PLAYER PROFILE: FRANCES SILVA, ’ONCE FC KANSAS CITY CAME CALLING I WAS PRETTY PUMPED UP TO COME BACK’
Silva was drafted by Kansas City in the 2024 NWSL College Draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 24, 2024) – Following an outstanding collegiate career at West Virginia where she led her team in goals (15), assists (13), and points (43) in her senior year, midfielder Frances Silva was drafted by FC Kansas City (19th overall) in the 2024 NWSL College Draft to begin her professional career back where she started kicking soccer balls at a very young age.
Silva was born in Caracas, Venezuela but grew up in the United States after her family moved to Colorado when she was two and a half years old prior to making the move to Overland Park, Kansas. Not too long after that, soccer became a part of Silva’s life. At the young age of four, she began playing ball.
“My parents may or may not have done some things to get me on the first grade team,” Silva shared with a smile on her face. “In Venezuela, the way you write your birthday goes day, month and year so my information said 02/11/1992 but it actually meant November 2nd but they didn’t correct anyone, which worked for me to play although I was technically a year below them.”
Later in life, Silva was a four-year starter at Blue Valley North High where she helped the team to a state championship in 2024 totaling 41 goals and 17 assists. She still holds the school record for goals in a game (4), in a season (20), assists in a game (4), points in a game (8) and points in a season (48).
“When I was in high school, I was being recruited by a bunch of different places,” Silva admitted. “I decided I didn’t want to stay local, I wanted to get away as much as I could and ended up taking a visited to West Virginia and fell in love with it.”
In college, Silva excelled both on and off the field throughout her four years as a Mountaineer. She had four game-winning goals on the way to the Big XII Championship in 2024 and was named TopDrawerSoccer.com Second Team, Soccer America MVP Second Team, NSCAA Women’s Scholar All-America First Team and Hermann Trophy Semi-Finalist among other awards and recognitions.
“I had four great years there [WVU] but once FC Kansas City came calling I was pretty pumped to come back,” Silva said. “Once I left (for college), I started to appreciate what I had here in Kansas City.”
Before her first professional season with the Blues, Silva was named to the U-23 U.S. Women’s National Team for the Six Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain where she tallied the game-winner against Sweden on March 3, 2024.
The 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season saw Silva appear in 18 matches totaling 568 minutes as a rookie for Coach Vlatko Andonovski. Her two goals and one assist where important for the Blues to win their first ever NWSL Championship.
“This team has a great dynamic in that from top to bottom everyone is friends with each other,” Silva said. “This group is very close and they are all great people to be around with.”
When asked about the perks of being a professional soccer player, Silva didn’t hesitate to answer with another big smile. Her great sense of humor is something her teammates and coaching staff know her for.
“The best part is that my younger brother’s friends think I am really cool,” Silva said. “It’s funny but it’s also cool to see that younger generations think you are some big deal and then I am like wait, I guess I am a pro athlete.”
Silva and FC Kansas City will be back in action on Wednesday, July 29 when the Blues visit FIFA World Cup final MVP Carli Lloyd and the Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium.
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