KC Current at NC Courage: Match Preview

For years the rivalry between the USMNT and the Mexican men’s national team was defined by “dos a cero” as the US had a pattern of defeating Mexico by the 2-0 scoreline in many major competitions. Well, the KC Current might as well borrow the dos a cero chant because three of their five matches this season have ended with that exact score. This includes KC’s last two matches, 2-0 away at the San Diego Wave and 2-0 home to the Houston Dash.

Kansas City is standing on BUSINESS 💼⭐️ 9 straight regular season wins ⭐️ Only team undefeated through Week 5

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-04-22T16:38:59.663Z

Up next for the Current? An intriguing rematch of last season’s quarterfinal match with the North Carolina Courage. Adding to the intrigue is how drastically different the season is going for these two teams. To this point, Kansas City is cruising through their schedule, never even really feeling much stress. They’ve become only the second NWSL team ever to start a season with five straight wins, and the first ever to win every game by multiple goals. (The 2014 Seattle Reign won their first seven before FC Kansas City forced them into a draw–the same FCKC team that ultimately defeated Seattle in that year’s championship match.)

Meanwhile, North Carolina, who have thrice won the NWSL Shield and twice won the NWSL Championship and never finished lower than 7th in the final league standings, find themselves in dead last place five matches into this season. They are the only team yet to win a match and have earned just two points on a 0-2-3 record. They have scored three goals and allowed seven.

@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social take over the top spot from the Pride in Week 5 📈👀@carmax.com | #RoadToTheShield

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-04-21T15:36:52.413Z

This North Carolina team looks slightly different than the one that KC defeated 1-0 last November to advance in the playoffs. Among the additions are some high-profile ones, including Jaedyn Shaw (for $400K transfer fee), Shinomi Koyama (for $200K transfer fee), Hannah Betfort, & Brooklyn Courtnall. As for departures, former NWSL MVP Kerolin is now playing for Manchester City and Narumi now sports the Washington Spirit kit.

The Courage’s new pieces haven’t really been able to gel, especially in the attack. The team hasn’t scored more than a single goal in any match and has twice been shutout. Most of their matches have been low-scoring affairs as longtime USWNT keeper Casey Murphy has helped prevent games from getting out of hand (a 1-3 defeat to Gotham notwithstanding).

On paper, this match would seem to be heavily tilted in favor of Kansas City, a team that has conceded just once and has scored 12 times in five games. However, the Current will need to be wary of any sort of letdown as this NC team is certainly capable of punishing a visiting squad that has become complacent or overconfident. In fact, if this match remains close into the late stages, Kansas City should be especially wary of Brianna Pinto, who has notched a stoppage time winner the last two times NC has defeated KC–including last September, Kansas City’s final defeat of the regular season.

While no team in this league can afford to look past any other, complacency doesn’t seem to be in the cards for this Kansas City Current side. As each week passes, this squad has the look of not just a well-oiled machine, but one that is taking real joy in their efforts. Did anyone doubt that LaBonta was going to bury the PK last week–and then follow it up with some clever new celebration?

With Alana Cook picking up a knock, did anyone question whether Elizabeth Ball could step in and help contribute to another shutout? With Michelle Cooper and Claire Hutton getting a little extra rest, Bia and Nichelle Prince have stepped in and seamlessly contributed to the attack. In the early season Golden Boot race, Esther and Hatch are knotted at four apiece, and not one, not two, but three KC players are right behind sitting on three goals (Chawinga, Debinha, and LaBonta).

Lorena hasn’t been called on often this season, but when she has been, she has more than done her part to contribute to a scoreless streak that is now at 401 minutes and counting. (By the way, the league record for consecutive shutouts is five matches which KC could equal this weekend.)

O nosso paredão fazendo história 😮‍💨🧱Lorena becomes the FIRST NWSL goalkeeper to go 5-0-0 in first five appearances ✨

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-04-24T15:35:18.054Z

With its win last weekend, Kansas City established a new league record for consecutive regular season wins with nine, dating back to the final four matches of 2024. The team is not only in first place, but they have also scored the most and conceded the fewest of any team thus far. And, with Angel City and the Orlando Pride both losing last weekend, they are the one remaining undefeated. In fact, the Current’s week 2 road victory over the Washington Spirit looks even better now that the Spirit knocked off the Pride in Florida.

Things can change quickly in sports; one week you’re on top of the world, and then next, an injury or a loss has you feeling quite different. However, this team is deep, this team is talented, this team is driven, this team wants to make up for what they see as a missed opportunity from last year. Oh, and again, this team has fun!

cellybrating every moment 🥹

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-04-18T15:33:21.029Z

WHEN: Saturday, April 26 at 6:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina

HOW TO WATCH: NWSL+, 38 the Spot

Record:

KC Current: 5-0-0 (15 points, 1st place)

North Carolina Courage: 0-2-3 (2 points, 15th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 2-0 home win versus Houston Dash

North Carolina Courage: 0-1 home loss to Bay FC