KC Current 2026 Preseason Roster Update

The Kansas City Current released an update on the club’s roster as their 2026 preseason camp begins. The Current have 25 players under contract and also have five non-rostered invitees in preseason training camp. Camp officially kicked off Wednesday, and this will be the first opportunity for new head coach Chris Armas to put his mark on the team.

The Current will be in Kansas City until Feb. 15, when they head to California. They will face the San Diego Wave on Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m. CT as part of the Coachella Valley Invitational (CVI). There will be additional preseason exhibition matches announced at a later date. The Kansas City Current II will also be in California to train alongside the first team.

The team will be missing four key players with midfielders Claire Hutton and Lo’eau LaBonta, defender Izzy Rodriguez and forward/midfielder Ally Sentnor called up by Emma Hayes for the first United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) training camp of 2026. The U.S, will face Paraguay in two friendly matches on Jan. 24 and Chile on Jan. 27.

New players for the Current include goalkeeper Marisa Jordan who was acquired in a trade with the North Carolina Courage in exchange for a 2026 international roster spot. The Current has added college players, forward Gianna Paul from the University of Alabama, defender Laney Rouse from the University of Virginia, defender Kolo Suliafu from the University of Washington and forward Amelia White from Penn State University. Talented local defender Meila Brewer joined the Current as well.

Chris Armas | Credit: KC Current

Non-rostered invitees for the Current includes midfielder Kelsey Branson, goalkeeper Katie Cappelletti, forward Kayla Colbert, and defender Sydney Jones. Colbert and Jones both were injury replacement players for the Utah Royals and have also trained with Kansas City Current II. Forward Kyra Carusa will be joining the club for preseason as a non-rostered training player.

Injuries and more injuries and other news

Defender Alana Cook remain on the season-ending injury (SEI) list after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and meniscus in May 2025.  Forwards Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper have been placed on SEI after sustaining respective lower-body and foot injuries at the end of the 2025 NWSL regular season. It was known they were not ready for preseason training, it is was unexpected for them to be on the SEI list.

While it is certainly not ideal for Temwa and Cooper to be on SEI, they will likely not remain there for too long. Barring setbacks or other injuries, they are expected back early in the season which is good news for the Current. The team will not want to rush them back.

The forward roster was already looking thin with Bia Zaneratto returning to Brazil, Nichelle Prince traded and the mysterious “parting ways” with Alex Pfeiffer. With no imminent additions on the way, new head coach Chris Armas may be relying heavily on young players until the return of the two star wingers.

Forward Mary Long recently had ACL surgery and is not listed as SEI, but will be placed on the list in the future.

Goalkeeper Clare Gagne will also remains on SEI as she continues her recovery from a head injury that occurred in training last season.

Vanessa DiBernardo will continue on maternity leave. Other personnel updates include defender Ellie Bravo-Young, née Wheeler, who got married in December and will use her married name, Bravo-Young. Defender Kayla Sharples, who was also married last month, will continue to use her maiden name.

2026 Kansas City Current Preseason Roster

Goalkeepers: Katie Cappelletti (NRI), Clare Gagne (SEI), Marisa Jordan, Lorena (INT)

Defenders: Elizabeth Ball, Ellie Bravo-Young, Meila Brewer, Alana Cook (SEI), Sydney Jones (NRI), Gabrielle Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Laney Rouse, Katie Scott, Kayla Sharples, Kolo Suliafu

Midfielders: Kelsey Branson (NRI), Vanessa DiBernardo (ML), Claire Hutton, Lo’eau LaBonta, Rocky Rodríguez, Ally Sentnor

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (NRTP), Temwa Chawinga (SEI), Kayla Colbert (NRI), Michelle Cooper (SEI), Debinha, Haley Hopkins, Mary Long, Gianna Paul, Amelia White

KEY

INT – International

ML – Maternity Leave

NRI – Non-Rostered Invitee

NRTP – Non-Rostered Training Player

SEI – Season-Ending Injury