
Utah Royals FC Adds North Carolina Courage Duo Emily Gray & Francesca Tagliaferri
November 20, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release
HERRIMAN, Utah - At the trade deadline, Utah Royals FC acquired two players - MF Emily Gray and MF Francesca "Frankie" Tagliaferri - from the North Carolina Courage in exchange for $30,000 in Allocation Money and expansion protection. The third transaction of the Club's second era brings the current 2024 URFC roster to four players - including Mikayla Cluff and Kaleigh Riehl - ahead of this week's free agency period and next month's expansion draft.
"I'm extremely excited for everything this opportunity has to offer, to go somewhere new to test my abilities andplay soccer with another amazing club, learning from new players & staff," said Tagliaferri, whose 114 career NCAA games played at Penn State and Rutgers are the most ever by a Division I player. "I've seen and heard so many amazing things about the Utah Royals club, they've handled everything so awesomely, the facilities are top-notch and obviously Amy is amazing. Growing up, I watched her closely - she was a favorite player of mine, winning gold medals and playing in World Cups, displaying grit and determination and so much heart. Talking to her now, I can feel how excited she is to build this roster, to prepare us to be successful as we kick off new eras - individually and collectively - in Utah."
The additions of Gray and Tagliaferri bring two South Jersey natives to the Wasatch Front, as Gray - a native of Sewell, N.J. and a former Virginia Tech star - joins Tagliaferri, from Colts Neck, N.J., who played her collegiate soccer at Rutgers as a senior after three years at Penn State, where she starred for the Nittany Lions alongside DF Kaleigh Riehl, who was also acquired by Utah at the trade deadline from San Diego Wave FC.
"I'm really excited for this opportunity to further my career with the Utah Royals," said Gray, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, selected by North Carolina. "Obviously, (Utah Head Coach) Amy Rodriguez is a proven winner, and I'm looking forward to her leadership, to being coached by her and achieving great things at this Club. I cannot wait to arrive in Utah and get things started."
Led by Head Coach Amy Rodriguez and Sporting Director Kelly Cousins, Utah Royals FC continues itsroster build this week as NWSL Free Agency period now opens. URFC is set to return to the NWSL as a 2024 expansion side, along with Northern California's Bay FC. The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally, is set to be held on Friday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5:00 p.m. MT, with Utah Royals FC currently slated to select No. 2 overall. Fans can watch LIVE on CBS Sports Network as the two expansion sides can select up to 12 players each, with additional coverage via CBS Sports Golazo and the "Attacking Third" show & social accounts.
"Both Kelly (Cousins, URFC Sporting Director) and myself are excited to welcome Emily and Frankie to the Club," said Utah Head Coach Amy Rodriguez, amidst various transactions and impending free agency signings as part of the Club's recruitment efforts. "I have no doubt that these players will put their blood, sweat and tears into this team. As we build Utah Royals FC from scratch, these are precisely the type of players that you want - ones that will bring not just talent but also a relentlessness to roll up their sleeves up and get to work."
TRANSACTION: Utah Royals FC acquires MF Emily Gray and M/F Frankie Tagliaferri from North Caroliina Courage in exchange for $30,000 in Allocation Money and 2024 expansion protection from Utah Royals FC.
KEY UPCOMING NWSL DATES:
- Sun, Nov. 19 - NWSL Trade Window Closes -Announcements must be made prior to 3 p.m. ET on Mon., Nov. 20
- Mon., Nov. 20 - NWSL Free Agency Opens
- Tues., Nov. 21 - Waiver Wire Commences
- Wed., Nov. 22 - Waiver Wire Concludes
- Tues., Dec. 12 - Transaction Moratorium Begins - Protected/Unprotected player lists distributed to Utah Royals FC / Bay FC
- Fri., Dec. 15 - Expansion Draft
- Sat., Dec. 16 - Transaction Moratorium Ends
National Women's Soccer League Stories from November 20, 2023
- Houston Dash Announce End of Season Roster Decisions - Houston Dash
- Courage Announce 2023 End-Of-Season Contract Statuses - North Carolina Courage
- Kansas City Current Roster Update - Kansas City Current
- Gotham FC Announces 2023 End of Season Contract Statuses - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- San Diego Wave FC Announce 2023 Roster Decisions - San Diego Wave FC
- Chicago Red Stars 2023 Roster Update - Chicago Stars FC
- Thorns FC Announce Roster Status Ahead of 2024 Season - Portland Thorns FC
- OL Reign Announces 2023 End-Of-Season Roster Moves - Seattle Reign FC
- Washington Spirit Announces Initial Offseason Roster Moves - Washington Spirit
- Angel City Football Club Announces Roster Status - Angel City FC
- Racing Announces Initial Offseason Roster Update - Racing Louisville FC
- Courage Receive Expansion Draft Protection and Allocation Money from Utah Royals FC - North Carolina Courage
- Utah Royals FC Adds North Carolina Courage Duo Emily Gray & Francesca Tagliaferri - Utah Royals FC
- Orlando Pride Announces 2023 End-Of-Season Contract Updates - Orlando Pride
- Dahlkemper, Girma & Shaw Named to USWNT Training Camp Roster - San Diego Wave FC
- Three Spirit Players Called up to USWNT for Two December Friendly Matches - Washington Spirit
- Racing Star DeMelo Called into U.S. Women's National Team Camp - Racing Louisville FC
- Three Gotham FC Players Selected to USWNT Training Camp Roster for December Friendlies - NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Three Thorns FC Players Named to U.S. Women's National Team Training Camp Roster for December Friendlies against China PR - Portland Thorns FC
- Jane Campbell Named to USWNT Training Camp Roster - Houston Dash
- Utah Royals FC Acquires Kaleigh Riehl from San Diego Wave FC - Utah Royals FC
- San Diego Wave FC Acquires Allocation Money & Expansion Draft Protection, Trades Kaleigh Riehl to Utah Royals FC - San Diego Wave FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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