HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, August 20, 2026) – Utah Royals FC (11-4-5, 36 pts) head to Snapdragon Stadium to battle San Diego Wave FC (10-3-7, 33 pts) on Friday, August 21st with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. MT. The Royals are fresh off of a home win against Bay FC, having triumphed over the opponents 3-2 at America First Field last Friday. The club now turns its attention to San Diego, hoping to secure three more points in Matchweek 17 of the 2026 season.
The Royals win over Bay was an exciting one, with both sides finding the net in the first few minutes of the match. In the 7th minute, Cece Delzer fired a shot on goal that was deflected into the path of Japanese international Miyabi, who finished through the keeper’s legs, equalizing the score 1-1. 15 minutes later, Canadian international Cloè Lacasse found midfielder Narumi, who took a few touches before rocketing a long-range shot into the net, giving URFC the lead. In the second half, Mina Tanaka won a penalty kick in the 74th minute that was saved by the goalkeeper, before being awarded a second shot that converted, ultimately giving the Royals the 3-2 victory. The goal gave Tanaka 10+ goal contributions this season, as well as tied her with Lacasse for the Royals’ Golden Boot lead with six goals. The goals by Miyabi, Narumi, and Tanaka also marked the first time three Japanese players have scored in the same match in NWSL history. Another milestone occurred in the 80th minute, when Utah-native Courtney Brown subbed in, marking her 50th NWSL appearance. The victory also made Club history, setting a new record for Royals’ wins in a single season with 11.
Now, URFC turns its focus to its matchup against the Wave, as they head to San Diego to take on the club for the second time during the 2026 campaign. Earlier this season, the Royals faced the Wave in its home opener on March 22nd, where the opponents secured a 2-1 victory over Utah. Former forward Lara Prašnikar scored the lone goal for the Royals in the 66th minute, however the Club ultimately fell to the Wave. San Diego holds a dominant 5-0 all-time advantage over the Royals since Utah returned as a franchise in 2024, with all matches tightly contested but the Wave ultimately prevailing.
San Diego Wave FC enters the matchup on Friday with a 10-3-7 league record with 33 pts, sitting at 5th in the overall NWSL standings, just two spots behind the Royals. Despite a strong season, the club has only found one win in its last six matches, prevailing over the Washington Spirit 1-0 on August 2nd, before going on to fall 0-1 to Gotham FC on August 7th, battling the top two teams in the overall NWSL standings in a single week. Most recently, the club secured a 1-1 draw against Denver last Friday. Players to look out for include San Diego's Trinity Byars, who leads the Wave with 6 goals for the 2026 season, followed closely by Brazilian Dudinha and forward Lia Godfrey with 5 goals each. The Wave will be led by Head Coach Jonas Eidevall, who is only the second head coach in club history. Eidevall is the former manager of Arsenal Women in the WSL, having led Arsenal to League Cup titles in 2023 and 2024 and will be seeking a win in front of the Wave’s home crowd.
At only 3 points away from being tied with the Royals in the overall NWSL standings, the Wave will be looking to prove it can compete with the best in the league. With the Royals coming off a home win against Bay, and with the depth of twelve different goal-scorers on the Royals’ roster, URFC may have the momentum to finally secure a victory over the west-coast team for the first time in Club history.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
WATCH LIVE\ on PRIME with Mike Watts, Lori Lindsey and Ali Riley :: Utah Royals FC vs San Diego Wave FC | Snapdragon Stadium | \8:00 p.m. MT
OR
LISTEN via KSL Sports Radio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) starting at 7:30 p.m. MT
Following the match against the San Diego Wave, URFC will head to Florida to take on Orlando Pride on Saturday, August 29th with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. MT. The Royals will then return home to host Boston Legacy FC on Friday, September 4th at America First Field with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available to purchase here.
URFC Next Home Match: 9/4 @ America First Field
Utah Royals take on Boston Legacy FC at home! Secure your seats for an unforgettable match at America First Field.
