The Need to Know:
Date & Time: Friday, April 12, 2024, 9:30 p.m. ET
Venue: America First Field, Sandy, UT.
Competition: NWSL Regular Season
Where to Watch/Listen:
Broadcast: NWSL+ (National) and Bally Sports App (Local)
The Story:
- Friday’s match will serve as the first match between the two sides since August 17, 2019. The Royals played their first stint in the NWSL from 2018 to 2020, with this year marking Utah’s first season back in the NWSL since dissolving three seasons ago.
- The Pride are unbeaten through the first three matches, earning draws in each of their games during the 2024 NWSL regular season so far. It is the second time in the Club’s history that they are unbeaten through three matches of the season, after going seven-straight matches without a defeat to the open the 2021 campaign.
- The duo of Pride forwards Adriana and Marta are one of two pairs of teammates, alongside Thorns’ Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver to have at least 10 shots each this season. Adriana currently has 15 shot attempts with captain Marta having 11.
Quote of the Week:
“You look at Utah being a new team, they have been in every game that they have competed in. We looked at their first game against Chicago, I felt they controlled a majority of the game against Chicago and were unlucky not to get anything out of the game. They played North Carolina at home and managed to get a win against a difficult team, so they showed that togetherness and their willing to battle and fight, even without the ball they managed to get points and then [the match against] Washington could have gone either way. They have got three points out of three games and been unlucky in a couple of games, so it is going to be a challenge for ourselves to go to Utah and try to get something out of the game. It is more about ourselves and what we can do and what we can produce on the day. If we play some of our best football and we reward ourselves by getting ourselves in those areas of the field where we can be threatening and execute in that final third, then I think everyone will walk away with what we feel we deserve. Utah is going to be a tough game, obviously going to Utah is going to be a challenge with the altitude but the players will be more than prepared and know what is at stake in the game.”
- Head Coach Seb Hines
Current Form
Pride’s Last Matchup: Orlando 1, Chicago Red Stars 1 (3/29/24, INTER&Co Stadium)
Goal-Scorers: Taylor Malham (OG); Mallory Swanson
Utah’s Last Matchup: Utah Royals FC 1, Washington Spirit 2 (3/31/24, Audi Field)
Goal-Scorers: Ally Sentnor; Andi Sullivan, Ouleymata Sarr
Against the Opposition:
Series Record: 1-3-2 (Home: 0-2-1, Away:1-1-1)
Last Matchup: Orlando 0, Utah 2 (08/17/19, Exploria Stadium)
Next Up: Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC
Date & Time: Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. ET
Venue: INTER&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video
Competition: NWSL Regular Season
