December 17, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Utah Royals News Release
HERRIMAN, Utah – Utah Royals FC today finalized the destination of former OL Reign FW Elyse Bennett, sending Friday’s expansion selection to San Diego Wave FC in exchange for $40,000 in Allocation Money.
During an early timeout in Friday’s NWSL Expansion Draft, Utah’s first expansion selection and second overall following Bay FC’s pick, Utah Royals FC discussed with both Bennett and San Diego a potential transaction for the 23-year-old striker entering her third NWSL campaign. The former Washington State product hails from Lake Forest, Ill., and boasts five goals in 46 career NWSL contests with KC Current (2022) and OL Reign (2023). Bennett was drafted seventh overall in 2022 by Kansas City.
The NWSL transaction moratorium officially ended Saturday morning, at which time clubs can resume signings of both restricted and unrestricted free agents, as well as the conduction of trades by which to bolster the 2024 preseason roster.
In Friday’s draft, URFC also selected FW Paige Monaghan from Racing Louisville FC (fourth overall), a five-year NWSL veteran with 79 appearances for Gotham FC (2019-22) and Racing (2023), scoring nine goals in her professional career. Monaghan was selected 10th overall in the 2019 draft by Sky Blue FC (neé Gotham FC) out of Butler University, the Succasunna, N.J. native the first-ever Bulldog drafted into the NWSL.
Utah Royals FC passed on the sixth, eighth and 10th overall selections.
Earlier this week, a series of transactions were announced by Sporting Director Kelly Cousins on behalf of the Club, positioning URFC for Friday’s draft with a combination of players celebrating Utah homecomings, young NWSL players seeking new opportunities, and various mechanisms added to the club arsenal as Utah builds its roster with new Head Coach Amy Rodriguez.
Here’s Utah’s roster by position – along with each player’s 2023 NWSL side – as it currently stands:
GK: Mandy Haught (Gotham FC), Carly Nelson (Orlando Pride)
DF: Kaleigh Riehl (San Diego Wave), Madison Pogarch (San Diego Wave), Kate Del Fava (KC Current)
MF: Mikayla Cluff (Orlando Pride), Michele Vasconcelos (Portland Thorns), Emily Gray (North Carolina Courage), Frankie Tagliaferri (North Carolina Courage)
FW: Hannah Betford (Portland Thorns), Imani Dorsey (Gotham FC), Paige Monaghan (Racing Louisville), Cameron Tucker (Houston Dash)
The 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally, will take place Friday, January…
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