KANSAS CITY (September 19, 2024) –– The Kansas City Current (11-3-6, 39 points, 4th place) begin their final home game of the 2024 regular season on Friday night with another clash with a club at the top of the NWSL standings. Friday’s home game against the Washington Spirit (14-4-2, 44 points, 2nd place) is the club’s Female Athlete Night presented by the University of Kansas Health System. The game begins at 7 p.m. CT at CPKC Stadium and will be broadcast on Prime Video with Mike Watts and Lori Lindsey on commentary. Fans in Kansas City can listen to Dave Borchardt and Doug McLagan on 90.9 The Bridge or listen along in English or Spanish via the KC Current app.

Kansas City earned a hard-fought draw in Orlando last Friday as the highly anticipated rematch between Current and Pride ended scoreless. The game was a tactical duel as neither team was really able to overpower the other throughout the match and it was only the second time this season that both teams were held scoreless. Kansas City goalkeeper Almuth Schult kept a second consecutive clean sheet against Pride and made five saves to help Current earn a crucial point. The scoreless draw meant striker Temwa Chawinga’s NWSL record eight-game winning streak came to an unfortunate end.

Forward Bia Zaneratto made her second consecutive appearance against the Pride after returning from injury against the Utah Royals on Sept. 7. Zaneratto played the final 30 minutes of last Friday’s game in Orlando and created several dangerous scoring opportunities for the Current in the later stages of the game. Fellow forward Michelle Cooper, who last played in the Current’s first game against the Washington Spirit on Aug. 25, also played the final 30 minutes of the game in Orlando.

Like last week against Orlando, the Spirit go into Friday’s game having already secured a spot in the 2024 NWSL Playoffs presented by Google Pixel following a 3-0 home win over the Houston Dash last Sunday. Forward Ashley Hatch scored a brace in the first half, while fellow forward Trinity Rodman rounded out the scoring with a goal in the 46th minute. It was Rodman’s eighth goal of the 2024 season. The Spirit and Pride are the only NWSL clubs to have secured a postseason spot.

Washington won the first regular-season meeting between the two teams, taking a 4-1 victory at Audi Field on August 25. Despite the final score, Current had more shots on goal than Washington (14-7) and created a higher percentage of quality scoring chances, as evidenced by Kansas City gaining a 0.93 to 0.58 advantage in the expected goals battle. Chawinga scored Current’s only goal of the game.

PLAYOFF PRESSURE CONTINUES
For Kansas City to join Washington and Orlando in the playoffs, the goal on Friday is simple: win and advance. If the Current beat the Spirit on Friday night, the club can secure its second spot in the NWSL playoffs.

There are a few other scenarios where Current could secure a playoff spot this weekend. If Kansas City draws with Washington, Current would secure a postseason spot IF Racing Louisville FC draws or loses with North Carolina Courage on Saturday night. A Current draw AND a Portland Thorns loss to Angel City FC on Monday night would also secure Kansas City a postseason spot.

If the Current lose on Friday, Kansas City could still clinch a playoff spot IF Louisville doesn’t beat the Courage AND Angel City doesn’t beat the Portland Thorns.

Kansas City is still in the running for the NWSL Shield despite a near-historic gap between the league’s top four clubs in 2024. Thirty-nine points, the Currents’ point total before Friday’s game, would have been enough to win the NWSL Shield in 2023 and they would have been just one point away from victory in 2022. With six regular-season games remaining, several clubs are in a position to match or surpass the North Carolina Courage’s 2018 regular-season record of 57 points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo –– Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo has been a staple in the Current midfield since arriving in Kansas City in 2023. DiBernardo was much more involved in the attack in her second season with the club, recording nine total goal involvements (four assists, five goals). With 29 assists in the NWSL regular season, DiBernardo is just two assists away from tying the league record for most assists in a career. In addition, DiBernardo is tied with the Current’s assist record in NWSL games (seven), which she could break with one more assist.

Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch – Hatch has been a key player for the Spirit in recent weeks, starting Washington’s last two games. She took full advantage of her starting position against Houston last weekend, scoring a brace in Washington’s 3-0 win. The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NWSL Draft has four goals and two assists in 2024 NWSL play.

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY
CPKC Stadium celebrated its half-birthday on Monday, a major milestone for the world’s first facility built specifically for a professional women’s sports team.

The venue has been a fortress for the Current in 2024. Across all competitions, Kansas City has a record of 13-1-2 and scored an incredible 45 goals at CPKC Stadium in 2024. Strong defense has been the Current’s watchword at their home stadium of late, however, as Kansas City has conceded just two goals in its last seven home games in all competitions. The Current enter Friday’s contest on a seven-game home winning streak.

CPKC Stadium has seen quite a lot of activity in its first six months of existence. The venue hosted the semifinals of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the Women’s Cup, and was named one of the world’s best venues of 2024 by TIME. CPKC Stadium has also sold out all 10 of the Current NWSL’s regular season home games. In the future, CPKC Stadium will host the 2024 Big 12 Women’s Soccer Tournament, which will run from October 30 to November 9, as well as the 2024 NWSL Championship on November 23.

NIGHT OF THE ATHLETES
Friday’s game is Current’s Female Athlete Night presented by the University of Kansas Health System. Kansas City Current and the University of Kansas Health System will join forces to celebrate female athletes throughout the game while educating fans on the challenges female athletes face in order to reach their full potential.

WIN for KC, a local initiative that empowers girls and women through the promotion of sports and fitness, will be represented and honored at Friday’s competition. Friday’s “KC Baby” singer will be former U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder and current NWSL commentator Lori Lindsey, while the competition honors her commitment to supporting and promoting women’s sports.

The University of Kansas Health System has launched the region’s first Female Athlete Program to serve female athletes of all ages. For more information about the University of Kansas Health System’s commitment to female athletes, visit KansasHealthSystem.com/FemaleAthlete.

SHUTTLE UPDATE
Shuttle service for Friday’s Currents game against the Washington Spirit will be impacted by the closure of the Grand Boulevard Bridge beginning Friday. Shuttles will follow a new route between drop-off and pick-up.

KC Current will continue to offer free game day shuttle service for all fans arriving at either of the two shuttle service locations in River Market and Downtown KC. Shuttle buses will pick up and drop off fans at both locations on game days. At the stadium, fans will be picked up and dropped off at Berkley Riverfront Park next to the Helzberg Diamond Gate.

7th & Main (recommended)

• Shuttle buses pick up and drop off passengers on the north side of 7th St. between Main and Baltimore.
• KC Current recommends fans use the 7th & Main location for the fastest service. For pre-game shuttle pickup, 7th & Main is the last pickup location before heading to CPKC Stadium. For post-game shuttle drop-off, 7th & Main is the first drop-off location before heading to 2nd & Grand.

2nd and Great

• Shuttle buses pick up and drop off passengers on the southwest side of the intersection at the corner of 2nd & Grand.

To view the updated shuttle map, please visit KansasCityCurrent.com/Shuttle.

AVAILABILITY REPORT
OUT OF: Alex Pfeiffer (SEI knee), Gabrielle Robinson (SEI knee), Mallory Weber (SEI – knee)
QUESTIONABLE: None
INTERNATIONAL: Claire Hutton (USA)