Storylines | Chasing History: Royals Set Sights on Orlando Sweep

By: Isabella Rubis 

All eyes shift to Central Florida as Utah Royals FC are set to face the Orlando Pride on Saturday evening. With a loss in last match, the Royals will look to its veteran defenders and clinical finishers up top to earn a result and the important points that come with it.  

In this edition of storylines we’ll take a deeper look into the attacking pieces for URFC that have boosted the squad to first place in the league for goals scored as well as the head-to-head history against the Orlando side.

Tanaka and Lacasse Lead the Charge as Royals Chase More History  

While the Royals have fallen short of earning points in its last two matchups, the squad remains a force to be reckoned with, especially on the offensive side of the pitch. URFC has netted a league leading 37 goals, setting a new club record and besting its goals scored during the 2025 season by nine with nine matches still to play in the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season. The offensive power from Utah has come from every position, with 12 different players netting at least one goal thus far but, the attacking duo of Japanese midfielder Mina Tanaka and Canadian forward Cloé Lacasse have been the heart of the team’s success in the final third.

Since landing in Utah for the 2024 NWSL season, Tanaka has showcased her exceptional abilities, bringing technical finesse, clinical finishing and versatility to every match she features in. The Japanese international netted two goals in the loss to San Diego last Friday, recording her second career brace and making club history as the first URFC player to do so. The historic night for Tanaka didn’t end there as she overtook former Utah Royal Amy Rodriguez for sole ownership as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 15. 

With three scores in two matches, Tanaka continues to prove herself as an integral piece of URFC’s attack, her fancy footwork and tight ball control makes her a dual threat as the midfielder uses her speed to create scoring opportunities not only for herself but her teammates. As the squad looks ahead to Saturday’s match in Central Florida, Tanaka’s relentless movement and lethal finishing will be necessary in the quest for a victory. 

Utah’s attacking threat doesn’t end with the Japanese star as the squad has yet another prolific attacker in Lacasse. The veteran forward has enjoyed an impressive 2026 NWSL campaign having contributed to 15 goals this season with six goals and a whopping nine assists. The 33-year-old forward has proven to be one of Utah’s most dynamic attacking threats, using her speed to stretch the defense and her quick footwork to beat defenders one-on-one. The Canadian’s high soccer IQ allows her to consistently find space and create opportunities for her teammates, while her clinical finishing ability makes her a constant threat in front of goal. 

With nine games remaining in the NWSL season including this weekend's match in Orlando, the Utah Royals will look to continue its historic form to finish the 2026 season earning as many points as possible to set another club record and earn a spot in the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Royals Seek First-Ever Sweep Against Pride

The Utah Royals 2026 season has been historic, marked by milestones and club records, while its rivalry with the Orlando Pride has begun to shift as well. Orlando entered the teams’ first meeting this season unbeaten in all-time matchups since the Royalty’s return to Utah in 2024, only for the Royals to finally break through with a 1-0 victory in front of a home crowd at America First Field on July 18. 

The victory was a boost for the squad and an important milestone for URFC Head Coach Jimmy Coenraets whose first game at the club was a difficult 6-0 loss at Inter.co Stadium on June 21, 2024. While the Royals were unable to secure a victory against Orlando during the 2025 season the squad continued to build, earning its first-ever points against the opponent in August 2025, with a 1-1 draw on the road. 

As the Royals look to do something that has never been done and sweep the Pride for the first time in its modern era, there is one player in particular that threatens to squash the visitors' hopes, Zambian forward Barbra Banda. The 26-year-old has been a key piece in Orlando’s offense throughout 2026, netting 12 goals in the 17 NWSL matches she’s featured in as well as recently netting five goals in three matches during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with the Zambian Women’s National Team. 

The impressive forward is known for combining explosive speed, elite physical power and lethal 1v1 finishing, all while maintaining a high-level soccer IQ and the Royals will need to work as a unit to thwart the movement she is known for that brings multi-dimensional scoring and a knack for setting up her teammates. With the Royals having conceded six goals in its last two matches, this weekend’s battle poises the squad with a challenge but an immense opportunity to bounce-back and earn important points on the road. 

The Saturday matchup in Central Florida against the 11th ranked Orlando Pride is set to kickoff at 5 p.m. MT at Inter.co Stadium and will be streaming on NWSL+. Then, URFC returns to the Wasatch Front welcoming 2026 expansion side Boston Legacy and former Utah Royal, Bianca St. Georges to America First Field on Friday, September 4. Kickoff for the home match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT with tickets available for purchase here.