Utah Royals secure first 2026 win at Boston Legacy as Traoré scores club’s first goal
Utah leaves Massachusetts with three points as Boston continues early search for results
Utah Royals FC earned its first victory of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season on Saturday, March 28, defeating expansion side Boston Legacy FC 2-1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The result moved Utah off the mark after opening the campaign with a loss at Kansas City, while Boston remained winless in its inaugural NWSL season.
The match also produced a milestone for the home club: Aïssata Traoré scored Boston Legacy’s first-ever NWSL goal, cutting into Utah’s lead in the second half. Boston’s earlier league debut came on March 14, a 1-0 loss to Gotham FC in the club’s first NWSL match.
How the match turned on two Utah finishes and a key Boston response
Utah opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through defender Tatumn Milazzo. The goal gave the visitors a lead they carried into halftime in a game that included multiple cautions, including first-half yellow cards shown to Traoré, Emma Stevens and Anna Karich for Boston, and to Mina Tanaka for Utah.
Utah doubled its advantage shortly after the break. In the 50th minute, forward Lara Prašnikar converted a penalty kick, putting the Royals ahead 2-0 and forcing Boston into a chase that shaped the remainder of the match.
Boston’s response arrived in the 72nd minute when Traoré found the net to make it 2-1, creating a final phase defined by sustained pressure and set-piece moments. Boston generated late attacking sequences, including a corner in stoppage time, but did not equalize.
What the result signals for both clubs in March
For Utah, the win provided an early-season reset after a 2-1 defeat in the opener at Kansas City on March 14. Milazzo’s goal at Boston followed her season-opening strike in that first match, underscoring a productive start from a defensive position.
For Boston, Saturday’s loss extended a difficult opening stretch but added a historic first goal to the club’s record. Through two home matches at Gillette Stadium to open the season, the Legacy have been decided by a single goal each time, reflecting narrow margins as the new roster and tactical identity take shape.
Date: March 28, 2026
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Final: Boston Legacy FC 1, Utah Royals FC 2
Scoring: Milazzo (33’), Prašnikar pen. (50’), Traoré (72’)
Boston’s first NWSL goal came in the club’s second league match, narrowing the deficit to one in the 72nd minute.