KC Current bolsters back line, midfield with latest signings, including Mallory Weber

The Kansas City Current headed to sunnier and warmer Southern California for the start of its 2024 preseason preparation. From Irvine, the Current announced three more additions to the roster for 2024.

The club signed two non-roster invitees to the roster and brought back a veteran who has been on the end of two devastating knee injuries.

Mallory Weber was brought back on a one-year deal announced Monday afternoon. Weber has played in the NWSL for the last eight years, previously with the Western New York Flash, Portland Thorns and Utah Royals, moving with the team to Kansas City in 2021.

During her first regular-season game of the 2022 season, Weber tore her ACL in a 3-0 loss to the Portland Thorns. She rehabbed and returned to the field on April 19, 2023, only to tear her ACL again in that match.

“I am beyond grateful to be back in Kansas City for this historic year,” Weber said in the team’s release. “This club has gone above and beyond in taking care of me through this injury. I’m counting down the days until I get to step on OUR field and play for our city and fans.”

Weber has primarily been featured as a right back or wing back (when the club plays with a “back three”) and has made 21 appearances for Kansas City.

On Tuesday, the Current announced two more additions, signing non-roster invitees Sophie Braun and Regan Steigleder to contracts for 2024 with options for 2025.

Braun, born in Beaverton, Oregon, represented Argentina at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She scored one of the tournament’s best goals in Argentina’s 2-2 draw with South Africa in the group stage.

Braun played in college at Gonzaga, making 82 appearances for the Bulldogs before signing with Club León in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil. She made 18 appearances for León and scored a goal for the club.

While Braun has played some at center back and right back, she’ll most likely slot into the midfield as a defensive-minded midfielder and compete for time with veteran Desiree Scott.

Steigleder’s career arc is somewhat similar to Braun’s. Stiegleder made 86 appearances for Northwestern before heading overseas after college to play with KIF Örebro in Sweden. She made 25 appearances in Sweden.

Where does the roster stand?

The Current announced an agreement to part ways with Swedish forward Mimmi Larsson on Friday afternoon. That move brings the Current’s preseason roster to 29 players in training camp.

With three players on the “Season Ending Injury” list (Hanna Glas, Desiree Scott, Mallory Weber), the active “under-contract” roster is at 25, and it can be at a maximum of 28. All three ended the 2023 season on the list.

Based on the timing of her injury, Weber is naturally further out from her return to play than Scott and Glas. Depending on Scott and Glas’ level of involvement early in the preseason, it is feasible to think they could be activated by the time the club opens play at CPKC stadium on March 16.