Utah Royals FC punched its first-ever ticket to the NWSL playoffs on Friday, needing only a scoreless draw with the Seattle Reign at America First Field and a little help from Portland. The Royals played to a 0-0 tie, and when the Portland Thorns beat North Carolina Courage 1-0 shortly after, Utah's postseason berth was sealed.
A Breakthrough Years in the Making
The result closes out a remarkable turnaround for a club that finished 11th in 2024 and 12th in 2025, well outside playoff contention both years. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah stood in fifth place with a 14-10-5 record after Friday's match, a dramatic shift for a franchise that was seven points behind the playoff line as recently as 2024, per Real Salt Lake/Utah Royals. That 2024 campaign ended with a 7-15-4 record and 25 points, and the following season wasn't much better, with Utah finishing 6-13-7 and in 12th place in the 14-team league, as the Deseret News detailed in its look back at the club's rebuild.
Head coach Jimmy Coenraets has overseen a steady climb since taking over, moving from a 7-4-15 record in his first season to 6-7-13 in 2025 before this year's leap into contention, according to The Athletic's profile of the young coach. Utah opened 2026 by reeling off a 10-match unbeaten streak, even as the Royals were slowed by injuries in recent weeks.
A Cautious, Controlled Draw
Friday's match itself was a tactical standoff. Utah dominated the ball, controlling 58% possession and forcing eight corner kicks against Seattle, according to Sounder at Heart. The outlet also noted Seattle finished with what it called an “abysmal” 69% passing accuracy and that Utah limited the Reign to just 0.80 expected goals on the night.
The Royals held a 11-9 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal, per the Tribune's report. Utah goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, who earned her fifth clean sheet of the season by the Tribune's count, was rarely troubled. Seattle's best look came from Sam Meza, who recorded the Reign's only shot on target of the match, but Seattle Reign FC's own match recap noted that McGlynn had it covered. On the other end, Seattle goalkeeper Claudia Dickey kept her side within reach, making four saves including two fingertip stops, the same Sounder at Heart report said.
Coenraets Explains the Approach
Coenraets acknowledged after the match that his team played it safe rather than push for a win that could have clinched the berth outright. “We wanted to win, but we were also smart about not losing this game,” he said, according to the Tribune, which also reported that a victory over Seattle would have secured the postseason spot on its own. Instead, Utah needed the assist from Portland, whose win over North Carolina Courage sealed the deal.
What's Left on the Schedule
Utah's 186 shots trailed only San Diego in the league, according to Deseret News reporting on the club's rise. Players also hoped to start faster in 2026.
The Royals close out the regular season against first-place Gotham FC on Sunday, Nov. 1, per the Tribune. Seattle, meanwhile, still has work to do: the Reign need a win in their regular-season finale against the Orlando Pride at Lumen Field on Nov. 1 to guarantee their own playoff place, according to Sounder at Heart, which also noted the match will double as Jess Fishlock's final regular-season game for the club.
