Denver Summit Women

Match report

Denver Summit Women secured a 2-1 victory over Utah Royals in the NWSL Group Stage on 9 August 2026. The result came after a tight contest where both sides created chances but only Denver converted when it mattered. Y. Ryan opened the scoring in the 51st minute before T. Milazzo levelled for the visitors in the 89th. J. Sonis then provided the decisive moment with a goal in the 90+4th minute.

Utah took an early yellow card through A. Tejada Jimenez in the 41st minute, a moment that may have shifted the balance slightly. Denver responded with their own caution when A. Smith picked up a booking in the 75th minute. Both sides made changes in the second half, with K. Palacios, K. Riehl and A. Tejada Jimenez coming off for Utah, while Y. McCormack, K. Riehl and A. Oke were among the home substitutions.

The statistics told a familiar story—Utah held 53 per cent possession and completed 236 of 324 passes, yet could not find the net until the final stages. Denver managed 47 per cent possession with 209 successful passes from 287 attempts. Both sides registered 12 shots, but Denver's accuracy of 50 per cent compared to Utah's 17 per cent proved decisive. Utah created three big chances against Denver's two, but the visitors could not convert.

The win moves Denver to 30 points from 22 games, keeping them in 10th place. Utah remain fourth with 39 points from 23 matches. The result ends a run of mixed form for the hosts, who had drawn with Boston and lost to North Carolina in their previous outings. Utah's away record continues to be tested as they look to close the gap on the leaders.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 47 – 53

Shots on target 6 – 3

Shots off target 6 – 9

Big chances 2 – 3

🟨 41' A. Tejada Jimenez — Yellow card ⚽ 51' Y. Ryan — Goal ⇄ 52' K. Palacios — Substitution ⇄ 66' Y. McCormack — Substitution ⇄ 68' K. Riehl — Substitution 🟨 75' A. Smith — Yellow card ⇄ 77' A. Tejada Jimenez — Substitution ⚽ 89' T. Milazzo — Goal ⇄ 90+2' A. Oke — Substitution ⚽ 90+4' J. Sonis — Goal

Match events

41' 0:0 Utah Royals Women Yellow card A. Tejada Jimenez
51' 1:0 Denver Summit Women Goal Y. Ryan assist: J. Sonis
52' 1:0 Utah Royals Women Substitution K. Palacios off: P. Cronin
66' 1:0 Denver Summit Women Substitution Y. McCormack off: N. Flint
68' 1:0 Utah Royals Women Substitution K. Riehl off: T. Milazzo
75' 1:0 Denver Summit Women Yellow card A. Smith
77' 1:0 Utah Royals Women Substitution A. Tejada Jimenez off: M. Hammond
89' 1:1 Utah Royals Women Goal T. Milazzo
90+2' 1:1 Denver Summit Women Substitution A. Oke off: Y. Yamamoto
90+4' 2:1 Denver Summit Women Goal J. Sonis

Statistics

47 Possession, % 53

6 Shots on target 3

6 Shots off target 9

2 Big chances 3

55 Attacks 47

8 Corners 6

9 Fouls 11

11 Free kicks 9

1 Offsides 4

1 Yellow cards 1

0 Red cards 0

15 Goal kicks 10

38 Throw-ins 26

All statistics

7/2035% Aerial duels 13/2065%

45 Backward passes 51

0 Blocked shots 6

21 Clearances 22

6/1932% Crosses 7/1839%

8/1942% Dribbles 7/1450%

78 Failed passes 88

2 Goalkeeper saves 4

8 Interceptions 10

11 Key passes 12

24/4949% Long passes 21/5638%

69 Passes into the final third 59

182 Passes in the opposition half 185

124 Passes in own half 157

0.50 Shot accuracy 0.17

3 Shots from outside the box 7

9 Shots inside the box 11

6/1443% Tackles 15/2463%

287 Total passes 324

Line-ups

Starting XI
#	Player	number
1	Abigail Mackenzie Smith	1
3	Kaleigh Nicole Kurtz	3
6	Janine Elizabeth Beckie	6
7	A. Oak	7
23	Eva Gaetino	23
4	Natalie Mees	4
5	D. Lynch	5
9	Yazmeen Ann Ryan	9
14	J. McCormack	14
24	Delanie Breann Sheehan	24
11	Alleandra Morgan Watt	11

Substitutes
#	Player	number
36	Kath Asman	36
2	Megan Reid	2
13	Gemma Bonner	13
16	Carson Pickett	16
8	Emma Rigby	8
18	Yuzuki Yamamoto	18
25	Klara Melissa Kössler	25
26	Natasha Flint	26
33	Olivia Thomas	33

Show full squad

Utah Royals Women

Starting XI
#	Player	number
1	Mandy McGlynn	1
8	Kathryn Jean Del Fava	8
14	Nuria Rábano	14
18	Kaleigh Ann Riehl	18
22	Miyabi Moriya	22
5	Cecelia Anne Kizer	5
10	Narumi Miura	10
11	Mina Tanaka	11
17	Ana Tejada Jiménez	17
24	Cloé Zoé Eyja Lacasse	24
21	K. Palacios	21

Substitutes
#	Player	number
23	Mia Thalein Justus	23
2	Tatumn Marie Milazzo	2
6	Cameron Simmonds	6
15	Dayana Pierre-Louis	15
16	Courtney Brown	16
99	Madison Hammond	99
4	Paige Quinn Monaghan	4
13	Breckin Mozingo	13
30	Alexa Spanstra	30

Show full squad

Recent form