Kayla Lynne Sharples is an American professional football player who plays as a defender for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC.
She was selected 26th overall in the 2019 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars, becoming the first player from Northwestern University to be drafted into the NWSL.
In high school, she played both football and basketball, scoring over 1,600 points as a four-year starter in basketball.
At Northwestern University, she majored in Communication Studies with a minor in Business Institutions.
She has experience as a football commentator, having analysed games for the Big Ten Network, including matches for her alma mater, Northwestern University.
She listens to hyped and amped-up music before games rather than calm and mindful tunes.
She is both an athlete advisor and the sole female investor for the cleat company Caddix. They feature “smart stud” technology designed to reduce stress and rotational force on knees and ankles.
She was drawn to Caddix after suffering an ACL injury herself and wanting to prevent similar injuries for others.
Her favorite Halloween candy is Kit Kats, and she prefers chocolate candy overall.
Though originally a Chicago Bears fan, she now also roots for the Kansas City Chiefs because of her boyfriend’s influence.
Her go-to pregame artist is Drake.
She and her partner TJ got engaged in 2025.
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: 2024 | 1× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
-
present
|
Kansas City Current | 21 | 2 |
|
2024
-
2024
|
Bay FC | 17 | 2 |
|
2020
-
2020
|
KuPS (loan) | 6 | 1 |
|
2021
-
2020
|
Adelaide United (loan) | 12 | 1 |
|
2019
-
2023
|
Chicago Stars | 48 | 1 |
|
2015
-
2018
|
Northwestern Wildcats | 87 | 9 |
| International Stats | |||
|
-
|
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