Game: San Diego Wave vs. Utah Royals

Where: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego

When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

TV: CBS Sports Network

The San Diego Wave will start a two-game home stand at Snapdragon Stadium this Wednesday, May 8, when they take on Utah Royals.

Utah is currently bottom of the NWSL table, but the Wave are still dealing with some serious injuries to some of the top players on the squad.

Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Sofia Jakobsson, and Melanie Barcenas are all still unavailable, and as of now, their return dates are not clear. San Diego is coming off a crushing 2-1 loss against Seattle in a game where the Wave had a player advantage from the ninth minute of the match. Kristen McNabb inclusively came out with a red card at Lumen Field, right at the end of the mtach and will be unavailable for this match against Utah.

McNabb was used as a center-back against Seattle, and with Girma and Dahlkemper still injured, it seems that Casey Stoney will have to consider Sierra Enge against Utah. However, defense is far from being the Wave’s biggest problem this season, considering that the offense is tied for the second-worst in NWSL, just ahead of Utah Royals.

Given the injuries, the Wave cannot be critiqued fairly, but there is still plenty of potential with players like Jaedyn Shaw and recently signed Maria Sanchez. Sanchez is yet to start a game with San Diego Wave this season and this game against Utah is potentially a perfect time for Casey Stoney to finally start the Mexican international.

Utah Royals have been the worst team in NWSL, currently bottom of the table with the worst offense and third-worst defense in the league. There are a pair of former Wave players on Utah, as Madison Pogarch and Kaleigh Riehl are both on the squad, but Riehl is out nursing a calf injury. The most experienced and arguably talented player on Utah is French midfielder Amandine Henry, who won seven Women’s Champions League titles with Lyon. Henry will give a battle to anyone in San Diego’s midfield and has the potential to be a factor in hard-fought games.

The Wave are in desperate need for some points after a very heartbreaking loss at Seattle and need to take advantage of this two-game home stand before heading out on the road for the rest of May.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.