Kansas City Current General Manager Resigns

In a surprise announcement today, the Kansas City Current’s General Manager, Camille Ashton, has resigned. The news comes as the KC Current sit in second place in the NWSL standings having yet to lose through 10 games in the 2024 NWSL season.

“I am thankful for my time in Kansas City,” said Ashton. “It was important to me to dedicate my time and efforts to ensure a successful 2024 season by building the championship-caliber roster that’s currently at near the top of the table. I am proud of what we have accomplished here. I look forward to the next step in my personal and professional journey.” 

Ashton joined the Current ahead of the 2022 NWSL season after the club finished in last place in their 2021 debut season. The team would go on to make the NWSL Final in 2022, falling to the Portland Thorns. 2023 was a bit rockier, as the team fired head coach Matt Potter three games into the season and played under and interim coach, Caroline Sjoblom, for the remainder of the season and finished a disappointing 11th out of 12 teams.

Before coming to the Current, Ashton had plenty of experience both in and out of the world of soccer. She attended college at Stanford University, where she played from 2008 to 2011, including with teammate Lo LaBonta.

She played professionally, both before and after the existence of the NWSL. She was drafted fourth overall by Sky Blue when they were in the WPS but they folded before she could appear in a game. She spent time overseas with Goteborg FC (Sweden), Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia), Fiorentina (Italy) and Valerenga (Norway).

She also returned to play in the NWSL as a player for Sky Blue (2014-15), the Orlando Pride (2016-17) and the Houston Dash (2017).

Outside of soccer she was the Vice President of Blueprint Sports & Media Entertainment and before that she served as Manager of Talent Development for WWE.

Looking Back

It’s hard to say how Ashton’s time in Kansas City will be remembered. She oversaw the resurgence of a last place team from 2021 to 2022. Many fans will know Ashton’s name though through the connections to the firing of Potter and the way departures of certain players were handled.

An Ode to the No Longer Current

Then again, she helped KC Current coach Vlatko Andonovski build a team that looks like a real contender for trophies in 2024. How much did Ashton have to do with the signings that have surged this team up the table? She’s certainly had some say in prior seasons, but what about Bia Zaneratto, Temwa Chawinga, Claire Hutton and others? Not to mention all the talent KC have found in the draft over the years from Alex Loera, Gabrielle Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Michelle Cooper, Alexa Spaanstra and Ellie Wheeler.

Looking Ahead

The KC Current announced Caitlin Carducci will serve as interim GM until they hire a full-time replacement. Carducci is currently the Director of Soccer Operations and joined alongside the hiring of Andonovski in the offseason. Previously, Carducci was the Director of Player Affairs for the NWSL and held several roles for US Soccer.