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KC Current sign three players

The Kansas City Current has signed new contracts for Taylor Leach, Kate Del Fava and Jaycie Johnson as the team started preseason camp. The Current will open preseason training with 28 players.

Taylor Leach returns for her third season in the NWSL, having joined the Utah Royals before the 2020 Challenge Cup. Her professional career began in Sweden with Sunnanå, Östersunds DFF and Göteburg from 2016 to 2019. In 2021 Leach saw action in eight games for Kansas City, highlighted by her equalizing goal in the final moments against the Houston Dash on May 23.

Kate Del Fava was drafted by the Utah Royals in 2020, making four appearances in the Challenge Cup and two in the Fall Series. This past season, Del Fava appeared in a total of nine games for Kansas City, starting three games at center back.

Jaycie Johnson, Kansas City area native, starred at Lee’s Summit West High School before heading to the University of Nebraska. Johnson was drafted by the North Carolina Courage in 2017 but missed her rookie season with a knee injury. Following two seasons with OL Reign, Johnson signed with Kansas City before the 2021 season.

Leach, Del Fava and Johnson round out the Current’s 28 player preseason roster, including all four players selected in the 2022 NWSL Draft, 2021 NWSL Draft selection Brookelyn Entz and other Non-Roster Invitees.

2022 Kansas City Current preseason roster
Goalkeepers (4): Kelsey Dossey (NRI, non-roster invitee), Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch, Carly Nelson (LOAN, player on loan), Kayla Thompson (NRI)

Defenders (8): Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava, Brookelyn Entz (NRI), Taylor Leach, Alex Loera, Izzy Rodriguez (CDP, College Draft pick), Mallory Weber, Jenna Winebrenner (CDP)

Midfielders (10): Chardonnay Curran (CDP), Kristen Edmonds, Lo’eau LaBonta, Chloe Logarzo (NYR), Hailie Mace, Addie McCain, Sam Mewis, Maddie Nolf, Victoria Pickett (NYR), Desiree Scott

Forwards (6): Mollie Belisle (NRI), Elyse Bennett (CDP), Kristen Hamilton, Jaycie Johnson, Lynn Williams, Michele Vasconcelos (LOAN)

KC Current names new head coach

The Kansas City Current has named Matt Potter as its new head coach.

Potter is a former U.S. Women’s National Team assistant coach and U-23 USWNT head coach.

“As we continue to assemble the best staff in professional soccer, Matt is an integral piece as head coach,” said Angie Long, co-owner of the Current. “He has experience working with the best players in the United States and has a fantastic reputation in the global soccer world. We couldn’t be more excited to bring Matt to the Kansas City Current.”

“His competitive nature, love of attacking soccer, and positive energy fits perfectly in our culture,” Chris Long, co-owner, said. “He brings to us invaluable technical knowledge and player development skills.”

With the 2022 preseason set to begin on Feb. 1, Potter will assume his new position with the Current immediately, according to the announcement.

“I’m grateful to Angie and Chris Long and Brittany Matthews for the opportunity to take the club forward as its head coach,” Potter said. “The ambition of the ownership, the quality of the people within the organization, and the energy surrounding the Current within the city and fan base is evident.”

Potter began his NCAA Division I career with Washington State in 2003, a program that had only seen three NCAA tournament appearances in its history. In nine seasons following Potter’s arrival, he led the Cougars to a school record 88 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

In 2012, Potter took the reins of the University of Oklahoma program. He led the Sooners to two NCAA tournament appearances and three double-digit win seasons.

A native of Mere, England, Potter spent his teenage years playing the central midfield for Watford FC before attending the West London College of Brunel University, where he led his team to the National British College title. Potter holds a USSF Pro License, USSF Talent Scout License, USSF A License and United Soccer Coaches Premier License.

“There is a clear vision for the Kansas City Current, both on and off the field,” Potter said. “It’s a vision that reflects the city, its people, and sports teams with great sporting traditions built on energizing a community by aiming high and unmatched work ethic. These attributes align with my own ambition and values. I look forward to the challenge of competing in one of the premier women’s soccer leagues, with players that share that philosophy. The Current is truly on the move, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Another personnel move made recently by the Current was to acquire the Orlando Pride’s natural second round draft pick in the 2023 draft, trading forward Darian Jenkins to the Pride. The Current will receive $75,000 in allocation money.

The Current also recently added Lynn Williams, a U.S. Women’s National Team forward and 2016 NWSL MVP. Kansas City also receives North Carolina’s natural second round and natural fourth round picks in the 2023 draft.

The North Carolina Courage will receive $200,000 in allocation funds from the Current, along with the natural first round pick in the 2023 NWSL draft and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.

KC Current adds to roster

The Kansas City Current has made several changes recently, adding players to the roster for next season.

The Current also has made changes for players on the roster, placing defenders Katie Bowen and Michelle Maemone on waivers and buying out the contract of forward Mariana Larroquette, according to an announcement.

The Current made two picks in the fourth round of the NWSL draft, selecting Texas Christian University defender Jenna Winebrenner and drafting Ohio State University defender Izzy Rodriguez.

Winebrenner grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, playing for Park Hill High School. She played four college years at Notre Dame, where she started 53 of her 55 matches on the defensive backline. Winebrenner transferred to Texas Christian University for her senior season, starting in 22 matches for the Horned Frogs.

Rodriguez played college soccer for the Ohio State Buckeyes. She earned Big Ten All-Freshman in 2017, First Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and 2021, and the Big Ten Defender of the Year in 2021. From the backline, Rodriguez scored eight goals and added 12 assists at Ohio State.

The Current also selected Washington State forward Elyse Bennett in the first round and University of Oregon midfielder Chardonnay Curran in the second round.

Bennett was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in her first season with the Cougars. She scored three goals in 14 games her sophomore season before suffering an injury. Bennett returned from the injury to start in 56 of her next 57 matches.

The forward scored 26 goals in her college career, with 12 assists. Her 10 scores in 2021 led the team and propelled her to being named First Team All Pac-12 to close out her final collegiate season.

Curran holds the Oregon record for most appearances, 92, and starts, 84. She is a versatile midfielder who accounted for 21 points at Oregon. She had three goals in 19 matches her senior year and finished her college career with seven goals and seven assists.

A recent trade sent midfielder Gaby Vincent to the Washington Spirit in exchange for the Spirit’s natural fourth round pick in the 2023 NWSL draft and $25,000 in allocation funds.

Vincent was transferred to Kansas City with 22 other players before the 2021 season. She appeared in 16 games for Kansas City, making 11 starts. The midfielder was signed by the Utah Royals in 2019 and started seven games that season.

Bowen was one of seven players who returned to Kansas City this season after having played with FC Kansas City and then the Utah Royals. Originally drafted out of the University of North Carolina by FCKC in 2016, the New Zealand native has played in 89 career NWSL games with 71 starts.

Maemone, originally drafted by the Utah Royals in 2019, was one of 22 players assigned to the Kansas City Roster shortly after the team was announced. Maemone was in the Starting XI for Kansas City’s first Challenge Cup match in Portland on April 9 and appeared in nine matches for the team during the 2021 Challenge Cup and Regular Season.

Larroquette was Kansas City’s first international signing on Dec. 22, 2020. The Argentine national played 19 games this season, starting in eight.

The 2022 preseason begins Feb. 1, and the season will open with the Challenge Cup on March 19.