As we’ve recently discussed, the season has opened quite well for the Kansas City Current. They now head west for a Saturday night match and will look to keep the positive vibes going against the Wave. (There have been some quiet rumblings about dubbing this the Water Works Derby, but it’s not really caught on.)
Teams are coming off a mini break as several athletes participated with their national teams, including a situation in which Michelle Cooper, Claire Hutton, and Alana Cook, competing for the USWNT, squared off against club teammate Lorena who suited up for Brazil. The players returning from international duty could see a break from their Current responsibilities, though even if that’s the case, KC has the depth to overcome anyone needing a little extra rest.
That’s family 🥹
— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-04-06T16:38:24.628Z
The Current are 3-0-0 on the season and tied for first place with the Orlando Pride. They’ve won each match by multiple goals having scored eight and conceded just once thus far. Two of their three games have been in the friendly confines of CPKC Stadium, though they did face a sellout crowd against the always dangerous Washington Spirit and emerged with a 2-0 win.
They will once again hit the road, this time to SoCal, for a 9pm kickoff Saturday night. Just one year younger than KC, the San Diego Wave enter their fourth season used to success. They made the playoffs each of their first two years in existence, won the NWSL Shield (for best regular season record) in year two, and won the Challenge Cup trophy last season.
Their regular season did take a downward turn in 2024 as the team finished 10th and missed the playoffs for the first time. They also are adjusting to a revamped roster after multiple high-profile players departed including Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, and Jaedyn Shaw. The ’24 season concluded with USMNT legend Landon Donovan serving as interim manager and Jill Ellis in the roll of team president. Those individuals are also gone (Ellis amid a swirl of abuse allegations) and Jonas Eidevall has been named the new manager, coming over from the WSL.
Eidevall spent four seasons leading the Arsenal women, consistently among the best English teams, and his hiring also saw San Diego bringing Adriana Leon and Kenza Dali in from fellow WSL side Aston Villa. Gia Corley joined the team from Germany having previously played for Bayern Munich and TSG Hoffenheim. The Wave also still have Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, Mexican striker María Sánchez, and have recently added Nigerian forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.
The team is 1-1-1 early this season and is in a five-way tie for fifth place in the league. They have drawn against Angel City, beaten the Utah Royals, and narrowly lost to Orlando. They have netted five and conceded five.
With KC and the Orlando locked in another battle for the top spot, San Diego gets to be the first team to face both the Current and the Pride this regular season. The matchup between the Pride and the Wave took place in Florida and it was only a second half PK from Marta (on her second attempt) that allowed the home team to maintain its perfect record. Depending on what happens in Snapdragon Stadium this weekend, one of the top teams might have more bragging rights.
As for KC, Andonovski has kept a pretty consistent lineup three matches into the season and has been rewarded with consistently strong performances. In fact, nearly half of the NWSL’s Best XI for the first month of the season are women who wear teal.
CALL IT A #KCBABY TAKEOVER 😮💨Congrats to Alana, Lo, Lorena, Debinha and TC6 on being named to NWSL’s Best XI 👑
— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-04-04T16:46:35.521Z
Temwa Chawinga, specifically, has picked up right where her MVP campaign left off and has now scored in eight straight regular season matches, equaling her own league mark. If she manages to bag another one on Saturday, she’ll once again rewrite the record books. She’s hardly been alone, though, in her attacking prowess as both Debinha and Michelle Cooper are already sitting on two goals apiece. Additionally, Bia saw her first game action last time out and so as she works her way back to full match fitness, Kansas City will have even more of an embarrassment of riches.
Not to be overshadowed, the Current’s defense has been solid, presently sitting on a 221-minute shutout streak. In addition to Lorena’s and Cook’s Best XI for March recognition, fellow center back Kayla Sharples has also been celebrated with a best of the week selection. Fullbacks Wheeler, Rodriguez, Mace, and Ball have contributed to thwarting most of the pressure, so Lorena hasn’t been called on to make many big saves (one huge one in DC notwithstanding).
All this is to say that on paper Kansas City will have the advantage heading into the weekend’s fixture on the Pacific coast. Matches aren’t played on paper though and while the Current have mostly had the better of the Wave with an all-time record of 4-1-1 (including winning the last three meetings), this San Diego team is growing in confidence. They’ve had four different goal scorers already, same as Kansas City, and were the first team to score against Orlando this year. Their backline is fairly young and has been exposed on occasion, so it will be up to Chawinga and friends to remind them how tough the NWSL can be.
WHEN: Saturday, April 12 at 9:00 PM (Central Time)
WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
HOW TO WATCH: ion, 38 the Spot, YouTube TV
Record:
KC Current: 3-0-0 (9 points, 1st place)
San Diego Wave: 1-1-1 (4 points, 5th place)
Last Match:
KC Current: 3-0 home win versus the Utah Royals
San Diego Wave: 1-2 away loss versus the Orlando Pride
No surprise it’s TC6 👑3 matches. 3 goals. Temwa’s right on schedule 🔥
— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T18:52:54.299Z
