SANDY, Utah – (Tuesday, November 12, 2019) – Utah Royals FC GK Abby Smith, FW Katie Stengel and FW Mallory Weber have been loaned out to teams in Australia’s Westfield W-League for the remainder of the offseason pending loan approval by the National Women’s Soccer League with Western Sydney Wanderers, Canberra United and Adelaide United, respectively.
This will be the first time Smith has done a stint in Australia and the first time she has played outside of the National Women’s Soccer League.
In two seasons in Utah, Smith has made 31 saves and six clean sheets through 17 matches.
Stengel returns for her fourth stint in the W-League, having previously spent three offseasons downunder. During the 2016-17 season Stengel scored six goals in 12 matches for the Western Sydney Wanderers. In 2017-18 Stengel joined Newcastle Jets where she was a standout attacking threat, scoring 10 goals in 12 matches, the second-most in the league behind fellow NWSL player Sam Kerr. This past year Stengel rejoined the Jets and netted three goals, but saw limited action due to a stress fracture in her foot.
The forward is fresh off her second season with Utah Royals FC where she tallied two goals and one assist in 24 matches.
Weber will be joining Adelaide United, marking the first time the forward has been part of the W-League.
In her first season with Utah Royals FC Weber made the transition to outside back under Head Coach Laura Harvey and appeared in 19 matches, recording one assist.
Last year Utah had six players travel overseas to participate in the W-League. In addition to Stengel, DF Rachel Corsiewas with Canberra United, MF Lo’eau Labonta and DF Sydney Miramontez with the Western Sydney Wanderers, DF Sam Johnson with the Melbourne Victory and MF Gunny Jónsdóttir with Adelaide United.
