Izzy Rodriguez Selected as Kansas City Current’s Nominee for 2026 NWSL Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide

KANSAS CITY (April 28, 2026) — Kansas City Current defender Izzy Rodriguez has been selected as the club’s nominee for the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, as announced by the league on Tuesday. Rodriguez is one of 16 club-nominated players for the prestigious annual award that recognizes NWSL players for outstanding service and character off the pitch.

Nominees will vie for the overall prize of $50,000 for their community partner, which is donated by Nationwide. The overall winner of the 2026 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, will be announced in November during the 2026 NWSL Awards, presented by AT&T, during championship week.

Rodriguez is working with EarlystART, one of Kansas City’s leading innovators in quality early learning, as her community partner.

“Being the Kansas City Current’s nominee for the Lauren Holiday Impact Award is truly humbling and I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” Rodriguez said. “I’m excited for the chance to work alongside EarlystART and be part of the meaningful impact they create. I hope to help amplify their work and support the community in any way I can.”

EarlystART has served the Kansas City, Mo., community since 1967. The organization was created to strengthen the health and vitality of neighborhoods along the 12th Street Corridor but came to serve as an anchor that connected families with vital resources for food, rent and other social services. A childcare program was added in 1972, and St. Mark Child & Family Center opened at 12th Street and Garfield Avenue – where EarlystART lives today – in 2004.

Open year-round, EarlystART serves over 100 infants, toddlers and pre-K students as well as their families and caregivers. The organization uses evidence-based curriculum to encourage positive teacher-student relationships, autonomy and child-led experiences. EarlystART integrates the arts in meaningful ways, incorporating visual, musical and dramatic arts that come to life both in and out of the classroom.

Rodriguez will collaborate with EarlystART on a community service project this summer in addition to participating in several volunteer opportunities. EarlystART will also be recognized at a to-be-announced Current home match during the 2026 regular season. During that match, EarlystART will receive a $5,000 donation from the NWSL and Nationwide for being Rodriguez’s community partner.

"EarlystART couldn’t be more excited to team up - officially! Being named Izzy Rodriguez’s community partner for the 2026 Lauren Holiday Impact Award feels like a big win for all of us,” said EarlystART CEO June McDaniel. “We’re ready to make this partnership as impactful as it is fun."

In addition to the overall prize awarded in November, a Fan Impact Challenge will be conducted from Aug. 14-29 in which fans will be able to support their nominee of choice via NWSL social media channels and online. The winner of the Fan Impact Challenge, set to be announced Sept. 2, will receive $10,000 for their community partner.

During Rodriguez’s time in Kansas City, she has participated in multiple Sideline the Stigma events — the Current’s annual mental health initiative for high school-aged female athletes held in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City — and frequently attends club-led community service initiatives. Rodriguez also previously volunteered at EarlystART in May 2025 during the annual United Way Impact Bus Tour.

“Izzy is an incredible representative of our organization both on and off the pitch, and a worthy recipient of this nomination,” said Kansas City Current Vice President, Community Relations Ben Aken. “Her deep commitment to community service and the Kansas City community led her to EarlystART, an organization we are honored to support throughout her nomination process. We are looking forward to celebrating Izzy as our Lauren Holiday Impact Award nominee.”

The overall winner of the 2026 NWSL Lauren Holiday Impact Award will be determined by a panel of judges that will include Laren Holiday, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman and representatives from Nationwide, NWSLPA and the Media Association.

For more information on the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, click HERE.