Match Recap: KC Current fall hard at Washington Spirit

For the resumption of league play following an international break (that saw the Current claim another trophy), KC headed to DC for a spirited battle in our nation’s capital. Importantly, this is the healthiest the Current have been all season as they trotted out a strong lineup.

Spirits are high 🙂‍↕️

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-04-24T23:01:45.127Z

This was the second start (third if the Teal Rising Cup counts) for Chawinga this season, and was her longest appearance in 2026, playing 64 minutes. Her two fellow forwards, Cooper and Sentnor, were returning from duty with the USWNT, and with the likes of Debinha, Bethune, and LaBonta filling out the midfield, the issue today would not be a lack of experience or firepower for Kansas City. If there was a position of question for the Current coming in, it was how they would navigate the defensive midfield role. The team still hasn’t overcome the departure of Claire Hutton in that spot and the midfield trio would seem to have more focus on attack than defense. Depending on how the match played out, both Rocky Rodríguez and Bayley Feist could conceivably enter in more of a true “6” role.

The Washington Spirit would counter with a lineup that would, of course, feature the league’s highest paid player: Trinity Rodman.

YOUR STARTING XI 🌸

— Washington Spirit (@washingtonspirit.com) 2026-04-24T23:15:32.951Z

Notably, several of the Spirit’s high-profile players, including #1 keeper Aubrey Kingsbury, defender Casey Krueger, midfielder Andi Sullivan, and forward Ashley Hatch have been out on maternity leave. (The Current, of course, have their own midfielder who recently became a mother, Vanessa DiBernardo.) The other player the Spirit are trying to learn how to play without? Croix Bethune, the 2024 NWSL rookie of the year/midfielder of the year with the Spirit, who was traded to the Current this February for $1M.

Entering the match, the Current were undefeated against the Spirit over their previous three meetings with two wins and a draw. This included an early-season visit to DC in 2025 in which the Current were able to come away with a 2-0 victory. In fact, it has been a couple of years since Washington had even scored against Kansas City. Would that continue into this Friday night match?

Before the primetime kickoff at Audi Field, Racing Louisville earned their first win of the season by downing the Orlando Pride. That kept Orlando just two points ahead of both the Spirit and the Current. If one of the teams was able to nab a W, they could jump as high as 4th in the standings.

The match kicked off at 7:10 Central in a DC drizzle and almost immediately KC’s press nearly created a pair of chances, including Cooper knocking a ball off the top of the crossbar.

At the 10-minute mark, the stadium held their breath as Spirit superstar Rodman stayed down following a challenge on Chawinga. She has a history with recurring back injuries, but in this case, it was more of a flesh wound that only required some bandaging.

Just a couple minutes later, the Current’s press forced an errant back pass that found Bethune in on goal. It looked to be a certain score, but the Spirit’s keeper, MacIver, played it perfectly, not committing too quickly and effectively cutting off Croix’s angle at the net.

Despite the Current having the more dangerous chances early on, it was the Spirit who would tally first with a 25th minute goal. The play started with a perfect give and go between Wiesner and Rodman who then crossed it right to Santos for a one-touch poke past Lorena.

The goal continued a troubling trend to start the season–the Current have trailed in every match thus far. The goal also seemed to buoy the Spirit who increasingly imposed their will on the proceedings through much of the rest of the first half. The Current appeared to be trying to do too much, not playing the simple pass, not believing the success would come.

That is, until the 41st minute when a Lorena save helped spring a Current counterattack. Chawinga outran the DC defense, but her dribble through the box took the ball right into the path of an on-rushing Debinha. Just like with the earlier chance for Bethune, nine times out of ten Debinha buries the shot. In this case, however, MacIver delivered an excellent kick save.

Unfortunately, for as brilliant as Washington’s keeper had been, Lorena (last season’s keeper of the year), had not been for KC. That was never clearer than in the final minute of first half stoppage time. Lorena jumped to claim a Spirit corner kick but (not for the first time in the game) was unable to keep control of the ball and dropped it right at Rodman’s feet. The national teamer made no mistake with the gift and sent Washington into the break with a 2-0 lead.

If the Current were going to get anything out of this match they would have to have a significant second half comeback. In KC’s two home games of the season, they have successfully overcome deficits, but they are winless on the road and would need two goals just to draw level. In addition to being down on the scoreboard, KC also had significantly less possession and fewer shots at half. Also, both Cooper and Sharples had picked up yellows through the first 45.

The Current made one halftime substitution with Rocky Rodríguez entering for Debinha. This would provide KC with more of a natural double pivot in the back of the midfield, however removing Debinha when the team is chasing goals was a curious choice. (With that said, Rocky did notch a hat trick for Costa Rica during the international break.)

Alas, for as incredible as the Current were defensively last season, they’ve been just as bad this year. Just ten minutes into half two, the Spirit found a third with Santos securing her brace.

At the 64-minute mark, Chawinga’s night was done as she continues to work back from her injury. Haley Hopkins, fresh off her Teal Rising Cup MVP performance, entered to try to provide a spark to the visitors. And then the Current did ripple the net with Sentnor finishing off a Cooper cross. Unfortunately, Sentnor was way offside…and didn’t need to be.

To add insult to injury, the Spirit would add a 4th with 15 minutes to go. Paraguayan international Claudia Martínez scored her first NWSL goal, getting a second chance after her initial shot was blocked.

Following that goal, KC would empty the bench, using their remaining three subs. Amelia White entered for Cooper, Kara Carusa came on for Bethune, and Bayley Feist took LaBonta’s spot.

The Current kinda, sorta came close a couple times in the dying moments. Both Izzy Rodriguez and Carusa seemed to have legitimate claims for earning a PK. Sentnor also rattle the woodwork from a free kick. Hopkins had a breakaway that was closed down at the last possible moment. But even if any of those had turned into goals, it would have been much too little and much too late.

To reiterate, these teams started the night level on points. Unfortunately for the KC faithful, one of these teams looked like they could again compete for a spot at the top of the table (Washington), and one looked very junior varsity (Kansas City). A drubbing of this nature should have the decision makers considering what changes need to happen for the Current to be able to actually be competitive with a team like Washington.

The Current remain on the road next Saturday with a visit to the North Carolina Courage. They will need to start finding answers…fast.