Kansas City Current goalkeeper AD Franch continues to reach career milestones

To say that Kansas City Current goalkeeper Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch is having an impressive 2022 season would be an understatement. 

SUBSCRIBE TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON ALL KC CURRENT NEWS & INFORMATION!

The Salina, Kansas native is accomplishing career milestones and garnering MVP consideration for her performance in the 2022 season. Franch’s 44 saves rank third in the NWSL, just two behind the league leader despite playing in one less contest than the first and second place shot stoppers. Franch’s stellar performances on a weekly basis have been the catalyst to Kansas City’s best season in franchise history.  

Franch recently racked up some accolades to back up her impressive on-field play. Kansas City’s 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit on July 10, was largely thanks to Franch and her four saves in the contest. The biggest of those came in second-half stoppage time when Spirit forward Tinya Alexander won a penalty kick. What looked like a certain game-tying opportunity was denied by Franch, as she sprawled to her right to deny Alexander’s penalty kick with a firm stop, then heroically pounced on the loose ball to preserve all three points.  

For her efforts, Franch was voted the Week Ten Budweiser Player of the Week and also earned the NWSL’s Save of the Week honors. Both awards marked Franch’s first as a member of the Current since joining the club in 2021. 

The reigning league player of the week built on that performance last Sunday, as the Current extended their franchise-record unbeaten streak to seven matches in a 1-0 victory over the OL Reign. Franch had four saves, including an 89th minute kick save to deny a shot from Reign forward Ally Watt. The result marked Franch’s second consecutive shutout. Franch has three clean sheets so far this season and is on pace for her best season since setting the NWSL all-time record in 2017.   

Franch’s on-field performances have also been met with some impressive career milestones. On May 8, Franch eclipsed 10,000 career minutes played in the NWSL, and she recorded her 100th NWSL regular season appearance on May 25. Most recently, in Kansas City’s win over Houston on July 1, she recorded her 350th career save. 

Entering the final week of July. Kansas City currently sits in a tie for fourth place on the NWSL table, the highest placement in club history, and Franch’s magnificent individual season is a big reason why.