Current Australian International, Asia Football Confederation’s 2014 Player of the Year and Oz 2014 Player of the Year Commits to Utah Royals FC
SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, February, 14, 2018) — Utah Royals FC have signed MF Katrina “Mini” Gorry, an Australian Women’s National Team standout, General Manager Craig Waibel and Head Coach Laura Harvey announced today. Bringing experience from leagues in Asia, Australia and the United States and a former NWSL champion with FC Kansas City, Gorry returns to stateside boasting a résumé of highlight goals, trophies and accolades.
“Katrina is a player that I have watched for a few years now, she has experience of playing in the U.S. with FC Kansas City, said Harvey. “Since she was here, she has gone away and developed her game further, and now together we felt it was the right time for her to come back to the league. Katrina has proven she can play anywhere in the world and I’m excited to get her back to the NWSL.”
Widely known for winning both the Asia Football Confederation’s Player of the Year and Australia Player of the Year awards in 2014, Gorry arrives to Salt Lake from her hometown of Sunnybank, Australia, where she starred for the Brisbane Roar in Australia’s Premier W-League. The Queensland product has been playing at the international level since she was a teenager, currently holding 59 caps with 14 goals for the “Matildas” (the nickname given to the Aussie Women’s squad).
Gorry clinched an NWSL title in 2014 when playing for FC Kansas City, appearing in 10 matches and scoring one goal. Aside from Canada and Mexico, there are more international players from Australia in the NWSL than any other country. The Matilda star also spent some time playing in Japan for Vegalta Sendai, where she earned 14 caps in 2017.
Nicknamed “Mini”, the five-foot phenom excels at dribbling past more imposing players in the midfield, demonstrating an eye for goal, bagging 39 goals over her international and club career. A fast-paced midfielder, a majority of her highlights include quick strikes from outside the penalty box — like dangerous free kicks — soaring into the net before goalkeepers can react.
Gorry’s soccer career began by competing with the premier boy’s leagues in Queensland until she was 15 years old, where she then signed for Adelaide United in the Australian W-League. Gorry made her debut for Australia in 2012 as a substitute against Asian Football Confederation rival, Japan.
Player: Katrina Gorry
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5 feet
Date of Birth: August 13, 1992
Hometown: Sunnybank, Queensland, Australia
Previous Club: Brisbane Roar FC (Australia)
How acquired: International signing on February 14, 2018
Utah Royals FC kick off its inaugural campaign with road games on the weekends of both March 24 and March 31 prior to an international break in early April, finally christening its Rio Tinto Stadium home on Saturday, April 14 at 1:30 p.m. MT (opponent TBD). Season tickets for the 2018 Utah Royals FC season are now on sale via www.RSL.com/NWSL or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
Preparations for the NWSL’s sixth season commence locally in Herriman, Utah, on Monday, February 19, when the club’s available preseason roster convenes for its initial sessions at the world-class Zions Bank Training Center.
