Forward Penelope Hocking Inks Three-Year Deal with Kansas City Current
NWSL Kansas City Current

Forward Penelope Hocking Inks Three-Year Deal with Kansas City Current

Published on March 23, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Kansas City Current News Release


KANSAS CITY - The Kansas City Current has signed forward Penelope Hocking to a three-year contract, the club announced on Monday. Hocking, who was traded to the Current from Bay FC on March 11, will remain in Kansas City through the 2028 season with a club option for 2029.

Hocking made her KC Current debut during the season opener on March 14 against the Utah Royals, subbing in during the 61st minute. She also subbed in for the final 15 minutes at Chicago Stars FC on March 22.

She began her professional career in 2023 when the Chicago Red Stars, now known as the Chicago Stars, selected her with the No. 7 overall pick in the NWSL Draft. She played in 29 regular season matches with 26 starts across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, totaling seven goals and a pair of assists in 2,170 minutes. Hocking also scored two goals in three games during the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup.

The forward then joined Bay FC before the close of the summer transfer window in August 2024. She appeared in Bay's final eight regular season matches in 2024 and recorded the game-winning assist in her club debut before tallying an assist on Bay's first-ever playoff goal. The 2025 season saw Hocking record a team-leading six goals and one assist in 18 regular season contests with 10 starts. She was one of 18 players in the league to score six or more regular season goals a year ago.

A native of Anaheim, Calif., Hocking played for the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team at the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup alongside now-KC Current teammate Izzy Rodriguez. She subbed in during two group stage matches against Paraguay and Spain. Hocking was also tabbed to the U.S. U-23 roster for a training camp in January 2022.

Hocking starred at the University of Southern California from 2018-21 where she was a two-time All-American, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, 2021 Pac-12 Forward of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. In 2021, she became USC's all-time leading scorer by breaking a record that stood for over two decades, and her 54 goals as a Trojan are the 12th most in Pac-12 Conference history. She then took her graduate year at Penn State University in 2022 where she registered seven goals and 11 assists to earn All-Big Ten Second Team honors. In total, Hocking amassed 61 goals and 33 assists in 95 collegiate career appearances.

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