- The Utah Royals remain winless in seven matches after a 3-0 loss to Gotham.
- Captain Paige Monaghan returned from injury, emphasizing energy and intensity for improvement.
- Coach Jimmy Coenraets stresses the need for 'heart' as his team ties for last place.
SANDY — Paige Monaghan has watched most of this Utah Royals season from the sidelines.
The 28-year-old captain suffered a foot injury in the season opener and returned to the pitch off the bench in the last two Utah matches, both of which have been losses. In fact, the Royals have lost six of their last seven games and have not won a game since April 18 — their lone win in 12 matches so far.
The latest loss was a 3-0 result against Gotham FC at America First Field on Friday, when the visiting team opened the scoring in the ninth minute and didn't slow down until a sequence of late fouls resulted in Gotham finishing the match with nine players.
So what did Monaghan see from her different perspective off the field? And what is she hoping to bring to change these results now that she's back?
"There's a lack of energy out there, and I know that that's such a controllable," Monaghan said. "It's one thing I take pride in as a player myself. Anyone who knows me within this league, or even watching this league, is going to know that I'm going to bust my butt every single day and give everything I can.
"It's not about me, and I'm very clear about that. I think from sitting on the sideline that it's something I know I can help," Monaghan added. "I've only been in a couple trainings, and just trying to increase the intensity and just put us in a positive direction."
Esther González and Jaelin Howell led @GothamFC to victory.#UTAvsGFC Game Recap presented by @Nationwidepic.twitter.com/Wyo0KYiMtW
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 14, 2025
The team received a noticeable jolt when Monaghan entered the match in the 53rd minute on Friday, but Utah was already trailing 2-0 at that point. A penalty five minutes later sealed the deal for the road team.
The loss drops the Royals into a tie for last place in the NWSL with Chicago and a steep climb out with the midway point of the season rapidly approaching. Gotham, the final playoff team at the moment, is now a full 10 points ahead of Utah in the standings.
Head coach Jimmy Coenraets said Monaghan took a moment to speak "straight from the heart" after the match with a message that was "taken very well by the players."
"Right now, what we're missing is the heart," Coenraets said. "The heart for the badge, for the club, for the environment, for everything. And that's what we gotta get out of ourselves."
Utah closes out the first half of the season looking for its second win of 2025 on Saturday, June 21, at 3 p.m. MDT against the Seattle Reign at America First Field. The league takes a break during the month of July, while the Royals announced a pair of friendlies against the San Diego Wave on July 12 and July 20.
