Kansas City Current Selects Four Players in the 2022 NWSL Draft Presented by Ally

KANSAS CITY (December 18, 2021) – The Kansas City Current selected Washington State Forward Elyse Bennett with the seventh selection in the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League Draft. 

Bennett was named to the Pac-12 All Freshman team in her first season with the Cougars. She scored three goals in 14 games her sophomore season before suffering an injury. Bennett returned from the injury to start in 56 of her next 57 matches. 

The speedy forward scored 26 goals in her collegiate career, with 12 assists along the way. Her 10 scores in 2021 led the team and propelled her to being named First Team All Pac-12 to close out her final collegiate season.

“We’re excited to add a high-quality player of Bennett’s caliber,” said Huw Williams. “I had the pleasure of watching her live this past season and I’m confident that she has the potential to become an immediate impact player for us and in the league in general.”

With the club’s second pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, the Kansas City Current selected Chardonnay Curran. The University of Oregon midfielder is the fifth pick of the second round and the 17th pick overall.

Curran holds the Oregon record for most appearances (92) and starts (84). She is a strong versatile midfielder who accounted for 21 points at Oregon. She three goals in 19 matches her senior season and finished her collegiate career with seven goals and seven assists.

The Kansas City Current are scheduled to have two more picks remaining in the 2022 NWSL Draft, both in the fourth round (#41, #43).

The Kansas City Current closed out its second draft in franchise history with two picks in the fourth round. With the 41st selection, Kansas City selected Texas Christian University defender Jenna Winebrenner and with the 43rd pick, the Current drafted Ohio State University defender Izzy Rodriguez.

Winebrenner grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and starred for Park Hill High School. She played her first four collegiate years for Notre Dame, where she started 53 of her 55 matches on the defensive backline. Winebrenner transferred to Texas Christian University for her senior season, starting in all 22 matches for the Horned Frogs. 

Rodriguez played her collegiate career for the Ohio State Buckeyes. While there she earned Big Ten All-Freshman (2017), First Team All-Big Ten (2018, 2021) and the Big Ten Defender of the Year in 2021. From her position on the backline, Rodriguez scored eight goals and added 12 assists during her time at Ohio State. 

Winebrenner and Rodriguez closed out a productive draft for the Current, after selecting Washington State forward Elyse Bennett in the first round and University of Oregon midfielder Chardonnay Curran in the second round. 

“Our team got better today,” said Huw Williams. “We started with a set of objectives and we’re very pleased with how things fell into place.”

With the draft completed, the next step for the Kansas City Current is the 2022 preseason, which will begin Feb. 1, with the season set to kick off on March 19 with the 2022 Challenge Cup. For tickets and information, visit KansasCityCurrent.com.

KANSAS CITY CURRENT Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long and Brittany Matthews.  The team competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and played its first season in 2021.  The Kansas City Current announced plans for the first stadium purpose-built for an NWSL team with expected completion in 2024.  The team will play in 2022 at Children’s Mercy Park. For more information, visit KansasCityCurrent.com.