© Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Entering the summer break of the National Women’s Soccer League season, seven of the eight teams above the playoff line didn’t look out of place there, having made the playoffs at least once in the past two seasons. If you squint hard enough, you’d notice perennial wooden spoon contenders Utah Royals (12th in 2025 and 11th in 2024) in second place.
This is no accident — the Royals have been good. In addition to scoring the third-most goals and conceding the third-fewest goals in the league, they’ve generated the fourth-most expected goals (xG) and have the sixth-highest xG differential (xG created minus xG conceded). Both the actual and the underlying numbers support a real turnaround for this team with a normally abysmal track record, especially in the first half of the season. What is it about their play this season that is making them so successful?
Is it the goalkeeping? No.
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