The Utah Royals FC released the names of five more former FC Kansas City players who will arrive in Utah ahead of the 2018 season.
Forward Brittany Ratcliffe, midfielders Maegan Kelly, Alexa Newfield and Lo’eau Labonta, and defender Sydney Miramontez have been added to the Royals’ preseason roster, according the the team.
“When we were building the roster, it was important to make sure that we brought back balance and experience from the previous group,” Royals coach Laura Harvey said in a team release. “Adding all these players into the roster is an excellent example of this. They all have that experience and understand what it takes to be successful at this level.”
All five of the additions came to FC Kansas City after the Blues’ back-to-back NWSL championships in 2014 and 2015 — although Kelly was drafted by the team in 2014 before transferring to UMF Stjarnan in Iceland.
Ratcliffe began her NWSL career in Boston after being drafted by the Breakers in the 2016 college draft. FCKC signed both her and Kelly days before the beginning of the 2017 season. Ratcliffe scored one goal in 22 appearances last season.
Kelly spent the beginning of her professional career abroad, first with UMF Stjarnan then in Finland’s Naisten Liiga. She returned to Kansas City last season to score five goals in 22 matches.
FCKC also signed Miramontez ahead of the 2017 season. The former Nebraska Cornhusker played in five league matches in her rookie campaign and was invited to U.S. U-23 national team training camp.
Newfield and Labonta both spent two seasons with Kansas City. Newfield was drafted by the Blues in 2016, scoring two goals in 25 matches over the past two seasons. Labonta was drafted by Sky Blue FC in the 2015 draft. She played in 33 matches, starting 21 of 22 appearances with Kansas City last season.
