Utah Royals undone by Washington Spirit, Trinity Rodman’s ‘world-class’ finish

SANDY — Except for a moment less than a minute in length about three minutes after a lengthy weather delay, the Utah Royals showed why they have taken the NWSL by storm through the first of the 2026 season.

That moment was enough to show why the Washington Spirit are still in front of the league, though.

Trinity Rodman scored the lone goal of the match in the 28th minute, and top-rated Washington Spirit made good use of limited chances to take a 1-0 win over Utah Royals FC in front of an announced crowd of 9,538 fans Wednesday night at a weather-delayed match at America First Field.

Sandy MacIver made four saves in goal for the Spirit (11-3-3, 36 points), which handed Utah a third loss in five matches since returning from the international break.

Yet this one felt different, at least moreso than the 3-2 loss at Chicago or 3-1 loss to second-place Gotham FC that preceded the most recent two-match winning streak, head coach Jimmy Coenraets noted.

Wednesday’s mid-week match — the second of a three-match run in eight days — felt more like Saturday’s 4-1 win over the North Carolina Courage. Coenraets stopped short of saying the Royals “deserved” a win against the top team in the league, and the team that has never made the playoffs in three years since resuming NWSL play (or at all) is beyond moral victories.

But in ways other than the one reflected on the scoreboard — the most important stat, that is — Coenraets left more encouraged.

“We had two or three very clear chances,” he said. “We referred to it as a lapse of five seconds against a world-class player … But I think we are showing the outside world that there is a reason why we are right there. Last week, we showed a way of winning an ugly game, and today we played really well but we didn’t (win).”

Trinity Rodman leads the Spirit to victory in Utah!

Utah Royals FC vs. Washington Spirit Highlights presented by @Nationwide pic.twitter.com/OXF7clXrTZ

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 30, 2026

How the Spirit beat Utah Royals FC

Making her first start since May 30 prior to the month-long international break, Kaleigh Riehl returned to the starting lineup alongside Kate Del Fava in her 69th consecutive start at center back for Utah (9-3-5, 30 points).

The Royals out-shot Washington 5-2, including one shot on target each, in the first 25 minutes that preceded an hour-long weather delay due to severe thunderstorms in the Salt Lake Valley.

Less than three minutes later, Rodman snuck through a cross from Paige Metayer from inside the six-yard box to put the visiting Spirit in front.

It was Washington’s second shot on target, and third of the game. But less than 30 minutes in of actual game play, the visitors were on the front foot. It’s the eighth goal of the year for the Spirit attacker who signed a High-Impact Player contract with Washington that ESPN reported to be worth more than $2 million annually, four behind league-leading Barbra Banda of Orlando for the NWSL’s golden boot.

The Royals out-shot the Spirit 10-4 before halftime, but only put two of those shots on frame. Washington kept 59% of possession before the break, and matched Utah in shots on target despite eight fewer touches in the opponents’ box than the Royals’ 16.

The Royals put 34 touches in the box (to just nine for Washington), but only put four shots on target — including Lara Prašnikar’s attempt in stoppage time that MacIver sent wide with a diving save.

Utah was getting in the right spots, but struggled to finish in front of goal — a combination of lack of finishing and a Spirit group with a league-best plus-14 goal differential to go along with three-straight wins and victories in six of the last seven.

The Washington keeper made four saves to help the visitors leave with all 3 points, and into a 6-point lead over third-place Utah atop the 16-team NWSL.

Riehl said the moment came down to one simple thing.

“Just not converting our chances,” she said. “I think it’s as simple as that; I think we had a lot of momentum, and in fact, they scored when we had momentum.

“It’s just about finding a way, digging deep, and getting numbers forward to get that goal,” Riehl added.

Next up

Utah returns to America First Field to host another top-five NWSL club, Portland Thorns FC on Sunday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT on Victory+.