The Utah Royals released their inaugural 2018 schedule on Wednesday, in conjunction with the unveiling of the National Women’s Soccer League slate.
The Royals will play a 24-game schedule this season, opening their campaign on March 24 at Orlando and making their home debut on April 14 against Chicago.
The Royals’ 12-game home schedule includes five Saturday afternoon games and three more Saturday night contests. Utah’s NWSL club will play just three midweek home games, all on Wednesdays, plus one Friday home game.
The home opener against the Chicago Red Stars will be one of five Royals games telecast nationally on the Lifetime Network.
In all, 20 NWSL matches will be broadcast on Lifetime. That includes Royals home matches on May 19 against Houston, July 14 against Orlando, Aug. 11 against Seattle and Sept. 8 against Chicago. Their April 21 match at North Carolina will also appear on Lifetime.
Royals coach Laura Harvey will face her old Seattle Reign club three times in 2018 — June 27 (home), July 11 (at Seattle) and Aug. 11 (home).
UTAH ROYALS SCHEDULE<br>All times MST<br>Home games in bold<br>March 24 • at Orlando, 5:30 p.m.<br>March 30 • at Houston, 6 p.m.<br>April 14 • Chicago, 1:30 p.m.<br>April 21 • at North Carolina, 1:30 p.m.<br>April 28 • Portland, 7 p.m.<br>May 5 • Washington, 7 p.m.<br>May 9 • Orlando, 7 p.m.<br>May 25 • at Portland, 8:30 p.m.<br>June 2 • at Sky Blue FC (N.J.), 5 p.m.<br>June 16 • at North Carolina, 5 p.m.<br>June 23 • at Chicago, 6 p.m.<br>June 27 • Seattle, 8 p.m.<br>June 30 • Sky Blue FC (N.J.), 8 p.m.<br>July 6 • at Portland, 9 p.m.<br>July 11 • at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.<br>July 14 • Orlando, 1:30 p.m.<br>July 20 • North Carolina, 8 p.m.<br>Aug. 5 • at Houston, 6 p.m.<br>Aug. 8 • Washington, 8 p.m.<br>Aug. 11 • Seattle, 1:30 p.m.<br>Aug. 18 • at Sky Blue FC (N.J.), 4:30 p.m.<br>Aug. 22 • at Washington, 5:30 p.m.<br>Sept. 8 • Chicago, 1:30 p.m.