CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- A special season for four Virginia men’s soccer players concluded with professional contracts to play in the MLS, and women’s star Laney Rouse signed with the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Freshman striker Nick Simmonds and senior midfielder Umberto Pela were drafted by FC Dallas in the 2026 MLS Superdraft.
Following a 2025 season that saw the dynamic forward net ten goals on his way to the ACC Freshman of the year award, Simmonds was taken with the third overall pick in the draft. He is the first Wahoo to go in the top three of the draft since Tony Tchani joined New York Red Bulls in 2010.
Pela was also taken by Dallas in round two at the conclusion of his four-year career with Virginia. The dynamic midfielder started all but three of his 57 career matches in a Virginia shirt. His final season was his best statistically, scoring four times and notching six assists to help the Hoos bring home a regular season title.
The MLS Season begins February 21st for FC Dallas, as they battle Toronto FC at home.
Elsewhere in Texas, Houston Dynamo FC has signed Reese Miller to join its first team for the 2026 season. Miller concluded his four-year career at Virginia this past season, closing it with 55 appearances, six goals, and five assists. Miller was a clutch performer in a Virginia kit, with four of his six career goals being game winners. Reese and the Dynamo open the year on February 21st against Chicago Fire at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
Finally, grad transfer Jesus De Vicente has signed a contract with Oakland Roots Sports Club in the USL Championship, the league directly below MLS. De Vicente played in all 19 games this season for Virginia, notching seven assists in 2025.
UVA men’s soccer went 12-2-5 this past season, finishing at No. 5 in the final RPI Rankings. The Hoos reached the ACC Tournament Final, where they fell to SMU 1-0, then were upset by UNCG in penalty kicks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rouse signs with Kansas City Current
After her Virginia Soccer career concluded with a stellar season, dynamic graduate transfer fullback Laney Rouse has earned a professional contract in the National Women’s Soccer League with the Kansas City Current.
Rouse joins a Current squad that totaled 65 points in the regular season in 2025.
She earned selections to both the All-American squad and All-ACC squads in yet another incredible season in the Virginia defense.
In the 97 matches Rouse played in during her six-year career, 57 of them were shutouts.
Her speed, vision, and defending abilities will likely net her the starting right back position on opening day of the 2026 season.
Rouse and The Current will open the 2026 on March 15th in Kansas City against the Portland Thorns.
