Utah Royals FC Sign Three Players, Two Draft Picks Prior To NWSL Challenge Cup

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Royals FC announced that the club has signed three players, including two draft picks, prior to the start of the NWSL Challenge Cup.

The club signed 2020 NWSL Draft picks Tziarra King and Kate Del Fava, as well as Marissa Sheva on Thursday, June 18.

According to URFC, King and Del Fava are signed through the 2020 season and have an option for next year. Sheva agreed to a short-term deal with the club.

“We’re delighted that these three have joined the club. They’re outstanding human beings that will add to the locker room,” Royals head coach Craig Harrington said. “They deserved to be given contracts and now it’s to them to kick things off from here. They’ve shown enough for us to invest our time and effort into them and we think in two or three years they could be really established members of our club.”

The 2020 Rookie Class

👑 https://t.co/pB6vIOumWJ pic.twitter.com/dhUn2DkI74

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) June 18, 2020

Tziarra King

After being selected with the 8th overall pick in the first round, King became the first player from NC State to be drafted into the NWSL. King played four seasons at NC State, starting every year that she was there. As a freshman, she led the team in goals scoring eight. She also led the team in goals during her sophomore and junior campaigns. King’s preferred position is up top, she is a natural goalscorer who has great goalscoring abilities.

“I’m really excited to be officially joining Utah Royals FC,” King said in a statement on Thursday. “These last few weeks training with the girls have been phenomenal. It’s such a good group of girls and I’m really enjoying the coaching staff and learning from everyone. I’m just really excited to get out onto the field and get going.”

.@tziarra is coming to Utah! The moment she became one of the newest members of @UtahRoyalsFC…

📹: @NWSL pic.twitter.com/Ckkl2joGx8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 16, 2020

Kate Del Fava

The Royals also selected Del Fava with the 12th pick in the second round. The midfielder played her collegiate soccer at Illinois State where she scored 25 goals from 84 appearances. Following her 2019 season, Del Fava was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year following her senior season that included 17 goals, good enough to lead the conference.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Royals FC organization to begin my professional journey,” Del Fava said in a statement on Thursday. “It’s been a dream of mine to play professional soccer my whole life and to have that dream become a reality with such a great club and amazing teammates and coaches is a dream come true.”

See you 🔜 pic.twitter.com/YbmuJFm70o

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) January 16, 2020

Marissa Sheva

Sheva signed with Utah as a second-year professional. Prior to her professional career, Sheva was a star at Penn State University. She played in 92 matches from the Nittany Lions including 60 starts. During his time in State College, she scored 13 goals and recorded 9 assists. Sheva helped Penn State to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2015. She most recently played for Deportivo Alavéz in the Spanish second division.

“I’m excited to be here in Utah and I feel grateful to the club for the opportunity,” Sheva said. “It’s definitely shaping up to be a unique first season in the NWSL, but I couldn’t be more excited for the 2020 Challenge Cup to get underway here in Utah.”

The Royals’ first match back in action following the coronavirus pandemic will be against the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup on June 30.