Utah Royals earn pledge from US, KC standout Amy Rodriguez

SANDY — Another international star is on her way to Utah Royals FC.

The first-year NWSL expansion club owned by Real Salt Lake officially enlisted the services of former FC Kansas City star Amy Rodriguez on Tuesday morning, bringing the U.S. international striker to Rio Tinto Stadium for the 2018 season.

The Royals acquired the player rights to Rodriguez when FC Kansas City folded following the 2017 season. But the 30-year-old goal scorer hasn’t played a professional soccer match since the 2017 season opener when she injured her anterior cruciate ligament in FCKC’s 2-0 win.

It was her first match in over a year after giving birth to her second child in 2016.

The 5-foot-4 goal-scorer has collected 44 goals in 92 professional games, including 26 in two full seasons of NWSL play.

“I couldn’t be more excited for the upcoming NWSL season,” Rodriguez said in a statement from the club. “I can’t wait to put on the Utah Royals FC jersey and get back on the soccer field again.”

Rodriguez, a member of the 2015 Women’s World Cup champion U.S. squad, played on both NWSL championship teams in 2014 and 2015. She earned MVP honors at the 2015 NWSL championship game — after scoring the game-winning goal against the Seattle Reign, which was coached by current Royals coach Laura Harvey.

“Amy has proven her ability to score goals in every year that she has been fit and available in the NWSL,” Harvey said in a statement from the club. “I’m so excited to finally have her on my team and not have to watch her play against me, as she has always haunted my dreams.”

Rodriguez joins former Kansas City teammates Becky Sauerbrunn, Desiree Scott, Nicole Barnhart, Erika Tymrak and Mandy Laddish in Utah. She becomes the 15th player to be formally announced by the expansion side, which will open play March 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

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