Before Kira Hampshire heard from 麻豆视频鈥檚 head coach Josh Vega during her junior year at Farmington High School, just north of Salt Lake City, she had never even heard of Yakima.
鈥淚 kind of just said no at first, but then one of my club teammates, Brynn Rees, ending up committing up here,鈥� Hampshire said.
Seeing Rees, who would go on to make the 2023 NWAC East Region All-Star squad, commit to the Yaks prompted Hampshire to reconsider when Vega checked in during her senior year.
鈥淚 was able to come and visit and it seemed like a fun opportunity that would allow me to play two years of soccer and finish out the sport I love while also being able to get my schooling paid for and be on my own for a little bit,鈥� Hampshire said.
Kira Hampshire looks to get past a defender during an October 2024 match versus Columbia Basin College.
The Yaks sophomore forward first picked up the sport at age four or five and joined a local club team when she was eight. The camaraderie that鈥檚 an essential part of soccer is what Hampshire loves the most about sport.
鈥淚 definitely find my own little families within all the teams that I've ever been on,鈥� Hampshire said. 鈥淚 actually hate running, which might seem strange to understand why I love a sport with so much running, but the team aspect of it and I love being able to feel like I'm in control with my feet and just being able to kick a ball as hard as I want to, it's just fun.鈥�
Hampshire locks up with a player from Walla Walla Community College during 2-0 victory for the Yaks in October 2025.
During her freshman season, the Yaks were hit hard by injuries, ending the year with barely enough players to field a full team.
Knowing that each healthy player would need to play most, if not all, of every game, Hampshire said the whole team knew they needed to lean on each other.
鈥淲e were telling each other, you know what, just work as hard as you can. Come off the field and don't have any regrets,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, we're pushing through and we're just going to finish it and if it's messy, it's messy and that鈥檚 fine.鈥�
Hampshire on the attack against Columbia Basin College during an October 2024 match. Hampshire scored two goals and had an assist during her freshman season.
That attitude worked, with Hampshire saying the Yaks final two games of the 2024 season being perhaps the team鈥檚 strongest, including pushing East Region champion Columbia Basin College to the limit in a 0-1 loss, with the only goal coming in the 77th minute.
鈥淭he fact that we were able to hang on and still play good soccer even though we had gone through some challenges was a testimony to the resilience that we had,鈥� Hampshire said.
This season will be Hampshire鈥檚 final year of collegiate soccer, as she plans to transfer to a four-year school and focus on preparing for medical school, a career pathway that came into focus after taking an anatomy course in high school.
鈥淚 absolutely loved it and then I was able to be a volunteer at a hospital in the emergency room,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just fell in love with what I saw the doctors doing and how they were helping people.鈥�
As a biology major at YVC, she鈥檚 especially enjoyed her general chemistry classes taught by Chemistry Instructor Tanya Knickerbocker.
鈥淚 like that it is challenging and also just knowing how things work and taking it down to the small elements,鈥� Hampshire said. 鈥淚 love doing the labs and being able to experiment and doing titrations 鈥� I'm just a science nerd!鈥�
Hampshire scans the field after taking possession from Columbia Basin College.
As Hampshire wraps up her soccer career this fall, she鈥檚 focused on appreciating all the moments with her teammates.
鈥淚 want to be able to enjoy it and I want to remember why I love soccer,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it can be stressful sometimes and so being able to just enjoy it but also working hard and getting the most out of it.
鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful for my teammates and how they help you push through things you鈥檝e never thought you could do. I want us to come out of the season not regretting anything that we did and enjoying our time together.鈥�
3 Things
Favorite post-game meal?
Texas Roadhouse
What鈥檚 on your playlist to get ready for a game?
2000s pop
Favorite hobby off the field?
Hiking
Story and photos by Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations.