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NWSL Utah Royals FC

Utah Royals FC Selects Seven Players in 2024 NWSL Draft

January 12, 2024 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release


ANAHEIM, CALIF. / SANDY, UTAH - Utah Royals FC tonight selected seven new players at the 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally, during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Led by Head Coach Amy Rodriguez and Sporting Director Kelly Cousins, supported by President Michelle Hyncik, Director of Talent, Strategy & Development Mirelle Van Rijbroek and Recruitment Analyst Caterina De Bacco, Utah Royals FC now boasts a 24-player roster as preseason kicks off later this month.

The URFC braintrust selected North Carolina Tar Heel and current U.S.A. U-20 FW Ally Sentnor first overall, while ensuring that Sandy, Utah native FW Brecken Mozingo - raised in the shadow of America First Field and a former Alta High School star - stayed home following her collegiate career at Brigham Young University. Cougar firebrand Mozingo was taken fourth overall, completing the expansion side's first-round selections.

Utah opened the second round by tapping into the promise shown from Florida State DF Lauren Flynn, as the NCAA powerhouse recently ended BYU's 2023 Final Four run. The very active second round also saw Royals FC select Eagle, Idaho native Olivia Smith-Griffitts - the second BYU selection of the night and the fifth former Cougar to land on Utah's NWSL roster - as well as Wisconsin M/F Emma Jaskaniec. Utah also traded the No. 21 overall pick to Houston Dynamo in exchange for $120,000 in Allocation Money.

The third round found the Royals bolstering depth with a pair of international players who have enjoyed great NCAA success, as Canadian D/M Zoe Burns became the first former University of Southern California Trojan to reunite with former assistant Rodriguez, while Puerto Rican GK Cristina Roque added additional Seminole championship flair and pedigree to the inaugural URFC roster.

Utah traded the 44th overall pick to Angel City in exchange for $15,000 in Allocation Money.

CHAMPION SEMINOLES: Flynn and Roque will rejoin forces in Salt Lake City, Utah, this season as both players were selected by Utah Royals FC, entering its first season in the NWSL. Flynn was picked with the second pick in the second round (16th pick overall) to give FSU their second draftee of the night. Flynn played in 79 games while making 70 starts for the Seminoles over the course of her career. Flynn ended her career with seven goals and three assists, five of those goals which came in 2023.

Roque was the second goalkeeper to be taken off the board as she was picked in the third round with the 33rd overall pick. In 67 games as a Seminoles, Roque allowed just 0.67 goals per game. Roque ended her career with a terrific record in goal with 59 wins, six draws and just two losses. Roque ended her career as the FSU all-time record holder in both wins and shutouts in the NCAA Tournament.

ONE OF ONE: First overall pick Ally Sentnor - whose U.S. Soccer bio is HERE and UNC Tar Heels bio is HERE - is regarded as one of the top attacking talents in the nation, as the Hanson, Mass., native will soon arrive in Utah for Royals FC's "Return of Royalty" 2024 relaunch, with preseason starting the last week of January and the Royals' "inaugural" season kicking off the weekend of March 16.

A total of 236 players (including 14 with Utah ties, and 8 from BYU) were eligible for selection tonight, with 56 total picks in the draft and 14 selections in each of the four rounds. The National Women's Soccer League media guide containing the final draft registration list, draft history by club, rules and procedures, and other notable information is HERE.

In summary, Utah Royals FC's 2024 draft picks (round / overall) and related transactions were as follows:

1st Round - No. 1 (MF Ally Sentnor - North Carolina); No. 4 (from KC; FW Brecken Mozinga - BYU)

2nd Round - No. 16 (DF Lauren Flynn - Florida State), No. 20 (from WAS; DF Olivia Smith-Griffitts - BYU), No. 21 (from WAS - traded to HOU in exchange for $120,000 in allocation), No. 26 (from ORL; M/F Emma Jaskaniec - Wisconsin)

3rd Round - No. 29 (D/M Zoe Burns - Southern Cal), No. 33 (from POR; GK Cristina Roque - Florida State)

4th Round - No. 44 (traded to Angel City in exchange for $15,000 in allocation)

Utah Royals FC will see its players report to the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah, in late January, with the 2024 NWSL reg. season kicking off on March 16. Here's Utah's current 24-player roster by position - along with each player's 2023 side - as it currently stands after Friday's NWSL Draft (tonight's college selections in RED):

GK: Mandy Haught (Gotham FC), Carly Nelson (Orlando Pride), Cristina Roque (Florida State)

DF: Kaleigh Riehl (San Diego Wave), Madison Pogarch (San Diego Wave), Kate Del Fava (KC Current), Addisyn Merrick (KC Current), Lauren Flynn (Florida State), Olivia Smith-Griffitts (BYU), Zoe Burns (Southern Cal)

MF: Mikayla Cluff (Orlando Pride), Michele Vasconcelos (Portland Thorns), Emily Gray (North Carolina Courage), Frankie Tagliaferri (North Carolina Courage), Agnes Nybert (IK Uppsala - Sweden), Dana Foederer (Fortuna Sittard - Netherlands), Ally Sentnor (Univ. of North Carolina), Emma Jaskaniec (Wisconsin)

FW: Hannah Betfort (Portland Thorns), Imani Dorsey (Gotham FC), Paige Monaghan (Racing Louisville), Ify Onumonu (Gotham FC), Cameron Tucker (Houston Dash), Brecken Mozingo (Brigham Young Univ.)

2024 UTAH ROYALS ALPHABETICAL ROSTER (as of 12 JANUARY 2024)

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Age Hometown College Last NWSL Club

-- Hannah Betfort FW 5-10 4 Jan 1999 24 Charleston, SC Wake Forest Portland Thorns

-- Zoe Burns D/M 5-2 5 Jan 2002 22 Issaquah, WA Southern Cal

-- Mikayla Cluff FW 5-8 25 Feb 1999 24 Kaysville, UT Brigham Young Orlando Pride

-- Kate Del Fava DF 5-9 23 July 1998 25 Kenosha, WI Illinois State KC Current

-- Imani Dorsey FW 5-7 21 Mar 1996 27 Elkridge, MD Duke Gotham FC

-- Dana Foederer MF 5-6 27 July 2002 21 Veldhoven, Netherlands

-- Lauren Flynn DF 5-6 22 May 2002 21 Arlington, VA Florida State

-- Emily Gray MF 5-4 5 Oct 2000 23 Sewell, NJ Virginia Tech NC Courage

-- Mandy Haught GK 5-9 3 Nov 1998 25 Jacksonville, FL Virginia Tech Gotham FC

-- Emma Jaskaniac M/F 5-8 17 May 2001 22 Memomones Falls, WI Wisconsin

-- Addisyn Merrick DF 5-5 4 March 1998 25 Lee's Summit, MO Kansas KC Current

-- Paige Monaghan FW 5-7 13 Nov 1996 27 Succasanna, NJ Butler Racing Louisville

-- Brecken Mozingo FW 5-6 8 March 2001 22 Sandy, Utah Bringham Young

-- Carly Nelson GK 5-6 11 Feb 1998 25 Lindon, UT Utah Orlando Pride

-- Agnes Nyberg MF 5-4 19 April 2000 23 Uppsala, Sweden -- --

-- Ify Onumonu FW 5-10 25 Feb 1994 29 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Cal-Berkeley Gotham FC

-- Madison Pogarch DF 5-6 5 Nov 1997 26 Hartland, MI Central Michigan San Diego Wave

-- Kayleigh Riehl DF 5-8 21 Oct 1996 27 Fairfax Station, VA Penn State San Diego Wave

-- Cristina Roque GK 5-7 6 Nov 2001 22 Winter Garden, FL Florida State

-- Ally Sentnor MF 5-3 18 Feb 2004 19 Hanson, MA North Carolina

-- Olivia Smith-Griffitts DF 5-6 2 Aug 2001 22 Eagle,ID Brigham Young

-- Frankie Tagliaferri MF 5-6 18 Jan 1999 24 Red Bank, NJ Rutgers/Penn St NC Courage

-- Cameron Tucker FW 5-9 15 July 1999 24 Highland, UT Brigham Young Houston Dash

-- Michele Vasconcelos FW 5-5 11 May 1994 29 Sandy, UT Brigham Young Portland Thorns

KEY UPCOMING NWSL DATES:

Mon., Jan. 22 - Earliest possible preseason report date

Mon., Jan. 29 - Latest possible preseason report date

Fri., March 15 - NWSL Challenge Cup - Gotham FC v San Diego Wave FC

Sat., March 16 - NWSL Regular Season Kicks Off

Mon., July 8 - Sun., July 14 - CBA-mandated League Break

Mon., July 15 - Sun., Aug. 18 - Reg. Season Hiatus Due to Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Fri., July 19 - Sun., July 21 - Summer Tournament Kickoff

Nov. 9/10 - NWSL Playoff Quarterfinal Stage

Nov. 16/17 - NWSL Playoff Semifinals

Nov. 23 - NWSL Championship 2024

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from January 12, 2024


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