KC Current Trade for Penelope Hocking from Bay FC

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Current announced their roster construction ahead of the 2026 NWSL season which begins this weekend. In order to make that announcement, they first had to confirm another transaction. KC have traded $350,000 in intra-league transfer funds to Bay FC in exchange for forward Penelope Hocking.

Hocking was Bay’s leading scorer in 2025 with six goals on a team that finished one spot out of the basement of the NWSL. Bay are suddenly a team KC Current General Manager, Ryan Dell, is doing a lot of business with. He made a blockbuster trade earlier in the offseason when he dealt USWNT midfield superstar, Claire Hutton, to Bay. The San Jose based club also scooped up former KC Current players Alex Pfeiffer in this offseason and traded for goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz before last year.

“We are very excited to welcome Penelope to Kansas City,” said general manager Ryan Dell. “Penelope’s aptitude for scoring goals from anywhere on the field, combined with her ability to create chances for those around her, will only strengthen our attack. Above all, she is a great person and teammate who will positively impact our club on and off the pitch.”

Before playing for Bay, Hocking got her start in the NWSL with the Chicago Stars. The Illinois based club drafted Hocking seventh overall in the 2023 NWSL College Draft. After nearly two seasons in Chicago, Hocking was dealt to Bay FC for $250,000 in intra-league transfer funds and another $100,000 in future intra-league transfer funds in the summer of 2024. Bay essentially rented Hocking for a season and a half before moving her to Kansas City for the same total of funds.

Hocking signed an extension with Bay FC last season that has her locked up until 2027.

Roster Fit

There are lots of unknowns when it comes to the Kansas City Current. The team is without former striker Bia Zaneratto and have only added potential college players to replace her. The team has been so thin at forward in preseason, they were playing Kyra Carusa, who they have since acquired on loan from their Danish sister club, HB Koge.

While Hocking only stands 5’5, she’s a weapon on set pieces. She has been a proven ability to get on the end of crosses and find the back of the net. There is some belief her best position could be at CF, a spot that seems likely to go to Ally Sentnor based on preseason. Then again, Penelope has often played in a wide role, which is another way for her to get on the field, especially with Temwa Chawinga not available to start the season.

Regardless, Hocking should provide attacking depth for a squad that looked thin at forward with injuries, the departures of Bia and Alex Pfeiffer, as well as the potential season-ending knee injury to Mary Long (though the team has yet to move her to SEI). She scored 54 goals in 72 played games with USC Trojans before finishing her college career with Penn State. One thing is clear, Hocking knows how to find the back of the net.

Roster Construction

The team announced their 29-player roster on Wednesday as well. Their extensive list of injured players has allowed them to carry extra players with Alana Cook, Temwa, Michelle Cooper and Claire Gagne all on the season-ending injury list. Mary Long finds herself on the 45-day injury list and Vanessa DiBernardo is still on maternity leave. Cooper is expected to be moved off SEI based on coach Chris Armas talking to the media earlier in the week.

The team has added five rookies this offseason, three in defense and two forwards. The biggest area of need is likely the midfield as we learned Lo LaBonta has an injury that will likely keep her out of the opener and the team traded away Hutton during preseason. Bayley Feist and Rocky Rodriguez are the only two defensive midfielders left healthy, with all the other midfielders likely to either play the attacking midfielder role (#10) or as forwards. Gabby Robinson has played some d-mid in her past and who knows who is next up if Feist or Rocky are unavailable.

When the KC Soccer Journal talked to Ryan Dell at the unveiling of the new KC Current training center, he said he was happy with his roster, despite since trading for Hocking. It’s unclear if a midfield addition may still be coming.

2026 Kansas City Current Roster
Goalkeepers: Katie Cappelletti, Clare Gagne (SEI), Marisa Jordan, Lorena (INT)

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

Midfielders: Croix Bethune, Debinha, Vanessa DiBernardo (ML), Bayley Feist, Lo’eau LaBonta, Rocky Rodríguez, Ally Sentnor

Forwards: Kyra Carusa, Temwa Chawinga (SEI), Michelle Cooper (SEI), Penelope Hocking, Haley Hopkins, Mary Long (D45), Gianna Paul, Amelia White

KEY
INT – International
ML – Maternity Leave
SEI – Season-Ending Injury
D45 – 45-Day Injury List