SANDY, Utah (Monday, October 26, 2026) — Ahead of Utah Royals FC’s matchup against the Kansas City Current on October 17, the Royals teamed up with Sportsish, a sports brand built for the female audience, to host “Gameday for the Girls,” a one-of-a-kind experience celebrating the women shaping sports today and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Held in The Legacy Club at America First Field, the event welcomed more than 150 women’s sports fans for a panel discussion led by Sportsish CEO and Founder Lily Checketts Shimbashi. The panel featured President of Miller Sports + Entertainment Michelle Smith, Lifestyle Influencer Crystal Yedlin and World Champion Bobsled Pilot and Olympian Kaysha Love-Powell.
Attendees heard firsthand perspectives on the evolving landscape of women’s sports, building confidence in the workplace and navigating the challenges of being a woman in the sports industry.
Smith emphasized the importance of leading with compassion and creating environments where women can thrive.
“Gail [Miller] reminds all of our leaders to lead with love and success will follow,” Smith said. “Care for one another, see one another, respect one another, create safe spaces for one another … That is going to continue to be a game changer, from the athletes to the incredible partners and influencers to the business executives that continue to grow.”
The conversation also explored the growing recognition of female athletes on the world stage. Love-Powell reflected on the progress women’s sports have made while acknowledging the work still ahead.
“When we compete on the world’s biggest stages at the Olympics or at World Champions, [we’re] recognizing that the world is slowly starting to acknowledge us as the athletes that we are,” Love-Powell said. “It’s not just trying to compare us to the men, but slowly being like, ‘Wow, I see your work ethic, I see your ambition, I see who you are in sport.’ I think that’s really cool. I feel like we have a long way to go, but it’s really quite cool.”
Beyond the panel, attendees enjoyed an afternoon celebrating community and connection through sports. Fans received event gift bags featuring exclusive pins, a ribbon bag charm from Knot + Spool, Swig drinks and snacks.
Following the discussion, Shimbashi delivered the official match ball ahead of kickoff as the Royals took the field against Kansas City Current.
The celebration continued after the final whistle, with fans heading down to the pitch for a postgame screening of She’s the Man, bringing the day’s festivities to a close.
“Gameday for the Girls” highlighted the power of women in sports to build community, create opportunities and inspire the next generation. The event came as the Royals celebrated another historic milestone, having recently clinched playoffs for the first time in club history.
Up Next
After clinching playoffs for the first time in Club history in its 0-0 draw against Seattle Reign, the Royals now head to Sports Illustrated Stadium to take on league-leading Gotham FC on Decision Day. The teams go head-to-head on Sunday, November 1, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. MT. and is available to watch on ESPN. Playoff matches will be determined on November 1.
