NWSL: Surging Utah Royals FC Head to Seattle Aiming for Third Straight Win

Staff Writer
2 hours ago
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

HERRIMAN, Utah — Utah Royals FC (2-1-2, 7 pts) will put their three-match unbeaten streak on the line this weekend as they travel to the Pacific Northwest to face Seattle Reign FC (3-1-1, 10 pts). The clash, scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at Lumen Field, marks the first meeting between the two sides in the 2026 campaign.

Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT, with Utah looking to secure their first away points of the season and climb further up the NWSL standings.

Royals Riding Momentum After Record-Breaking Performance

Utah enters the Emerald City full of confidence following a historic 1-0 home victory over Chicago Stars FC. While the scoreline was narrow, the performance was dominant. The Royals unleashed an aggressive attacking masterclass, recording 18 shots in the first half—the club's highest first-half total in nearly two years.

The pressure eventually told in the 74th minute when Japanese international Mina Tanaka calmly converted a penalty after Cece Delzer was fouled in the area. The win was a statistical landmark for Head Coach Jimmy Coenraets, as the team recorded 2.2 expected goals (xG) in the opening 45 minutes, the highest first-half total in club history.

Scouting the Reign

Seattle Reign FC, led by veteran Head Coach Laura Harvey, sits three points ahead of Utah in the table. However, Seattle is looking to regain their scoring touch after a frustrating 0-0 draw at home against expansion side Denver Summit FC last weekend.

Sunday's match will be a battle of tactical discipline. While Seattle boasts a formidable home record at Lumen Field, they will be tested by a Utah attack that currently features a three-way tie for the scoring lead:

Mina Tanaka: 2 Goals
Lara Prašnikar: 2 Goals
Tatumn Milazzo: 2 Goals

Match Day Information

Detail	Information
Matchup	Utah Royals FC at Seattle Reign FC
Date	Sunday, April 26, 2026
Kickoff	6:00 p.m. MT
Venue	Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
Watch	Victory+ (with Josh Eastern and McCall Zerboni)
Listen	KSL Sports Radio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM)

Looking Ahead: The West Coast Swing

A win on Sunday would extend Utah’s unbeaten run to four matches and mark their first three-game winning streak of the season. Following the trip to Seattle, the Royals will stay on the road for a high-profile matchup in Los Angeles:

Next Match: Utah Royals FC at Angel City FC
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Location: BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
Broadcast: ION (6:45 p.m. MT)

Coach Coenraets’ squad appears to be finding its rhythm at the perfect time, balancing a sturdy defensive organization anchored by goalkeeper Mia Justus with a creative midfield that is finally turning possession into high-quality chances.