The KC Current brought their expertise and leadership to campus as player Haley Hopkins met with the Kansas City women’s soccer team for a hands-on mentorship Q&A, giving student-athletes the rare chance to chat with professionals who have excelled at the highest level.
The session showcased the strength of the KC Current and UMKC partnership, creating opportunities for students to grow through real-world guidance, academic encouragement and honest conversations about balancing education and competitive athletics. For the Roos, it offered a clear, inspiring glimpse into the pathways this collaboration opens for their future on and off the field.
As one of the National Women’s Soccer League’s most innovative and community-driven organizations, KC Current is both a global and national leader in advancing women’s sports. Most notably through the development of the first ever stadium built exclusively for a women’s professional team. The organization’s investment in state-of-the-art facilities, player resources and community partnerships has set a new benchmark for what women’s sports can and should look like. For UMKC student-athletes, engaging with a club that is actively reshaping the landscape of professional women’s soccer highlights the power and potential of their own paths. It reinforces that the Current’s impact reaches far beyond the pitch, inspiring young athletes while elevating Kansas City as a hub for progress and long-term growth in women’s athletics.
During the conversation, Hopkins shared her personal journey. From youth soccer and college experiences to navigating the realities of competing in the NWSL. Their openness about training habits, mindset and managing life outside the game gave the women’s soccer team players practical tools they can apply to their own development.
Students asked questions about everything from managing pressure and building confidence to preparing for opportunities at the next level. Hopkins’ candid responses resonated with the team and sparked meaningful conversation.
Maddie Muhr, a senior majoring in health sciences, reflected on her experience with the mentorship with KC Current and shared how special the opportunity has been.
“I feel lucky to have this opportunity,” Muhr said. “I haven’t heard of any other program that gets to be so closely tied with another amazing program like the KC Current. It’s amazing to see the strides they make on and off the field and being able to meet them and grow alongside them is super cool.”
For Muhr, the partnership goes far beyond observing professional athletes; it has been a chance to engage with role models who embody discipline, resilience and leadership.
What has resonated most with her are the lessons that extend beyond athletics.
“Regular training is showing up, getting your work done,” she said. “But when players come here and talk to us, they are teaching us life lessons that go beyond the field, beyond the game and training, and that is what’s really going to stick with you after college. College is such a short time, and what I learned today is really going to be valuable post-college and in life in general.”
The mentorship event reflects the mission behind the partnership: pairing professional insight with academic support to expand opportunities for student-athletes. By creating space for authentic dialogue between collegiate players and professionals who’ve been in their shoes, both organizations are fostering long-term growth, confidence and leadership development.
Audrey Brown (B.S. '24, B.A./M.S. '25) came to Kansas City from Los Angeles in search of a strong academic program and a vibrant city environment where she could continue playing soccer. What she found was not only a supportive community, but also a rare opportunity to connect with professional athletes in a meaningful, personal way. Brown shared that the most valuable lesson she has gained from the experience is perseverance.
“There are ups and downs, but these Current players always push through,” Brown said. “Their story really inspired me.”
To Brown, the chance to meet and learn from multiple professional athletes is not something she takes for granted. This mentorship experience has provided insights she could never get through coursework alone.
“Most people go their whole lives without meeting a professional athlete,” Brown said. “And we’ve gotten to meet multiple and talk with them and hear their stories. A lot of the information I learned today wouldn’t be given to me through school or even training, because I’m not speaking to professional athletes who were previously college athletes.”
She added that she feels deeply grateful for the opportunity.
“It’s not something everyone gets. I have friends who are also soccer players, and none can say they’ve had this experience.”
For the UMKC women’s soccer team, having access to role models like Hopkins and Ivory reinforces the importance of education, resilience and preparing for life beyond the field. Their stories showed students that pursuing a degree while being college athletes strengthens their toolbelt for their futures.
“It’s great for our student athletes to have all kinds of mentors, including professional mentors at the Kansas City Current,” said Ursula Gurney, deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator for UMKC Athletics.
“It allows them to have different perspectives, to see life and potentially their professional life through many different lenses. It also allows them to get outside the walls of the university, past Durwood Field, to learn and grow from everything our city has to offer. It’s been fantastic for them as they’ve learned and grown on the soccer field and are producing better on the field, but also in the field of life.”
The KC Current-UMKC partnership continues to grow, offering student-athletes ongoing opportunities for mentorship, inspiration and community connection. As the Roos gear up for future seasons, sessions like this one highlight the shared commitment of both programs to empower the next generation of leaders and game-changers in Kansas City.