Vanessa DiBernardo: The Engine Behind Kansas City Current’s Midfield and Momentum

Vanessa DiBernardo has cemented herself as the heartbeat of the Kansas City Current, driving the team’s dominance in the 2024 NWSL season with a rare blend of vision, poise, and leadership. As a midfield maestro, her ability to dictate tempo, anticipate play, and link every phase of the game has elevated the Current’s style and identity. DiBernardo isn’t just running the midfield—she’s shaping the game.

Her elite field awareness and tactical IQ have transformed Kansas City’s transitions. DiBernardo thrives in the space between lines, reading defensive shapes and identifying gaps before they emerge. She constantly surveys the pitch, anticipating options and orchestrating movement. With precision passing and smart positioning, she allows the Current to control possession, accelerate attacks, and suffocate opponents in transition. Her mind is her greatest asset—every touch is intentional, every decision, calculated.

Technically, DiBernardo is one of the most gifted players in the league. Her control under pressure and ability to break lines with one touch give Kansas City flexibility in buildup and final-third execution. She’s capable of switching the field with long diagonals or slipping into tight windows to spark forward movement. Her passing accuracy remains among the NWSL’s elite, functioning as the team’s metronome and stabilizer in high-tempo moments.

The significance of her role was never more evident than on March 16, 2024, when CPKC Stadium opened its doors. DiBernardo scored the inaugural goal in the team’s new home—a composed finish that not only opened the scoring but marked the beginning of a new era for Kansas City soccer. The goal, and the moment, instantly became a cornerstone in the franchise’s story, with DiBernardo standing at the center.

Her 2024 season numbers were equally powerful: five goals and five assists. Ten direct goal contributions from midfield not only highlight her attacking evolution, but also her ability to impact games when it matters most. Whether delivering a clutch assist or finishing from distance, DiBernardo proved to be a difference-maker in key stretches, shifting from distributor to dual threat with ease.

Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. DiBernardo earned a spot on the NWSL Second XI, a recognition reserved for the league’s top-tier performers. It validated not just her statistical output, but her consistency, leadership, and influence on both sides of the ball. The league took notice, and her peers continue to view her as one of the most complete midfielders in the game.

Beyond the numbers, DiBernardo has emerged as the emotional and strategic leader of the Kansas City Current. She sets the tone in training, calms nerves in pressure moments, and brings structure in times of chaos. Her presence is felt across the locker room and pitch—steady, reliable, and intentional. Younger players gravitate toward her guidance, often modeling their habits after her standard.

She’s fully embraced the mentorship role, offering advice, tactical feedback, and steady emotional support to the Current’s rising stars. Her investment in their growth has helped fast-track their development and fostered a sense of accountability throughout the roster. In a league where development and chemistry are key, her impact off the stat sheet is just as important as the one on it.

Off the pitch, DiBernardo is just as influential. She’s become a visible leader in the Kansas City community—running youth clinics, supporting local initiatives, and consistently engaging with fans. Her outreach has helped strengthen the connection between the club and its supporters, embodying the values and vision of the organization.

Vanessa DiBernardo has become the embodiment of the Kansas City Current—intelligent, composed, and driven. She’s not just part of the team’s success—she defines it. From delivering iconic goals to mentoring the next generation, from dictating midfield tempo to galvanizing the locker room, DiBernardo’s fingerprints are all over Kansas City’s rise. She isn’t just playing in this era of the NWSL—she’s helping write it.