KC Current exercise 6 contract options, extend offers to 7 more ahead of 2022 season
The Kansas City Current announced a flurry of roster news ahead of the 2022 season on Wednesday, leaving little in the way of surprise regarding players remaining for year two of the franchise, and those heading out the door.
The club exercised 2022 contract options for six players and offered contracts to another seven who are currently out of contract. Just three players from the team’s inaugural 2021 season did not have their contract options exercised.
The group whose options were picked up includes defenders Kristen Edmonds, Michelle Maemone and Maddie Nolf, midfielders Gaby Vincent and Addie McCain and forward Kristen Hamilton.
Of those six women, Edmonds, who joined KC via trade from Orlando in January, played the most minutes (1,713) in 2021. Hamilton also arrived in KC via a trade during the summer from the North Carolina Courage, while McCain was selected 17th overall in this year’s NWSL Draft.
Nolf, Vincent and Maemone were all part of the squad inherited by Kansas City when the Utah Royals ceased operations in December 2020.
Kansas City has also offered contracts to goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland, defenders Katie Bowen, Taylor Leach and Kate Del Fava, midfielders Lo’eau LaBonta and Desiree Scott and forward Jaycie Johnson. Defenders Elizabeth Ball and Hailie Mace also signed contract extensions through 2024 earlier this week.
As of now, the only three players who won’t be returning are midfielder Jordyn Listro, forward Arielle Ship and defender Sydney Miramontez, 27, who announced her retirement.
Miramontez originally retired from soccer in February 2020 to focus on her mental health before returning in 2021 with her hometown team.
Listro was acquired by Kansas City from Orlando in March for a conditional 2022 third-round pick but had not been with the team for much of the latter half of the season (personal leave).
Ship also arrived as part of the Utah Royals group but has endured injuries for much of her pro career and didn’t make an appearance for KC. On Nov. 29, Ship announced that she was joining Swedish club IFK Kalmar.
The Current have 19 players on their roster heading into the NWSL Draft on Dec. 18:
Goalkeepers (2): Adrianna Franch, Carly Nelson
Defenders (7): Elizabeth Ball, Rachel Corsie, Kristen Edmonds, Hailie Mace, Michelle Maemone, Maddie Nolf, Mallory Weber
Midfielders (5): Addie McCain, Chloe Logarzo, Sam Mewis, Victoria Pickett, Gaby Vincent
Forwards (5): Kristen Hamilton, Darian Jenkins, Mariana Larroquette, Jéssica Silva, Michele Vasconcelos
Nelson will remain on loan with Danish outfit FC Nordsjælland through June 2022 and Vasconcelos will remain on loan with Spanish side Sevilla through June 2022.
This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 2:50 PM with the headline "KC Current exercise 6 contract options, extend offers to 7 more ahead of 2022 season."