KC Current Draw San Diego Wave at Coachella Valley Invitational

The Kansas City Current played their first preseason game in front of a live crowd on February 15th at the Coachella Valley Invitational. There were many noticeable names missing from the starting lineup. No Lo LaBonta, no Temwa Chawinga or Michelle Cooper (as expected). Lorena also wasn’t out there.

From back to front, right to left, it was Marissa Jordan, Ellie Bravo-Young, Kayla Sharples, Gabby Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Bayley Feist, Debinha, Rocky Rodriguez, Kyra Carusa (HB Koge), Ally Sentnor and Hailey Hopkins. Sentnor did play CF for the first time in a KC Current uniform, a spot she’s done quite well with the United States Women’s National Team.

The Current were absolutely on the front foot to start the game, despite missing so many stars. They kept San Diego under pretty extensive pressure and took shot after shot. Haley Hopkins continually worked attacks up the left side of the pitch and got in deep around the 4th minute only to traffic to obstruct her shot. KC had numerous overcooked shots with Debinha, Feist and others skying shots over the bar.

The most dangerous chance of the first half came from a cross into the head of Deb who pinged it off the crossbar.

Straight after that, San Diego had a very dangerous counterattack. Gabby ultimately chased it down and shut down the attack at the top of the box, aided by a long recovery run from Izzy to kill a passing opportunity.

San Diego were creeping closer though. In the 30th, Gabby slipped and was beat by Dudinha, who had a cross that was maybe an inch in front of its target for a tap in.

The Current kept turning the ball over and giving odd-woman counter attacks and they finally caught up with them later in the first half. After the defense recovered enough to slow up the runs, Wheeler lost track of her runner, and she tapped it past Jordan to make it 1-0. Gia Corley gets the goal.

KC turn it over and San Diego hit them on the counter. 1-0 San Diego, despite all the attack going the Current's way. #KCBaby #KCvSD

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2026-02-15T19:13:47.476Z

It would head into the half 1-0 San Diego.

There were no changes for Kansas City to start the second half. But San Diego were definitely on the front foot to start the front foot, and KC looked a little fatigued to start the second half. A loose foul against Izzy finally killed the attack and earned San Diego’s first yellow card.

San Diego stayed on the attack shortly after though. Gia had a really nice spin and pass to Dudinha in the box for what seemed like a sure goal, but a loose touch was gathered up by Jordan.

At the other end of the pitch, Feist had a nice steal and ripped a shot from way outside the box that tested the diving keeper but stayed out of the net after the ball almost rolled over the keeper. Right after, Rocky hit a nice cross to the head of Kyra who put it in a perfect spot but an even better save managed to keep Kansas City off the scoreboard. The ensuing corner was taken by Deb and was flicked on and Kyra again tried to head it, this time back across the goal but the goalkeeper gathered it.

59th minute and KC made big changes. Off came Sharples for Elizabeth Ball. Rocky came off for Sydney Jones, Kyra for Amelia White, Fiest for Kelsey Branson and the debut of Croix Bethune who replaced Hopkins.

After the changes, San Diego really took over the game with so few actual first team KC Current players or non-rookies in the game. Marissa Jordan was forced into multiple diving saves, but she kept San Diego to a single goal.

In the 71st, the Current had a nice attack that ended with a Croix Bethune shot that was partially deflected and dealt with. The next sequence saw Sentnor with a nice opportunity that was deflected just wide of the post.

The Current made more subs, bringing off Gabby for Kolo Suliafu, Izzy off for Laney Rouse, and Debinha off for Avery Clark. At this point, it was mostly rookies and KC Current II players but they fought on, with the help of remaining stars Bethune, Sentnor and Bravo-Young.

And it was one of those stars who would earn a key set piece. Croix Bethune earned a corner late on in the second half. Another star, Sentnor took it and it appeared to deflect off Branson and into San Diego’s net with Kansas City equalizing late! 1-1!

Sentnor takes the corner and the ball bounces in for a KC Current goal! 1-1! #KCBaby #KCvSD

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2026-02-15T20:14:39.008Z

After the goal, the game fizzled out and ended in a 1-1 draw, ending Kansas City’s three weeks in California and this phase a preseason. They will open their season at home against the Utah Royals on March 14th at CPKC Stadium.

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