The KC Current traded for a rising star last week. They want you to know it

The Kansas City Current shocked most of the NWSL world last week, acquiring one of the league’s most talented prospects in a trade just hours before defeating Racing Louisville 2-0 to start the second half of the regular season.

Earlier this week, the Current introduced its newest acquisition, Ally Sentnor, in a news conference with general manager Caitlin Carducci and Vlatko Andonovski.

The two beamed beside their new player, who might best represent the ambitions of the Current on the pitch.

“Bringing Ally to Kansas City (makes sense) from a roster standpoint,” Carducci said. “But more than anything, we are bringing a dynamic personality, a player and someone who will help us continue to build a championship-caliber team, both through her play on the field and her presence in the community.”

Sentnor can play across all four spots in the main attacking positions. Current fans will likely see her play as an attacking midfielder.

Andonovski likened her to midfielder Kim Little, who won the NWSL MVP award in 2014. Little was the type of attacking midfielder who could do it all: score inside the box, hit a shot from distance, arrive at the right time and dribble into the box to either shoot or dish the final pass.

“I think there’s a lot of speed and a lot of energy up top, as you guys have witnessed,” Sentnor said. “And I would like to say one of my qualities is my final ball. So hopefully (I’m) able to play those balls in behind so my teammates can get set up for easy goals, as well as following in on the edge of the box and being scrappy in the box as well.

The Current had plenty of high praise for a player who is just 21 years old and in her second professional season. But that’s the type of player she is now, with an even higher ceiling.

In a moment of authenticity, Carducci added, “This was a big one for us.”

It sure is a big one. And in many ways.

The Current went out and acquired one of the best young up-and-comers in the league, a face fans know now nationally and maybe even globally; she’s represented the United States with the national team. This transaction is a big deal.

And what the team has spent years trying to build — a weight to its name as a global power through a championship culture, top-caliber facilities and elite home environment — is paying off. That much was evident in talking to Sentnor.

“I think from the moment I got here, professionalism stands out,” Sentnor said. “You see what this team puts on the field. But the operations, everyone has just been so welcoming, and I feel like I’m part of the family right away.”

In getting a deal like this one done, timing matters. The Current needed a competitive replacement for Vanessa DiBernardo, who is headed to maternity leave. Utah Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets all but confirmed that Sentnor had already put in a trade request.

“When a player wants to leave, there are not a lot of ways to keep a player,” Coenraets told local media members.

“We all have a timeline,” he added. “We all have goals and ambitions, and I think maybe we weren’t at the right place to achieve hers.”

Players like Sentnor have high ambitions. When you’re the top draft pick, make your senior national team debut and notch four goals in 12 games, as well as win the U.S. Soccer’s young female athlete of the year award, those ambitions and goals become even loftier.

And when you’ve created the environment the Current has, and have the aspirations and willpower to do whatever it takes to reach them, you become a place that players like Sentnor want to be.

“That’s what I always want to do,” Sentnor said. “I think any competitor wants that opportunity. So I’m honestly really grateful that Kansas City wanted me here and that I wanted to come here. I am expecting a trophy just from all the hard work we’re going to put in this season. It’s going to be so amazing to have that fight and be on a team that is fighting for that.

“It’s definitely a mentality shift. But I’m really excited.”

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.