Forward Courtney Brown, fresh from competing in the NWSL Championship with the Washington Spirit for the second consecutive year, has returned to her home state to play for the Utah Royals in 2025. Brown learned of her move while traveling in Peru during the offseason, marking a new chapter for her professional career as she brings her talents back to Utah.
During her trip to Machu Picchu with family, Brown shared the exciting news via video call with her relatives, who responded with enthusiasm. This transition represents a meaningful reunion with her roots and the chance to contribute to her state’s professional soccer landscape.
Growing Up and Developing in Utah Soccer Circles
Raised in West Haven, Utah, Brown developed her soccer skills playing for La Roca Futbol Club, which she credits as
“been a great foundation for me to build on.”
She also excelled at Fremont High School, earning All-State honors from the Deseret News before advancing to collegiate soccer.
Brown spent five seasons at the University of Utah, where she captained the team for her last three years. Over 94 games, she tallied 14 goals, demonstrating her consistency and leadership. The opportunity to play professionally in her home state is especially meaningful for Brown, who described it as super special.
The original Utah Royals franchise relocated to Kansas City in late 2020, shortly after Brown’s sophomore year. However, the club was re-established in 2024, coinciding with Brown’s final college season. The Washington Spirit selected her in the fourth round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, making her the first University of Utah player drafted since Lindsey Luke in 2016.
Brown reflected on her journey back to Utah’s professional team:
“When the Royals kind of got resurrected when I was in college, I thought that would be a super sweet place for me to eventually come back and play at. I didn’t know at what point in my career that would be, but I knew that I eventually wanted to get to the Royals. And so I’m super excited about it being now, and I’m happy that I’m here.”
Adjusting to Life Away Before Returning Home
Before joining the Spirit, Brown had lived her entire life in Utah. Upon entering professional soccer, she found herself in Washington, D.C., alongside another rookie from Utah, Heather Stainbrook, who also played for La Roca and attended Utah Valley University. This shared background helped Brown navigate the differences away from home.
Brown shared,
“Being away from the Utah culture was very different. That was my first time living outside of Utah and experiencing something that is very much different than what it is here that I’ve grown up with. And I really enjoyed it, and I’m super grateful for the experiences that I had. And it was fun to experience those with Heather because Heather was in the same boat as me.”
She went on to say,
“We’d grown up in Utah. I played only in Utah. Going through that with her and then Ashley (Hatch) was just fantastic.”
Brown, Stainbrook, and Hatch formed a unique bond as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Spirit, which fans humorously dubbed the ‘Stormin’ Mormons.’ Brown noted,
“It was super fun. It was me, Ashley and Heather, and some fans called us the ‘Stormin’ Mormons,’ which was kind of funny. But it was super special.”
Early Professional Milestones With the Spirit
Brown made her NWSL debut in the 2024 season opener and earned her first starting role in the third match, which happened to be against the Utah Royals. She appeared in 24 games during her rookie year, scoring her maiden professional goal against Gotham FC on June 23, 2024.
In her second season, Brown played 15 matches and scored a second goal, showing continued progress in her development at the top level.
Transferring Championship Experience to Utah Royals
Coming from a Spirit team recognized as a strong contender and recent finalist in the NWSL championships, Brown witnessed firsthand the dedication and discipline required to compete at that elite level. She explained,
“I think for a team to get to that level, it was super eye-opening for me to see what type of habits and what type of attitude and what type of support it takes to get to that level and to, not just be at that level, but maintain that level throughout the duration of (a) season is also very key because the season is so long.”
Now with the Utah Royals, Brown joins a club that struggled in recent seasons, finishing near the bottom of the standings but determined to break through and reach the playoffs for the first time, a goal endorsed by president of soccer operations Jason Kreis.
Brown said,
“I’m excited to see some of those habits that I picked up at Spirit and implement them, and I have been implementing them here with the Royals.”
She also observed a shared mindset among her former Spirit teammates and current Royals squad.
“What’s been fun to see is the attitude of the girls at Spirit to win and progress and to be aggressive, like the girls here at the Royals also have that same attitude. It was really awesome to see that correlation, and we do have something really special, I think, brewing here at the Royals,”
Brown noted.
Influence of Cultural Change on Team Success
Between 2021 and 2023, the Spirit experienced a significant shift in performance and culture. After winning the NWSL Championship in 2021, the team had fewer victories in subsequent years. The club responded by hiring Jonatan Giráldez from FC Barcelona Femení and recruiting several new players, including rookies such as Brown.
Brown attributed the turnaround to adaptability and high standards, stating,
“I think what helped us be successful was the people who were new got up to speed quickly, and they were willing to adapt and to evolve into this new culture that we were setting. The standards were kept really high, and so everyone had to rise and meet the standards, whether you were new or whether you were coming back.”
She sees similar efforts within the Royals organization, where head coach Jimmy Coenraets and the staff are focused on elevating the team’s level. Brown said,
“Royals haven’t had the greatest last two seasons, but they have the momentum shifting in the right direction. And that’s what I felt when I was at Spirit my rookie year. I could feel that momentum shifting and I feel it here, too.”
Outlook for the Utah Royals With Brown’s Leadership
Courtney Brown’s return to Utah presents hope for a franchise eager to establish itself as a playoff contender. Bringing experience from a high-performing club, along with a strong connection to the local soccer community, she is poised to help elevate the Royals’ ambitions. The blend of her competitive mindset and leadership, combined with a team and staff focused on cultural growth and resilience, suggests potential for a significant shift in the Royals’ fortunes in coming seasons.
With Brown’s dedication and familiarity with Utah’s soccer roots, fans and teammates alike anticipate a new era where Utah’s professional team can achieve sustained success and contend at the highest levels in the NWSL.
