December 7, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – 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.”
#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…
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