The National Women's Soccer League is set to return to Utah in 2024 after the league announced plans to expand Saturday. The Utah Royals will join the league next year as the newest expansion franchise and will be owned by Real Salt Lake's David Blitzer and Ryan Smith.
Blitzer and Smith purchased Real Salt Lake–Utah’s MLS club–in 2022, a deal that included the opportunity to acquire an expansion team in the NWSL.
“When we acquired Real Salt Lake last year, we said it was a matter of when, not if, the NWSL would return to Utah. This has always been an integral part of our mission. With today’s announcement, we are thrilled to fulfill the promise we made to our incredible fan base,” Blitzer said in a statement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to use our resources and platform to take women’s soccer to the next level while inspiring future players and fans globally."
