League leaders Kansas City Current have announced that defender Kayla Sharples has signed a new two-year contract through the 2027 season, with a mutual option for 2028.
Sharples arrived in August 2024 via a trade with Bay FC and has started all 24 matches she has appeared in since joining the Current. The defender has been a key part of the team’s success and has been mentioned as a contender for 2025’s Defender of the Year.
“Kayla is an established defender who quickly became a vital part of the
Current’s back line,” said general manager Caitlin Carducci. “She is tough, gritty and a true competitor who represents the best of what the Kansas City Current has to offer on the field. She is an incredibly hard worker and has fit into our club seamlessly. We are excited about her future in Kansas City.”
Sharples is one of two Current players who have played a full 90 minutes in every match this season and reached 5,000 career minutes earlier this season in a 1-0 win over Orlando Pride on May 16.
The Naperville, Illinois, native played for four years at Northwestern University, starting in all 87 matches she appeared in during her four seasons before being selected by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2019 NWSL Draft. Sharples signed with Bay FC in 2023 as part of its inaugural NWSL squad after her contract with the Red Stars expired.
“I’m beyond proud to continue to call Kansas City home,” said Sharples. “Every day, I’m surrounded by teammates who challenge me – creating exactly the environment I want to be part of. I didn’t choose this city just to play; I chose it to grow, to win championships, and to chase the best version of myself. Beyond the field, the city’s unwavering support fuels me and reminds me why this team means so much. I believe in what we’re building here, in the global standards we’re setting and I’m ready to give everything I have to this club and community.”
