In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Utah Royals are spotlighting the importance of mental well-being both on and off the field. As part of the club’s ongoing commitment to supporting mental health, players and coaches opened up about the practices and routines they rely on to "fill their cup"—whether it's spending time with family, diving into a hobby, or simply taking a quiet moment for themselves.
By sharing their personal strategies, the RSL family hopes to encourage fans and the wider community to prioritize their own mental health and explore what helps them recharge.
Mandy McGlynn
“To get my mind off soccer, I think it’s super helpful to realize we are people too — not just the player. I definitely need to step back. I call my friends and family from home, and I bake sourdough bread — it’s been very therapeutic for me. Being in such a high-pressure position, seeing our sports psychiatrist has definitely been super helpful. Just upkeeping — it’s like a workout for your brain. Upkeeping those positive thoughts, feeding the good wolf, and bringing the positive vibe.”
Mandys Sourdough Instagram: @safehandsourdough
Tatumn Milazzo
“I really love connecting — FaceTiming or calling my siblings or friends back home. They’re always just such good vibes, so it really makes me excited to talk to them. I love going shopping; I think it’s one place where I can mentally turn off and have a good time by myself. Obviously, playing with my cats is a soul recharger.”
Paige Monaghan
“I definitely like to do something productive but also treat myself to self-care — whether that’s getting my nails done, doing a face mask, or taking a walk outside. That’s huge for me. But first, I like to be productive with my day.”
Lauren Flynn
"I like to call my family, take a bath, light some candles, and read a book. But mostly, just talking to my family — that really helps me."
Macey Fraser
“I think the most important thing for me is connection with people, so getting around friends and family if I can. I’m lucky right now because I have my parents here for a few weeks. I love reading. The book that helped me most with my mental health was The Power of Now — my favorite book ever — so I recommend reading that.”
Janni Thomsen
“I really like to cook dinner — that’s the place where I just relax and stop thinking about everything. I haven’t played golf here in Utah yet, but that used to be one of the ways I’d get away from the football pitch.”
Kate Del Fava
“I love a good long walk with some music, and a good dinner with my friends. Sushi and Italian are my favorites. Also, just curling up on the couch watching some soccer.”
Ally Sentnor
"I enjoy getting coffee that is not at my apartment, self-care, a little face mask, getting my nails done."
Claudia Zornoza
"I like to have other things to do that help get my mind off soccer. I enjoy cleaning around my house or going on walks with my dog and listening to music.”
Mina Tanaka
“I really like getting coffee. I love coffee.”
Alex Loera
“I really like to read my Bible and go to the park and just sit in nature. It really centers me and brings me back to my foundation.”
Brecken Mozingo
“I like to clean — it’s very therapeutic to me and helps me prepare for the days ahead.”
Nuria Rabano
“I really like to read. I also enjoy going out on nature walks with my partner and my dogs.”
Ana Maria Guzman
"I like to read and talk to god. I believe that speaking with God is like speaking with yourself. And other than that, I like being with my family and just speaking and being around them.”
Madison Pogarch
"I just water the parts of me that don't have to do with soccer. I like hanging out with friends, volunteering at the humane society."
Ana Tejada
"I like to pass the time by listening to music and just chilling oout.
Ana’s favorite spanish Artist: Reis B
Ana’s favorite english Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Kaleigh Riehl
“I like to take my dogs on trail walks, get a matcha or coffee, and read a book.”
KK Ream
“I like to draw — I usually just draw portraits of people. I like to play piano; I’m actually trying to learn right now. Also, just, you know, singing and dancing.”
Mikayla Cluff
“I really like to be outside—I love going on hikes and walks and just doing different things to free myself up, let my mind wander, and just be in the mountains.”
Dana Foederer
“I like sitting in the sun, reading, and cleaning. I call my friends and family, and I enjoy listening to podcasts and things like that.”
Mia Justus
“I like to either journal, read, go for walks, or take a nap. I enjoy romance novels.”
Cloe Lacasse
“I generally like to refresh, and I do that by literally cleaning my house. I like to clean everything up and make sure it’s a good, healthy environment. If my home is clean and everything is looking good, that shows up in my injury rehab as well.”
Cece Kizer
“I’ve gotten into reading — I got a Kindle for Christmas, so I’ve really dove more into it. I like to hang out with my fiancé, and we like to explore. Obviously, being new to Utah, there’s a lot to do.”
Imani Dorsey
"I usually try to get outside, at least a nice little hike if possible, and getting some work done—just stuff outside of soccer that helps me rebalance, I think, is really important."
Aisha Solorzano
“I like to go to the park with my dog or go to a coffee shop. I also think it’s important to get lots of sleep.”
Cristina Roque
“I enjoy resting and just cleaning up my space.”
Aria Nagai
“I like to get organized and just reset from the week. A lot of times I’ll call friends and family, go on a walk, grab a coffee, or go grocery shopping. I plan out the week and do things I can’t normally get to because the weekdays are really busy. I like to take time for myself and just slow down the pace.”
Bianca St-Georges
“For me, it’s journaling. I feel like you just need to brain dump, so then it gets out of your head and it feels more like something you can tackle versus something that defines you.”
Coach Jimmy Coenraets
“Right now I would say I like to do things with my dog. It just helps me look at life in a different perspective because we have so many pressures and things to do on a daily basis but having a little guy to be around helps to make me really happy. And I think it is just so important to look at things from a different perspective and remember there is a lot of stuff around us that can make us happy.”
Coach Marina Cabral
“I like to go to the gym and workout. I also really enjoy reading, my favorite books to read are novels. Right now with the weather being so nice, it is great to go read out by the pool.”
Coach Emily Simpkins
“I like to go for walks or getting out to get a coffee. I also really enjoy reading books or just taking a bath to unwind.”
Coach James White
“I really enjoy going and playing golf on my off days if the weather allows or just getting out into nature and going on a walk without my phone is something I like to do as well.”
Coach Sam Lismont
“Recently I have enjoyed getting outside and playing some golf, but I really enjoy doing anything outdoors and in nature. It is a great way to get the mind right.”
