KC Current acquires U.S. Women’s National Team forward in blockbuster NWSL move
The Kansas City Current likes to make big splashes, and the club has done so again hours before its first NWSL match in six weeks.
The Current is acquiring Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor, the club announced shortly before Friday night’s matchup against Racing Louisville. The Current won that match 2-0.
In exchange for Sentnor, the Current will send $300,000 in intraleague transfer funds upon execution of the deal to Utah, with another $200K in 2026 and $100K in 2027. That transfer amount sets an NWSL record, ESPN reported.
Sentnor, 21, will be under contract with the Current through the 2026 season. She was the top pick in the 2024 NWSL draft by the Royals out of UNC.
“Ally is an elite young talent who will immediately make a contribution to our team, and we’re excited to have her in Kansas City,” said Current general manager Caitlin Carducci in the team’s news release. “We know she will fit into the special environment we have cultivated and will help us win championships. We are ecstatic about the future of this team.”
Sentnor has four goals and five assists in 34 career NWSL appearances so far, plus four goals and two assists in 12 appearances with the U.S. Women’s National Team.
She also has been one of the most heralded youth prospects in recent years. Sentnor represented the U.S. Youth Women’s National Teams before and during her collegiate career, scoring 11 goals in 20 games with the U-20s.
A native of Hanson, Massachusetts, Sentnor reclassified to graduate high school a year early and attend UNC. Despite missing her freshman season due to injury, she made first team All-ACC in 2022, notching 10 goals and two assists in her first college season.
She added 11 goals and seven assists while being named the ACC Midfielder of the Year. She then turned pro and was drafted by Utah. After breaking out late in her rookie season and with the U.S. Women’s National Team, Sentnor was named the Young Women’s Player of the Year in 2024 by US Soccer.
“Ally is a dynamic player who’s tenacious on both sides of the ball and will be yet another threat on our roster,” Current coach Vlatko Andonovski said in a news release. “She’s a fun and exciting player to watch. Ally has continued to elevate her game year after year, and we’re eager for her to make her mark in Kansas City. She demonstrates the mentality we’re striving for and will be an excellent culture fit.”
The deal comes after an early end to Vanessa DiBernardo’s 2025 season, albeit for a good reason. DiBernardo and her partner announced that she is pregnant earlier this week. She will miss the remainder of the 2025 season on maternity leave.
Sentnor isn’t as much of a deep midfielder as DiBernardo could be. Instead, she’s more of a versatile piece who can be deployed as a striker, winger (on both sides) or even playing a little deeper as an attacking midfielder.
Utah mainly used Sentnor as a striker, but the team lacked the midfield quality to feed her in and around the goal, resulting in a lot of shots from distance this season. That won’t be a problem with the Current.
And as seen with the USWNT, deploying Sentnor either just underneath the striker or as the line-leading number nine will cause opponents lots of problems — particularly with a deadly shot from her right foot.
“Who wouldn’t want to have Ally on the team?” Andonovski said rhetorically after Friday night’s match. “She’s an incredible player (with) potential. We’re very happy and excited for her.”
As for her first match with KC? That’ll likely come against ... her former team next Friday.
In Utah, no less.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM.