SANDY — As the FIFA men’s World Cup winds toward the quarterfinals, professional soccer returns to the United States on the first weekend of July.
First up, the National Women’s Soccer League, where the Utah Royals will look to build on their franchise-record 7-2-3 start to the season and a 10-match unbeaten streak. The first step is Sunday on the road against the 3-9 Chicago Stars (3 p.m. MT, CBS Sports Network).
Here’s a look at how the Royals found themselves before the month-long league break.
Building on a positive start
Led by Mina Tanaka‘s four goals and four assists and forwards Cloé Lacasse and Kiana Palacios, Utah took the momentum of last year’s second-half surge into previously unseen heights: 24 points through the first 12 matches played, just one point off first-place San Diego and currently in a four-way tie for second with Washington, Portland and Kansas City.
Normally chasing from the back, Utah now finds itself in unfamiliar territory. Much of the 16-team league is now hunting the Royals, who erupted for a franchise-high 18 goals in 12 matches.
Which may explain why head coach Jimmy Coenraets offered his players several weeks off during the break, a chance to get away and for some to go home, visit family or (in the case of the second-year manager) spend time in Hawaii.
“I think we all came in relaxed and energized,” Coenraets said from Chicago. “I think it was just the right moment for us to get a break. We’ve been performing and achieving some great stuff, and I think that’s why I really appreciate the fact that we could de-load the players physically and mentally and give them an opportunity to come back fresh.”
Changes brewing — home and away
Free agency began July 1 in the NWSL, meaning any player with a contract expiring by the end of the year and their representation is able to begin negotiations with both their current clubs and others.
The list of free agents includes Brazilian superstar Marta and U.S. international Sophia Wilson, who returned to Portland earlier this season after maternity leave just one goal away from 50 regular-season goals in her career.
The list also includes several upcoming free agents from Utah, including the following:
- Courtney Brown, MF (end of 2026)
- DeAira Jackson, GK (end of 2026)
- Cece Delzer, FW (end of 2026)
- Tatumn Milazzo, DF (end of 2026)
- Miyabi Moriya, DF (end of 2026)
- Brecken Mozingo, FW (end of 2026)
- Aria Nagai, MF (end of 2026)
- Kaleigh Riehl, DF (end of 2026)
- Ana Tejada, MF/DF (end of 2026)
- Cloe Lacasse, FW (mutual option for 2027)
With free agency on the horizon, it’s no surprise that teams are already adding talent. Perhaps no bigger example of that is Sam Kerr, the Australian star and former NWSL MVP who announced her return to the league from Chelsea FC on her wife Kristie Mewis’ podcast, The Women’s Game.
Kerr, who scored a then-league record 17 goals for what was then Sky Blue FC in 2017, will return to the New York/New Jersey area with Gotham FC on a five-year contract through 2030.
Closer to home, the Royals announced Friday the transfer of Danish international right back Janni Thomsen to London City Lionesses in England for an undisclosed fee. The BBC reported Thomsen signed a two-year deal with the Women’s Super League side that finished sixth in its debut season in the WSL last year.
The move allows Thomsen, who logged three goals in 2,545 minutes over 37 matches since 2025, to be closer to her partner Elise and the couples’ son.
“Janni was one of a kind; she was hilarious, she always showed up to training and put her head down,” Milazzo said. “She worked so hard, and she was really easy to celebrate.
“While we were all so sad that she’s not coming back, we’re equally excited for her because she has this family growing,” the outside back added. “She was a great teammate.”
Sam Kerr explains how Gotham’s world-class players and welcoming environment helped shape her decision to become a Bat 🦇 pic.twitter.com/6wUUtjDwNH
— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) July 3, 2026
Focus on the present
Before the Royals return to Sandy to host Gotham FC on Friday, July 10 (8 p.m. MT, Victory+), the group has to go through the Stars at their temporary home at Northwestern’s Martin Stadium.
Utah took the most recent advantage over Chicago in a 1-0 win (on 27 shots) April 3 at America First Field. But that result was among the outliers.
The Stars have a 6-4-1 advantage of the Royals dating back to the first edition of the club’s inaugural season in 2018, and have never lost to Utah at home. Recent form has been kind to the Royals, but history not so much.
That’s why the manager is focusing on the present, rather than the past.
“We just want to show the crowd and the NWSL that we’re back,” Coenraets said. “This week was all about us, and I think the most important piece is not focusing too much on Chicago; mostly, what we wanted to do was look at ourselves and worked on what we decided before the break what we decided to be working on.”
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