Match Preview: KC Current at Washington Spirit

Heading into the 2026 season, the majority of the talking heads around the league suggested this year would (again) be a battle of the Kansas City Current and the Washington Spirit for supremacy in the NWSL. Well, here we are, a couple of months into the season and that’s not how it’s played out thus far. A quick glance at the current standings sees the two teams tied on points (6 from a possible 15) and owning all of three victories between them. If the season ended today, the Spirit would nab the final playoff spot and KC would be on the outside looking in (due to goal differential). Both of these proud franchises, owned by some of the most ambitious owners in the league, will be looking to get their seasons pointed in the right direction…starting Friday night in our nation’s capital.

Washington were in the news a lot over the offseason due to the drama unfolding around Trinity Rodman’s contract talks. In the end, Rodman re-signed with the Spirit for a record amount and in the process helped the league rewrite their own rules. Teams can now use the “high impact player rule”, nicknamed the Rodman rule, to keep or attract some of the game’s biggest stars. It was an important step for the league as they attempt to compete with the deep pockets of several European squads who have recently wooed away many high-profile athletes. (Importantly, the Rodman rule is not a perfect solution as it seems to focus too heavily on “marketability” of players, but keeping stars like Trinity playing in the US is definitely a win for the league.)

So, with all that ado going into the process of retaining Rodman’s services, clearly Washington was hoping to race out of the gate and towards the top of the table. Unfortunately for them, that’s exactly the opposite of what happened. It took the Spirit until their fifth match to notch their first win of the season, and along the way they’ve drawn against the 7th, 9th, and 15th place teams in the league. Add to that the fact that Rodman has yet to score this season and it’s been a bit of a nightmare start for the team. Certainly, they do still have the makings of a deep and dangerous side with players like Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Krueger, Leicy Santos, Andi Sullivan, Hal Hershfelt, Esme Morgan, Ashley Hatch, and Gift Monday among their ranks. However, they are no doubt missing the services of Croix Bethune who Washington sold to Kansas City shortly before the season started.

To this point in the season, the Spirit have no wins, one loss, and one tie at home–they will certainly be wanting to put on a better show in front of the “Rowdy Audi” faithful this Friday night.

Speaking of a nightmare start to the season, one needs look no further than Kansas City for a team that has underwhelmed. While they are now 2-0-0 at home so far, they are 0-0-3 on the road, including losing to an otherwise hapless Chicago Stars team. They have tallied just five times in five matches and are sitting at a -4 goal differential. There has not been a single league game in which they have not trailed–after trailing for less than 200 minutes total for all of the 2025 season.

With that said, there have maybe been some positive signs for the team recently. First of all, they managed to defeat Gotham last time out–something they couldn’t do back in November when the teams met in the postseason. Of perhaps more significance, that match marked the return of 2x defending league MVP, Temwa Chawinga. Undoubtedly, her presence will lead to more goals for the team–she was credited with an assist in her limited minutes against Gotham.

And then there was the Teal Rising Cup–the opportunity for the team to stay fresh during the April international break. With a predominantly “B team” lineup against Brazilian side Corinthians, the Current eked out a 2-1 win in the semifinals. Then, with more starters on the field in the first half of the final, KC raced out to a 6-0 lead and cruised to a 6-1 win over another top Brazilian team, Palmeiras. What this says about the strength of the team moving forward (outside of the fact that they would probably dominate in the Brazilian soccer league) remains to be seen. For a fanbase so used to chanting for “another one”, the goal-filled final provides some reason to hope the team is remembering how to put the ball in the back of the net.

do not have your volume on full blast 💀inject this energy into our veins !!! 🏆🏆(🎥 shot by creative director: Gabby Robinson)

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-04-16T16:17:27.863Z

Last season, as part of KC’s 5-0-0 start, the Current headed to Washington and left with a gritty 2-0 win. Later in the year, the Spirit came to KC and muscled through a 0-0 draw. The Spirit have reached the championship match the last two seasons (after winning it all in 2021). The Current set all sorts of league records in recording the best ever regular season last year. These two teams still have very high expectations for what they can achieve in 2026, despite stumbling across the starting line. Likely, one of these teams will depart Friday’s matchup feeling much better about things while the other will be left to wonder if this really just isn’t their year.

WHEN: Friday, April 24 at 7:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: Audi Field, Washington DC

HOW TO WATCH: Prime Video

Record:

KC Current: 2-0-3 (6 points, 11th place)

Washington Spirit: 1-3-1 (6 points, 8th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 2-1 home win over Gotham FC

Washington Spirit: 2-0 away win over Bay FC