- KK Ream, 16, became the youngest NWSL goalscorer in Utah's 2-1 win.
- Ream's 86th-minute goal secured Utah's first win since April 18.
- Utah Royals moved to 13th place; Portland remains sixth after the loss.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The last time the Utah Royals won a game, KK Ream was only 15 years old.
The Herriman native turned 16 in July and scored her first professional goal Friday at Providence Park in Portland to secure a 2-1 Utah win — the team's second of the season and first since April 18.
"She got herself into the game and just proved what she's worth," Coenraets said after deciding recently that Ream needed more minutes for her development. "She showed a lot of courage, she showed a lot of guts for a 16-year-old."
At 16 years and 53 days, Ream became the youngest goalscorer in NWSL history with her goal in the 86th minute after coming off the bench just six minutes earlier.
Two initial shots from Bianca St-Georges and Mina Tanaka were saved, and Ream got to the second rebound to open her scoring account and give Utah multiple goals for the first time since June 6.
The Utah kid @KKReam_19 scores her first professional goal for her home team 🥹💛 pic.twitter.com/2BPnCiS7P6
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) August 30, 2025
"I was just running as fast as I could into the box. It got deflected to me, and then I just put it in," Ream said of her first professional goal. "It honestly just feels really good to see all my hard work and me trying to earn minutes pay off."
The road team's opening goal on Friday came on a beautiful play from Paige Monaghan, where the Royals captain flicked the ball over a defender to herself and finished past the keeper in the 22nd minute. It was Monaghan's first goal of the season as the Royals entered the night with just 12 goals scored through 17 games.
Portland got a goal back during stoppage time, but Ream's goal stood strong as the game-winner, handing Portland just its second home loss of the season. Utah goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn reached a new career high with 11 saves in the win.
The Thorns remain in sixth place in the standings, tied with Louisville, following the loss, while Utah escapes last place for the first time this season, overtaking Chicago in 13th place by a single point.
The Royals have one more road trip to North Carolina on Sept. 6 to end a lengthy run away from home, but return to Utah on Sept. 14 to face the 11th-place Houston Dash.
