At UMKC, students write their own stories, form their own definitions of success and chart innovative career paths. With Kansas City as their classroom, they turn dreams into reality every day.
After the publishing of this article, Hutton went on to score her first international goal on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Read the full coverage on ESPN and US News and World Report.
Claire Hutton
UMKC degree program: Business Administration - Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Hometown: Bethlehem, NY
Claire Hutton takes success into her own hands on and off the field. Being a defensive midfielder on Kansas City’s National Women’s Soccer League team, KC Current, as well at the U.S. National Women’s Soccer team, Hutton is using a benefit of the team’s partnership with UMKC, which provides scholarships for KC Current players. She has funding and flexibility to get her business degree while playing professional soccer.
“This is just something that I've always been interested in,” Hutton said. “I'm definitely more of a math and science girl. I'm going to most likely have another career after soccer, and thought it would be cool to have business, which is a wide field, under my belt once I'm done playing.”
In addition to being a UMKC student, Hutton started 19 of 22 matches for the Current in her rookie season in 2024 and was named a finalist for both 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year and 2024 U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year.
What does the partnership between UMKC and KC Current mean for you?
The relationship between KC Current and UMKC is incredible. If I didn't have this opportunity, I would be going home at 3 p.m. and twiddling my thumbs, so being able to have this opportunity through the KC Current that provided me with the resources to get connected to UMKC helped me.
Since entering college, what have you learned about yourself?
I've learned that I can do a lot. I can handle a lot of things, and I can focus on many different things at once. I've learned that I'm interested in different things, whether it be learning about Excel or even just taking a new History of Rock’n’roll class. I'm someone who loves to learn, so having this opportunity and different options for classes has been so fun.
What do you hope to take from your experiences at UMKC into your professional career?
I think one of the biggest things is I don't know what I'm going to do after I'm done playing. That's why this experience is providing me a good platform to go on and do anything I want. It's providing me a lot of background information and knowledge, and it’s helping me connect with different people who I wouldn't be connecting with if I wasn't going to school at UMKC.
What do you admire most about UMKC?
I just admire the resources. I took a class in the fall, and in that class, we learned so much about all the different resources and who was available on campus if we needed help and where we could go. I think it just shows how willing people are at UMKC to help students and get them more involved in the community.
What is one word that best describes you and why?
I think “ambitious.” I'm always searching for the next step and how to be better.