Kansas City Current receives Expansion Draft protection in trade with Utah Royals

The Kansas City Current now have complete protection in the NWSL Expansion Draft. The Current traded defender Kate Del Fava and Kansas City’s natural first round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft (fourth overall) to the Utah Royals for protection from the Royals and $75,000 in allocation funds.

The Current were already protected from Bay FC selecting a player by an earlier trade. Kansas City sent Alex Loera to Bay FC in exchange for protection and $175,000 in allocation funds in mid-November.

“Kate is a player that has grown tremendously in her time with this club, and we wish her the best in her return to Utah,” said general manager Camille Ashton via press release. “This was a difficult decision, and we thank Kate for all of her contributions to the Club.”

Del Fava got her professional start in Utah when she was drafted 12^th overall in the 2020 NWSL Draft. Del Fava moved to Kansas City when the Royals were disbanded and the Current founded. In 2022 Del Fava staked her claim to the starting lineup when the Current’s head coach Matt Potter at that time asked her to fill in on defense. Whether it was as a wing-back or a more traditional right-back, Del Fava quickly learned the position and was a key part in the Current’s dramatic run to the 2022 NWSL Final. For two seasons, she appeared in every regular season match for Kansas City.

Protecting the roster from the expansion draft has been costly for the Current. Kansas City has traded two key starters from the last two seasons and the fourth overall pick in January’s NWSL Draft. They did receive a total of $250,000 in allocation funds which can be used to improve the roster.