By: Jay Kostal
Utah Royals FC head to California to face San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium in the first of two road matches. The Royals will look to carry the momentum from their 3-2 home victory over Bay FC as they take on one of the NWSL’s top-five teams on Friday.
This edition of Storylines will look at the Royals’ versatile scoring threat and take a deeper dive into one of the fiercest offenses in the league.
Mina Tanaka’s Versatile Offensive Style
San Diego Wave FC is one of Mina Tanaka’s favorite teams to play against, with the Japanese international recording her third-most goal contributions in her NWSL career against the West Coast side, being the only player to score in both fixtures against San Diego during the 2025 NWSL season.
Her first goal of the season came on March 22, 2025, when former Royal Ally Sentnor rolled a dangerous ball into the penalty area that was met by a darting run from Tanaka. Her one-time finish gave the Wave goalkeeper no chance, finding the back of the net. Unfortunately, San Diego answered just two minutes later before scoring the 74th-minute winner.
Scoring her sixth goal of the 2025 season on October 11, 2025, Tanaka capitalized on a long throw-in from Janni Thompsen that was flicked on at the near post by Paige Cronin. The ball bounced between several players before finding the feet of Tanaka, who unleashed a left-footed half-volley into the bottom-left corner to tie the game at 2-2. A 72nd-minute winner would end the Royals’ eight-game unbeaten streak, with San Diego taking the 3-2 victory.
Most recently, Tanaka scored the winning goal in the 79th minute from the penalty spot in the Royals’ 3-2 victory at home against Bay FC. She won the penalty with some fancy footwork, baiting the Bay defender into making a poor tackle inside the 18-yard box. Tanaka’s goal also marked the first time in NWSL history that three different Japanese players scored in the same game.
Since arriving in 2024, Tanaka has cemented herself as one of the NWSL’s most dangerous attackers, using her shifty play and brilliant footwork to consistently create problems for opposing defenses. This season, she has continued to showcase her individual brilliance, scoring six goals while adding four assists in a variety of ways.
The Royals Seek First Points Against San Diego Wave
The Royals have never earned a single point against the San Diego Wave since returning in 2024. The most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-1 loss for the Royals, with the Wave finding an 87th-minute winner in Utah’s first home game of the season. The lone Utah goal came from a cross intended for Kiana Palacios that was deflected by a Wave defender into the path of Lara Prašnikar, who finished a one-time volley into the bottom-right corner past the diving San Diego goalkeeper.
However, the Wave have struggled to string together a run of good form since returning from the NWSL break. San Diego still poses a threat, though, as despite the team’s recent struggles, it ranks fifth in the league with 33 points. The Wave lead the league in both shots and shots on target, but have struggled to capitalize on its chances as of late.
The Wave’s inconsistency has been more evident at home than on the road, with a 4-5-1 (W-L-T) record at home compared to a 6-2-2 record away. Their last home win came over a month ago on July 4, when they earned a 2-0 victory over league leaders Gotham FC in an exciting contest that saw both sides create close chances.
The clash between two top sided teams will take place at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday with kickoff scheduled at 8:00 p.m. and streaming on Prime Video. The Royals will then head to Inter.co Stadium to face off against the Orlando Pride with kickoff expected for 5:00 p.m. and streaming on NWSL+.
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.
