Utah Royals FC kicked off the 2026 NWSL season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to face last year’s Shield-winning Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite finding the back of the net in the 35th minute through Royals’ debutant Tatum Milazzo to take the lead, the lead was ultimately short-lived, with the Current responding to score twice in the second half and secure the win.
Royals Debuts on Opening Day
Utah Royals FC opened up the 2026 season with a hard fought 2-1 loss with multiple key players missing the match due to international duty and injury.
URFC’s starting lineup featured multiple NWSL and club debuts. Mexican international and preseason marquee signing for URFC, Kiana Palacios, made her NWSL debut on Saturday, along with Jamaican international Kameron Simmonds.
Also making their Utah debuts were defender Milazzo, who recently returned to play after suffering an ACL tear early in the 2025 season, and veteran midfielder Madison Hammond, who was acquired in the offseason from Angel City FC. Striker Kalea Eichenberger subbed into the match in the 82nd minute to make her NWSL debut.
Quotable:
“Seeing her score that goal is just a statement to me that she (Milazzo) is one of those players that will do whatever the team needs her to do,” URFC coach Jimmy Coenrates said. “She showed that she is a player who is eager to contribute to the team performance as a whole.”
Early Goal By Milazzo Marks First For Utah Against KC Current
The match started with both sides trading offensive opportunities. In the 35th minute, Canadian forward Cloé Lacasse received the ball off a Royals attacking corner and sent it into the box for Milazzo, who headed it past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal marked the first Utah has ever scored against Kansas City.
In the 57th minute, the home side closed the gap with a goal by Croix Bethune, bringing the score to 1–1. Just twelve minutes later, the Current scored again with a right-footed shot from former URFC draft pick Ally Sentnor. The Utah side continued to battle, creating multiple offensive opportunities, but ultimately was denied the equalizer as the match finished 2-1.
Up Next:
URFC returns to Utah next weekend for its 2026 home opener on Sunday, March 22, at America First Field, hosting the San Diego Wave. Tickets for the match are available for purchase via RSL.com.
