Utah Royals select former BYU forward Brecken Mozingo with No. 4 pick in 2024 NWSL Draft

All her life, Brecken Mozingo dreamed of being a professional soccer player. Now, she’s about to get that chance.

All her life, Brecken Mozingo dreamed of being a professional soccer player. Now, she’s about to get that chance.

Mozingo was drafted No. 4 overall by Utah Royals FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, joining a growing line of BYU women’s soccer players in the top flight of the sport in North America.

Mozingo is the first player from BYU drafted in the NWSL since Mikayla Colohan (Cluff) was selected with the No. 14 overall pick by the Orlando Pride in 2021. The list also includes Taylor Isom (Utah Royals FC, 2018), Nadia Gomes (Orlando Pride, 2018), Ashley Hatch (North Carolina Courage, 2017), Michele Vasconcelos (Chicago Red Stars, 2017), Cloee Colohan (Western New York Flash, 2014) and Lindsi LIsonbee Cutshall (Sky Blue FC, 2013).

"Our fans and coaches that have watched our team — coaches from every team in the NWSL — have noted Brecken for her senior year," BYU coach Jennifer Rockwood told ESPN 960 radio in Utah County. "It was a breakthrough senior year for her, when she found her confidence, realized how good she is, and found joy in all of the work she's done. She works so hard. She developed so much as a player, especially her creativity and technical ability. We've all seen the damage that someone like Brecken can do."

The former Alta High star wrapped up her star-studded BYU career this past fall with a second appearance in the NCAA Women’s College Cup semifinals in three years. A finalist for the Hermann Trophy given to the top player in college soccer by the Missouri Athletic Club, Mozingo was a two-time All-American, All-Big 12 first-team selection, and College Cup All-Tournament honoree after leading the Cougars to a 20-3-3 record with 14 goals and 15 assists.

Playing in a pre-professional environment since she was a teenager with the now-defunct Real Salt Lake Women, the two-time Utah state cup champion with Utah Celtic also set a school record at Alta High with 38 goals scored during the 2016 season.

After a year at UCLA, the Sandy native transferred home to play for Rockwood at BYU, and finished her career as one of the program’s all-timers with 36 goals and 37 assists — including back-to-back goals/assists season in 2022 and 2023.

"Everybody is looking for goal scorers, and I think that's why everyone was looking at Brecken," Rockwood said. "But I think Brecken has a lot more in her. She's just starting to see the type of player she can become."

Mozingo is also one of four finalists for the 2024 Honda Sport Award for women’s soccer, given to the top player in the country by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA). The award will be presented during a live broadcast Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.

Salt City FC has you covered for every Utah-based player selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft. Check back later at saltcity.soccer for complete coverage from the annual event held during the United Soccer Coaches’ convention in Anaheim, California.