Kansas City Current sign two veteran free agents through 2024 season

The Kansas City Current continue to build the roster for the 2023 season, today announcing the signings of midfielders Morgan Gautrat (guh-TRAW) and Vanessa DiBernardo. Both players signed two-year agreements and are the first free agents signed by the club under the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“Morgan and Vanessa are two of the world’s best soccer players and we couldn’t be happier they chose the Kansas City Current,” said general manager Camille Levin Ashton. “They will have an immediate impact on this team and certainly their immense talent, experience and leadership skills fit perfectly with our mission to be the best women’s football club in the world.”

First Day(s)@moeebrian x @vdibernardo10 pic.twitter.com/HoYOB3scSs

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) December 7, 2022

#2 Morgan Gautrat - Gautrat, née Morgan Brian, starred at the University of Virginia from 2011-2014. She was named to several All-Conference and All-Regional teams while scoring 41 goals and 43 assists. She was nominated for the MAC Hermann Trophy three times, winning the award in 2013 and 2014.

The Houston Dash selected Gautrat with the first overall pick in the 2015 Draft. She made 10 appearances for the Dash that first season while spending much of the year with the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) in the 2015 World Cup. Gautrat then tallied over 1,000 minutes for the Dash in 13 games in 2016, despite helping the USWNT in the 2016 Olympics. She was then traded to the Chicago Red Stars in 2017.

Gautrat began the 2018 season with the French club Olympique Lyonnais before returning to the Red Stars in June of that year. Since then, she has nearly 50 regular season appearances and helped to lead Chicago to four straight playoff appearances.

Internationally, Gautrat has extensive experience with the U.S. National Team at several levels. At only 15 years-old she helped the U.S. to a third-place finish at the 2010 U17 World Cup. Along with DiBernardo, she was a member of the team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Her senior team debut came June 15, 2013, as a late substitute in a victory over Korea. She has a total of 88 caps with the USWNT and helped her country to World Cup Championships in 2015 and 2019 and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2016 Olympics.

“I am beyond excited to be joining the KC Current family! The ownership, the facilities, the staff, the team and the resources are world class,” said Gautrat. “I am grateful for the opportunity to call this club home and to help the team in any way that I can. I can’t wait to play in front of the amazing fans and hopefully bring back a trophy to Kansas City! KC BABY!”

#16 Vanessa DiBernardo - The daughter of former U.S. Men’s National Team player Angelo DiBernardo, Vanessa represented the United States at the U-20 and U-23 levels. She played a pivotal role in the U.S. team’s run to the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup championship, starting every match of the tournament. She also scored the opening goal of the quarterfinal match against North Korea.

Vanessa grew up in Naperville, Illinois and starred collegiately at the University of Illinois. While there she was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List three times and earned the 2014 Big Ten Medal of Honor, given to one member of each Big Ten graduating class for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career. She finished her collegiate career with school records for assists (22) and shots (325). In 2020 she was inducted into the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.

DiBernardo was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2014 NWSL Draft. Playing her entire professional career in Chicago to this point, she is the club record holder for Minutes Played (12,465), Games Played (155) and Assists (22). Coming into the 2023 season DiBernardo ranks eighth all-time in assists and second in corner kicks (329) for the NWSL.

“I’m so excited to be joining Kansas City and starting a new chapter in my career,” said DiBernardo. “What this club is doing for the game, their players and this league is special, and I’m grateful to get the opportunity to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get started and help this team in any way I can to push for a championship!

The Kansas City Current are taking deposits to see both players in action throughout the 2023 season now. For information and pricing visit KansasCityCurrent.com/Tickets