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ON TOP OF THE TABLE \u2014 The Utah Royals\u2019 success to start the 2026 NWSL season didn\u2019t happen overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n But for at least the next month, the rest of the league will be chasing the Utah side.<\/p>\n Kiana Palacios scored her second goal in as many matches<\/a>, and Clo\u00e9 Lacasse added another as the Utah Royals split the points with a 2-2 draw at NWSL-leading Portland on Saturday afternoon at Providence Park.<\/span><\/p>\n Olivia Moultrie<\/a> scored the opener for the Thorns (7-3-3, 24 points), and U.S. international Sophia Wilson notched the decisive penalty kick as Utah (7-2-3, 24 points) stretched their unbeaten run to a franchise-record 10 consecutive matches.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just the second time this season that Utah Royals FC have earned a point after conceding the first goal in 2026, and the sixth result in the last seven meetings against Portland dating back to 2020.<\/p>\n But in many ways, the result was bittersweet. Perhaps even, to borrow a word from center back Kate Del Fava<\/a> \u2014 whether or intentional or not \u2014 disappointing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a sign that this group is going to do something special,\u201d she said. \u201cIf this is how we\u2019re feeling about a draw in Providence Park \u2026 it felt like we deserved a win in that moment. We felt like we definitely could\u2019ve come out of here with 3 points. But that\u2019s football; that\u2019s sport.<\/span><\/p>\n These aren\u2019t the Royals of the past two seasons. Those Royals dug themselves in a hole with a poor start before rallying in the back half of the schedule and finishing in 11th and 12th in the table.<\/p>\n The team that has never made the NWSL playoffs out-shot the Thorns 23-12, including eight shots on target and led for all but the first five minutes of the second half until the onset of stoppage time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe root of it is that people want to win,\u201d Utah coach Jimmy Coenraets said. \u201cWe\u2019re building a winning mentality and a winning culture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Back in Portland\u2019s starting lineup for the first time since May 8, Moultrie gave the Thorns an early spark.<\/span><\/p>\n The Salt Lake City native who grew up in California and Wilsonville, Oregon, before signing her first professional contract with the Thorns five years ago broke free in the penalty area to score her fifth goal of the season in the 21st minute.<\/span><\/p>\n Sophia Wilson nearly doubled the advantage five minutes later, but the offsides flag was up.<\/span><\/p>\n This Nuria and Kiana combination is a thing of beauty \u2728 pic.twitter.com\/LtpBIp1lKe<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Instead, Palacios tied it up with her second goal in as many matches, pulling one back just before the stroke of halftime to equalize.<\/span><\/p>\n Mina Tanaka<\/a> wrestled possession away from Portland before pushing the ball out to Nuria R\u00e1bano, whose crossed into the box found Palacio for a diving header that evened the score and gave the Royals the first goal by a visiting team at Providence Park in NWSL play \u2014 a run of 637 minutes without a goal.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, the crosses that come in from my teammates are great crosses,\u201d Palacios told ION TV at halftime. \u201cWe have to finish them off.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen we gathered around after the goal, it was just mentality,\u201d she added. \u201cWe were like, we\u2019ve got to get back into this game. I think the goal will help us get this game going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n But Utah wasn\u2019t done.<\/span><\/p>\n Tanaka set up another goal in the 50th minute, digging a left-footed ball out of the corner of the six-yard box before finding Lacasse for the Canadian international\u2019s fourth goal of the campaign to give Utah a 2-1 advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big development in our game, being able to come back from deficits,\u201d Lacasse said. \u201cWe showed that today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n After Mandy McGlynn was called for an eight-second violation for holding the ball inside her own box, Alexa Spaanstra was whistled for a foul in the penalty area on the ensuing corner kick in the 88th minute.<\/span><\/p>\n Jayden Perry, who drew the penalty, gave up the penalty to returning superstar Wilson and the U.S. women\u2019s national team standout buried the attempt at the onset of stoppage time to level for the hosts.<\/span><\/p>\n That would be enough to split the points, keeping both teams tied atop the 16-team table with 24 points ahead of the international break.<\/span><\/p>\n Sophia Wilson is clutch from the spot for Rose City \ud83c\udf39 pic.twitter.com\/5kgT9Oy6QR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 National Women\u2019s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n With additions like Palacios and Utah native Courtney Brown<\/a>, the Royals have already matched their win total from all of last season as the league takes a month-long international break to accomodate the FIFA men\u2019s World Cup<\/a> and several international women\u2019s competitions held during the summer. The June 1-28 stoppage also includes a CBA-mandated week off under the latest collective bargaining agreement with the players\u2019 association.<\/p>\n That \u2014 plus a franchise-record 10-match unbeaten run \u2014 will give Utah a historic spot atop the 16-team league table for the longest duration in franchise history. The club that has never made the playoffs \u2014 in two different stints in the NWSL \u2014 is suddenly a championship contender.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time the Royals have been on top of the league table since May 2019, before the franchise was sold and moved to Kansas City. For at least another month, they\u2019ll stay there.<\/p>\n But there are no midseason titles in the NWSL. And Utah knows \u2014 perhaps better than anyone \u2014 how quickly fortunes can change in what most still consider to be a top women\u2019s professional league in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re at the top of the group,\u201d Lacasse said, \u201cand we want to continue to build on that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Royals will return to NWSL play Sunday, July 5 against the Chicago Stars (3 p.m. MT, CBS Sports Network) before returning home Friday, July 10 to host Gotham FC (8 p.m. MT, Victory+).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nPortland starts strong against Utah Royals<\/h3>\n
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The Royal rebound<\/h3>\n
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