Kristen Hamilton Bio
Kristen Marie Hamilton (born April 17, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Hamilton played college soccer for the Denver Pioneers in her home state of Colorado, where she set multiple program records. She was selected with the last pick of the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash (which later became the North Carolina Courage). During her stint with the Flash / Courage, the team won three NWSL Championships and three NWSL Shields. In the NWSL off-season in 2019–20, she played for the Western Sydney Wanderers of the W-League in Australia and received the Julie Dolan Medal as the league’s best player. She was traded to the Current in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Kristen Hamilton grew up in Littleton, Colorado, and played club soccer for the Colorado Storm. She attended Columbine High School from 2006 to 2010, where she was a varsity soccer player from her freshman year and committed to the University of Denver as a sophomore. Hamilton attended the University of Denver from 2010 to 2013, where she played NCAA Division I soccer for the Denver Pioneers. She became the school’s all-time leader in points (138), goals (51), and game-winning goals (18). Hamilton finished her career ranked third at Denver in all-time assists with 36 and fifth nationally. She was the first player in NCAA history to win player of the year honors in three different leagues: the Sun Belt Conference, the Summit League, and the Western Athletic Conference.
Path to Soccer
Hamilton was selected by the Western New York Flash as the 36th overall pick of the 2014 NWSL College Draft. She was the first University of Denver graduate to be selected in an NWSL draft. Unfortunately, she did not play the 2014 season due to an ACL injury suffered in a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a pre-season match. After recovering, Hamilton was part of the Flash team that won the 2016 NWSL Championship, entering the match as a substitute in extra time. Following the 2016 season, the Western New York Flash was sold and relocated to North Carolina, where she continued her career with the North Carolina Courage.
Kristen Hamilton Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Hamilton played for two seasons for the Colorado Rapids Women in the W-League under Coach Daniel Clitnovici. In 2012, the USL W-League was the highest tier of professional women’s soccer in the US, and Hamilton enjoyed a great season, scoring six times in ten games against some of the best players in the country. Hamilton was able to lead the Colorado Rapids to a successful inaugural season, finishing fourth of eight teams in the Western Conference.
Breakthrough (2014–2021)
Hamilton’s breakthrough came when she joined the Western New York Flash. Although her first season was marred by injury, she rebounded to contribute significantly to the team’s success in subsequent years. In 2018, Hamilton played in 23 regular season games for North Carolina, starting eight games and scoring three goals as the team won the NWSL Shield. In 2019, she played in 22 games and scored nine goals, including a hat-trick against Orlando Pride and a four-goal match against Houston Dash, tying the league record for most goals scored by a player in a single match. She was subsequently named to the league’s Team of the Month in both months and featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays.
Notable Works and Milestones
Hamilton was a 75th-minute substitute in the 2019 NWSL Championship match, which North Carolina won 4–0 over Chicago. In 2020, the Courage extended Hamilton’s contract through 2022. In 2022, Hamilton played 32 games and scored 12 goals across all competitions, setting a Current record for most total goals scored across official NWSL competitions in a single season.
Kristen Hamilton Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Kristen Hamilton has received several nominations for her outstanding performances on the field, including being nominated for the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2019.
Kristen Hamilton Awards Won
Kristen Hamilton has won multiple prestigious awards, including the NWSL Championship in 2016, 2018, and 2019, the Julie Dolan Medal in 2019, and the NWSL Challenge Cup MVP in 2023.
Kristen Hamilton Family
Information regarding Kristen Hamilton’s family is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Kristen Hamilton has experience in remodeling residential homes, including a bathroom renovation in Colorado. She was previously in a relationship with former New Zealand international Abby Erceg.