KC Current
KC Current Sign US Youth International Defender Laney Rouse
The Kansas City Current offseason continues with the third addition in just over a week. The defense is taking shape!
The Kansas City Current continued their offseason roster build with their second signing of the week and their third addition of the offseason. The club announced Laney Rouse, defender from the University of Virginia would be joining on a one-year deal through the 2026 season.
Rouse was a standout in defense for the Cavaliers where she contributed to 55 shutouts over her five seasons in school She was a starter in 86 of her 97 appearances and put in over 6,600 minutes. Outside of time with UVA, Laney represented her country at various youth levels. At different points she was part of the United States U-14, U-16, U-19 and U-20 levels. Rouse will be a familiar face to teammates Michelle Cooper and Ally Sentnor, who played with her in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“I’m beyond excited to be joining the Kansas City Current,” said Rouse. “I feel very blessed to be able to play for an incredible club and amongst world-class teammates. I look forward to joining the highly competitive environment and the culture of excellence where I can continue to learn and grow. This opportunity is nothing short of a dream and I cannot wait to challenge myself and contribute all that I can on and off the field.”
Global Sporting Director, Vlatko Andonovski, and General Manager, Ryan Dell, are putting together quite the roster for the KC Current. Rouse joins as the second college player signed this week, after the KC Current signed All-American center back Kolo Suliafu on Tuesday. That move came just a few days after Kansas City traded for goalkeeper Marisa Jordan.
“A fearless defender, Laney’s progression each year has been remarkable,” said general manager Ryan Dell. “We know she will take her game to the next level in Kansas City while playing alongside other elite players and learning from our world-class technical staff. Her time with the U.S. Youth National Team plus her experience at one of the top college soccer programs will bolster our roster. Laney checks every box: athletic ability, competitive fire and work ethic, making her a valuable addition to our club.”
After the 2024 season, the NWSL abolished the NWSL Draft allowing players to sign directly with clubs. Rouse joins Mary Long, Katie Scott and Clare Gagne, as well as the aforementioned Suliafu, as players who have signed directly with KC out of college.
Rouse Highlights and Fit with KC
While the KC Current simply list Laney as a defender, it seems she primarily lines up at right back. The team now has four fullbacks on the roster for 2026. Izzy Rodriguez is the only pure left back, though teammate Ellie Wheeler has played there as well. Katie Scott was a rookie last year and re-signed for two more seasons. Scott only lined up at right back when she played this season and, in the Teal Rising Cup. It’s possible one or more of Scott or Rouse can play on the left as well.
Scott being re-signed and the addition of Rouse make sense to help provide depth after the departure of Hailie Mace.
The Current’s Known 2026 Roster
The KC Current already have 25 players under contract for the 2026 season. Two players, Flora Marta Lacho and Fridah Mukoma remain out on loan and Vanessa DiBernardo is on maternity leave. There is room to make moves with some notable free agents still looming and unsigned.
It’s possible the NWSL is about to make massive changes to the way players are signed. The league proposed the implementation of the High Impact Player rule, aka the Trinity Rodman rule, to increase spending. Yesterday, the NWSLPA rejected the rule in favor of simply adding that money to the salary cap. Either way, more money is likely to be available to spend on roster builds.
Last year, the KC Current had already made their roster announcements by this time. As of this moment, five players are in limbo. They are Bia Zaneratto, Bayley Feist, Regan Steigleder, Clare Gagne and Tyler McCamey, are out of contract. McCamey, Feist and Steigleder all played in the World Sevens Football tournament in Fort Lauderdale. McCamey was a standout in goal for KC.
Bia is obviously the biggest name on the list and there have been rumors she’s heading back to Brazil, but nothing is confirmed at this point. The KC Soccer Journal will bring you more when we have it.
Update 12/21/2025: This article originally said Elizabeth Ball had an untriggered option for 2026, but she’s guaranteed through 2026 with an option for 2027.
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Thanks for this breakdown. KCs signings so far are seem positive. Jordan got some starting minutes for NC over Murphy and seems like a solid #2…similar to Ivory.
I watched the recorded Big 10 championship game Washington vs Michigan State to see Suliafu. I am unfamiliar with the Huskies and their system but it appeared she was on the right side of a back 3? She seemed more like a hard-nosed, tough, brave defender. Good positioning and defending fundamentals, didn’t get forward as much but had good throw-in’s.
I also found a Virginia vs Penn State game from early in the season to watch Rouse. She seemed more like a true outside back in a back 4 system. Granted I am more familar with UVA and their style of play. Rouse was very good in possession and seen bombing forward at times.
Based on my watching one game from each of them (so far from expert) I’d say Suliafu is more of an Elizabeth Ball replacement and Rouse more of a Mace replacement? Though I’m not proclaiming either rookie are better at this point. Definitely feels like Steigler will probably not be resigned based on these acquisitions.
I say this every year but I’d like more midfield depth signed. I like Feist and or several great options of center midfielders from Virginia (Godfrey among others) as well as Duke, Stanford, Florida state (Suarez).
I really hope we can resign Bia with these extra funds the NWSL could approve. At this point it seems like a long shot though. Seems like no amount of money can replace her just wanting to be closer to home. If Bia doesn’t resign I hope we go big with a Jasmine Aikey, Macario, or Tabitha Chawinga signing.
And random but I wonder if Vlatko will bring hometown girl Shea Groom back cheap after her free agent status with Chicago.
Thanks for the insight Myrtle, I appreciate it!
I accidently messed up Ball’s contract somehow and I’ve fixed that in the article and on the contracts page the top of the website.
I kind of thought that we had Ball on contract for another year but it’s so hard to keep track. Thanks for your work on that.
Suliafu seems like the utility defender which seemed to be Steigler’s role. Later in the game I watched she appeared to play right center back in a back 4. But again far from an expert.
I wonder what direction we will go for our 3rd goalie, I was impressed with McCamey at World 7’s tourney. She probably performed well enough to get interest from other clubs. Gagne performed well at the 2024 college cup so I’d be happy with either there.
Hoping for more roster news early this week…
I was impressed with McCamey too. I wonder if that earned her the 3rd keeper job.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if the Current shut down the roster moves until they know the outcome of these new NWSL rules. They don’t have a ton of roster spots left and if they get an extra $1 million, they could really go big on those last few spots.