Kansas City Current sign three draft picks to contracts as Regular Season set to begin Saturday March 25

The Kansas City Current have signed three of the team’s 2023 NWSL Draft selections to their first professional contracts as the first week of the regular season begins. Defender Gabrielle Robinson, selected in the second round (#15 overall), signed through 2023 with an option for 2024, while fellow second round pick (#18 overall) Jordan Silkowitz is signed through 2024. Midfielder Rylan Childers (fourth round, #42 overall) is signed through the 2023 season.

“We have been impressed with what all three players have done so far in preseason,” said general manager Camille Ashton. “They are a great fit culturally and we are excited to see how they continue to develop in KC.”

Good things come in ⓷’s

Rookies @RylanChilders, @jordansilkowitz and @gabby8411 sign their first pro contracts with the club ✍️ pic.twitter.com/H79SnjieAP

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 20, 2023

#24 Gabrielle Robinson, defender – Robinson was the first selection for the Current in the second round of the 2023 NWSL draft. She was a four-year starter at the University of West Virginia, playing and starting in 78 games for the Mountaineers from 2019-2022. The 2019 WVU Defensive Player of the Year helped lead her team to a Big XII Championship in 2022. In four years anchoring the West Virginia backline, Robinson also added two goals and three assists to the score line.

#29 Jordan Silkowitz, goalkeeper – The first player to be drafted into the NWSL out of Iowa State, Silkowitz is the first goalkeeper ever drafted by the Current. Although she started her collegiate career as a Big 10 All-Freshman Team goalkeeper at Ohio State University, she transferred to Iowa State in 2020 where she started all 43 games she was available for over the next three years. Silkowitz finished with 324 career saves for the Cyclones, fifth all-time for the school.

#6 Rylan Childers, midfielder – Childers grew up in Grain Valley, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Originally starting her collegiate career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, she set a school record with 11 goals and 14 assists as a freshman, then followed that up by being named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Childers transferred to the University of Kansas for her Junior season and made an immediate impact, leading the Jayhawks in goals that first season. She started every game (52) for Kansas over the next three seasons and finished her time in Lawrence with 14 goals and 11 assists.

The full Kansas City Current roster that will begin the 2023 season features 24 players, including 14 from the 2022 roster that advanced to the NWSL Championship match in Oct. Midfielders Claire Lavogez, Sam Mewis and defender Mallory Weber remain on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list from last season, although their status is subject to change as their recovery progresses.

2023 Kansas City Current Roster 
Goalkeepers (3): Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch, Cassie Miller, Jordan Silkowitz

Defenders (9): Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava, Hanna Glas (INT), Alex Loera, Hailie Mace, Addisyn Merrick, Gabby Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Mallory Weber (SEI), Jenna Winebrenner 

Midfielders (7): Rylan Childers, Chardonnay Curran, Debinha, Vanessa DiBernardo, Morgan Gautrat, Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Lavogez (SEI), Sam Mewis (SEI), Desiree Scott

Forwards (5): Michelle Cooper, Kristen Hamilton, Cece Kizer, Mimmi Larsson (INT), Alexa Spaanstra 

SEI – Season Ending Injury list
INT – International Player