Kansas City Current Forward Kristen Hamilton to Retire Following 2025 Season

KANSAS CITY (Oct. 26, 2025) – Kansas City Current forward Kristen Hamilton has announced her retirement from professional soccer, capping off a remarkable career which has included three National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championships and four NWSL Shields. Hamilton, who has been with Kansas City since its inaugural season in 2021, will hang up her boots at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.

The Current will celebrate Hamilton’s illustrious career on Nov. 2 at CPKC Stadium. Limited tickets for the regular season finale are available for purchase HERE.

“I’ve been incredibly blessed to play this game for most of my life and 11 years professionally,” said Hamilton. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been worth it. I’ve had some amazing moments on the field, but nothing compares to the friendships, memories and people I’ve met along the way. Thank you to everyone: My family, friends, fans, coaches and all the performance and medical staff I’ve worked with. Your love, support and belief in me are what made this dream possible. I wouldn’t have made it here without you. Cheers to the next chapter!”

A decorated veteran of the league, Hamilton has logged over 10,200 career minutes across all competitions, including 5,344 with the Current. She has 41 career goals and 14 assists in 184 appearances across all competitions. Twenty-six goals and 12 assists have been recorded in her 147 career regular season appearances, highlighted by 10 goals and two assists in 53 regular season games for Kansas City. Hamilton is one of four players in NWSL history who have been on four Shield-winning teams and she ranks second all-time with eight total NWSL trophies. She was also the first of only two players in league history to have played in five NWSL championship finals.

Hamilton joined the professional ranks in 2014 – the second year of the NWSL – when she was the No. 36 overall selection in the 2014 NWSL Draft to the Western New York Flash. Sidelined with injury during her rookie season, she returned in 2015 and made 25 appearances over the next two years, including in the Flash’s NWSL Championship in 2016. She remained on the roster as the team moved to North Carolina in 2017, winning two more NWSL titles in 2018 and 2019. Hamilton added 16 regular season goals for the Courage during her tenure.

Kansas City acquired Hamilton in a midyear trade with North Carolina in July 2021 during the club’s inaugural NWSL season. Soon after the trade, she marked her 100th NWSL regular season appearance by scoring the game-winning goal against Racing Louisville FC on Aug. 25, 2021. In 2022, Hamilton set a then-franchise record with 13 goals across all competitions and played a pivotal role in leading the team to its first NWSL Championship appearance. She continued to make history in 2023 by recording the first hat trick in both Kansas City Current and NWSL Challenge Cup history en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for Kristen’s contributions to our club, the Kansas City community and the NWSL throughout her exceptional professional career,” said general manager Caitlin Carducci. “She arrived in Kansas City during our inaugural season and has been instrumental in elevating the club each year while setting the standard for years to come. Her love for the game and for her teammates is evident in everything she does on and off the pitch, and we look forward to seeing her tackle this next chapter with the same infectious energy.”

A native of Littleton, Colo., Hamilton received her first call-up to the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) on Aug. 26, 2019. She earned her first USWNT cap shortly after, subbing in for a friendly against Portugal on Sept. 3, 2019. 

Collegiately, Hamilton starred at the University of Denver from 2010-13 where she started all 88 matches and totaled 51 goals, 36 assists, 138 points and 18 game-winning goals. Her career points (138), career goals (51) and career game-winners (18) still stand as Denver’s school records. A MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2013, Hamilton also garnered First Team All-American, First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference honors. She was the first player in NCAA Division I history to be named player of the year in three different conferences (Sun Belt Conference, Summit League, Western Athletic Conference).

Off the field, Hamilton is a co-founder of Pitchside Coffee along with five other former and current KC Current teammates. Pitchside Coffee, an official restaurant partner at CPKC Stadium, is the first player-owned vendor to permanently feature inside an NWSL or women’s sports venue. It is also the only food or beverage vendor in an American professional sports venue owned and founded by currently active professional athletes.