In her latest U.S. Women’s National Team roster drop ahead of the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, Emma Hayes continued her quest to emphasize the importance of giving youth a chance to develop. Three players under the age of 20 are a part of the roster of 23, including one of Kansas City Current’s budding talents, 19-year-old Claire Hutton.
The defensively focused midfielder is among four players selected for the February squad who have not tallied a senior cap just yet, joining her club teammate Michelle Cooper.
It’s an accomplishment that is well warranted after an exceptional rookie campaign in Kansas City. Hutton’s decision to forgo her collegiate career at the University of North Carolina turned out to be the right one. She emerged as a crucial player in the club’s midfield from the jump, finishing as a finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2024.
A significant adjustment period into the professional game was not needed for the New York native. She made playing the holding midfield position in an ultra-transitional league look relatively straightforward. Thanks to her bravery in defense, along with her outstanding technical ball skills, Hutton established herself as an elite number six from the get-go in the NWSL.
No wonder why the club was willing to part ways with Morgan Gautrat prior to last season. The Current knew something we didn’t — Hutton is a star in the making. It all started with a chase-down tackle of Sophia Wilson (formally Smith) in her debut. From there, the young midfielder continued to show off her class.
It was only a matter of time until Hayes finally gave Hutton a chance in a senior national team camp.
Her club coach, Vlatko Andonovski, knew she deserved international recognition back in August, stating, “She’s a player that is not just going to represent this team, but also a player that is ready to represent this country as well.”
Rising up through the the youth ranks, now repping the crest at the highest level. 🇺🇸
Michelle Cooper, Claire Hutton, Savy King and Gisele Thompson earn their first @USWNT call ups! pic.twitter.com/YWw8KzmICY
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) February 11, 2025
Even in a midfield with an abundance of veteran talent, one cannot overlook Hutton despite her age. No challenge has seemed too large so far in her professional career. This call-in for the 2025 SheBelieves Cup is bound to be the first of many in Hutton’s career. Though her position and impact may prevent her from capturing the major headlines, it’s still incredibly vital to the stability and success of any side.
Claire Hutton is ready to shine with the USWNT
The next Women’s World Cup is set to commence in two years down in Brazil. Given her young age of 19, Hutton is positioned to compete for both that roster spot and many World Cup teams to come.
The USWNT’s depth within the No. 6 position is strengthened with the presence of Hutton, joining Sam Coffey, Korbin Albert and Lindsey Horan. Equipped with the guidance of someone like Hayes, the New York product is slated to build on her success thus far. Many of the midfielders in this current roster or on the outside looking in are offensively gifted, like Rose Lavelle or Jaedyn Shaw. Not saying Hutton isn’t, but her impact on the other end could potentially give her a leg up.
In competition with elite international on-ball artists, you need a destroyer in the midfield to shield the defense from having to take on all the responsibility. It will be intriguing to observe, in the lead-up to the next World Cup, whether Hutton can establish herself as a regular member of the training camp. Should she succeed, the discussions surrounding her potential inclusion in the 2027 major tournament are likely to become more pronounced.
Hutton made her intentions clear upon signing a three-year deal with the Current last year.
“At the end of the day, I know where my goals are,” said Hutton, per Spectrum News.”I want to make the women’s full national team one day. I want to play in a World Cup and Olympics and all that.”
Claire Hutton’s brilliant 2024 in the NWSL
Despite missing a portion of her rookie campaign due to the U-20 Women’s World Cup, Hutton finished fourth on the Current in minutes played (1,653) and total passes completed (584). Her vision and distributive midfield play were instrumental in KC’s fourth-place finish — a significant improvement from 11th-place the campaign prior.
That exceptional skill set distinguished her from her peers in the league, as she was the only player under the age of 23 to achieve a minimum of 95 tackles plus interceptions, in addition to 40 successful tackles. Hutton also managed to tie one of the USWNT’s first-choice pivot players, Coffey, in midfield third tackles (32).
Hutton demonstrated an eye for goal in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, netting KC’s fourth goal against Tigres UANL Femenil from an absurd angle just inside the 18-yard box for her first professional goal.
Nothing that she did in teal and red at the club level last year made you think she was a teenager. She was an 18-year-old acting as a seasoned veteran in the most competitive women’s leagues in the world. Not once did she Hutton feel out of place within such an experienced midfield three, featuring her, Lo’eau LaBonta and Vanessa DiBernardo.
