Former Long Island Rough Riders forward Gianna Paul is taking the next step in her standout soccer career.
The University of Alabama All-American has signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Current.
Paul agreed to a deal that will keep her with the National Women’s Soccer League club through the 2028 campaign, with an option for 2029.
The Huntington Station, N.Y. native will join the team prior to preseason training.
“Gianna is a dynamic forward who is skilled technically and tactically,” Current general manager Ryan Dell said in a statement. “She had a remarkable collegiate career at Alabama where she rewrote the record book, and we’re confident she’ll use that experience as a springboard to a successful pro career. She has progressed each season and we know she will continue to develop with our world-class technical staff. We couldn’t be happier to have Gianna in Kansas City for the next three years.”
Paul enjoyed a record-breaking career with the Crimson Tide. She holds program marks with 40 goals, 94 points, 279 shots and 115 shots on target during her four-year career from 2022-25. Paul also ranked fifth nationally among active NCAA Division I players in career goals (40) and eighth in career points (94) at the end of the 2025 season. She started 69 of her 90 career games and logged over 6,000 minutes.
Those were quite impressive numbers.
During this past season, Paul tallied a team-leading 12 goals and 31 points en route to breaking UA’s 20-year-old record for career goals. She also led the team with 12 goals and 25 points after registering eight goals and 17 points in 2023. Her eight goals during her freshman season in 2022 was tied for 10th nationally among freshmen. She totaled nine career winning goals in her career.
“Since I was a little girl, I had always dreamed about playing professional soccer,” Paul said in a statement. “To say that that is my current reality will never feel short of surreal. I feel honored, blessed and overwhelmingly humbled to be accepted with warm arms and enthusiasm into such an incredible program such as Kansas City. The love they have for the sport of women’s football can be felt across the world and to be a small part of that history means everything to me.
“Every step of this journey has been led by God’s hand. I’m thankful for the growth, the challenges, and the blessings that brought me here. Additionally, my mother’s decade worth of sacrifices has made me into the woman and player I am today. Quite literally none of this would be possible with her. I’m grateful for the journey and ready for this next chapter with the Kansas City Current—let’s get to work!”
Paul’s back-to-back United Soccer Coaches fourth team All-America selections in 2024 and 2025 made her the first player in Alabama history to become a two-time All-American.