Previewing KC Current @ Washington Spirit

The Kansas City Current head to the east coast to face the Washington Spirit this Saturday. The match will feature two out of the three teams in the league that won their first game (Orlando is the other). For the Current, it’s an early test as they face a team that defeated them 4- 1 at Audi Field back in August 2024.

Match details

Kansas City Current
@ Washington Spirit

Audi Field, Washington DC
6:30 pm CT

Stream: ION TV

Radio: 90.9 The Bridge, KC Current app

What we’re watching

Those sweet new teal kits! The Current revealed the new “Teal Town” kit for the 2025 season on February 27 as a secondary kit. Since then, and quite possibly since the world found out teal was one of the colors of the club, their debut has been highly-anticipated, and we will get to see them making their debut against Washington in the District of Columbia.

Credit: Kansas City Current

Credit: Kansas City Current

Credit: Kansas City Current

Credit: Kansas City Current

Credit: Kansas City Current

Credit: Kansas City Current

Game-wise, though? We’re going to be on the edge of our couches (or bar stools) as the Current face a tough opponent in week two of the season, which could set the tone for the rest of 2025. While it’s not the end of the season if the Current leave Audi with no points, it will gives us plenty to talk about for the next week. Historically, Washington has been hard to beat. Kansas City split the season series last year versus the Spirit, with game one going to Washington and game two, 3-0 shutout at CPKC Stadium, for the Current. The Spirit have shown they can handle the Current at their best by that big 4-1 victory at home last year, and overall, Washington is 5-3 against the Current.

And though the Spirit secured three points in Houston last Saturday with a 2-1 win over the Dash, it was too close of a win. Washington lost the possession battle (55%-45%) and spent a significant part of the game holding off the Dash, especially late in the game. While the Current were not a possession-based team in 2024, they appear to want to add this to their strengths. Maybe. We saw various instances where the Current slowed down the game and tried holding on to the ball, creating more passing sequences rather than just sending long balls to Temwa Chawinga (more so in the second half, though). It’s still not their strength, and Kansas City allowed the Portland Thorns to win possession, 53% to 47%.

But Kansas City can cause so much trouble by scoring goals, as we saw versus Portland in the first half last Saturday, and with three different goal scorers already. Chawinga, Debinha, and Michelle Cooper are expected to be highly-involved again to lead the attack. Debinha was all over pitch, creating seven chances, scoring a goal and assisting in Chawinga’s goal. Chawinga, meanwhile, may have had a quiet game by not scoring multiple goals (she probably could have), but she worked to create chances for her teammates instead of trying to dribble past defenders every time she had the ball. Her passing accuracy was at 84%, and she created four chances. We may have to get used to a Temwa Chawinga who is more involved in the attack by passing and creating chances in addition to being a leading scorer. Watch out, NWSL.

The Current cannot hit the brakes against Washington like they did against the Thorns in the second half. The Spirit will press Kansas City, and the defense will need to be ready for those counter attacks. While they held Portland to one goal and one significant chance, Washington’s high press could cause bigger issues.

Injury report

OUT: Gabrielle Robinson (SEI – knee), Alex Pfeiffer (SEI – knee), Bia Zaneratto (SEI – foot), Regan
Steigleder (head), Kristen Hamilton (knee), Elizabeth Ball (thigh)

QUESTIONABLE: Hailie Mace (knee), Temwa Chawinga (thigh)

Score prediction

It will be close. These teams are identical in talent and both have a strong coaching staff. The Spirit have played two games this season already, which has given them plenty of time to adapt to the new year, and a big win against the Orlando Pride in the Challenge Cup for confidence. Kansas City, while it took them a few minutes to string some passes together last week before scoring three in the first half, are on a mission, to challenge teams like Washington and Orlando as contenders. Current win this one, 2-1.