960 late Thursday afternoon to discuss her return home, representing Royalty, and the heroes’ welcome that included cheering on her collegiate alma mater in the Cougars’ most recent run to the NCAA College Cup in Cary, North Carolina.

Listen to the whole conversation above, or find it on espn960sports.com.