Match Preview: Houston Dash at KC Current

The Current are back!

The Current are back?

The power of punctuation. The choice of a question mark or exclamation point in the above sentence determines one’s confidence in the defending NWSL Shield winners. Yes, Kansas City just put together their most comprehensive performance on Sunday, a 3-0 win over the Chicago Stars. The victory got them over the playoff line. It was their first shutout of the season and the first time they’d netted more than two goals. It gives them their first winning streak of 2026 and emphatically announced Chawinga’s return to form.

And yet, of course they easily defeated the hapless Stars. Chicago are once again in last place and have a -14 goal differential through nine games–a mark that would be even worse if they hadn’t beaten the Current earlier in the season. And yes, Chawinga notched her first NWSL hattrick, but the question remains as to whether this will be another edition of, “as Temwa goes, so goes the Current.” KC has really struggled to find the back of the net without their MVP. Cooper had multiple opportunities over the weekend to add to her tally, but blasting the post was the closest she came. Bethune too was played into dangerous spaces a couple of times but couldn’t add to her 2-goal season total. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that Sentnor, the player continuing to get the majority of the time at the striker spot, hasn’t scored since the season opener.

The Current’s xG (expected goals) from Sunday was actually over 3, so in a way the team underperformed by just cashing in thrice. The team now sits in sixth place, a much more comfortable position than the 15th spot they were in a couple weeks ago. Additionally, with the upcoming schedule of matches, it’s not hard to imagine them climbing further before the long summer (World Cup) break. But the eye test still remains unconvincing. Fans of the team have gotten used to the Current fully imposing their will on opponents, and they’re only seeing that for short stretches thus far this season.

So, again, are the Current back! or back?

The next test will be this Friday night, back under the lights of CPKC Stadium and debuting their new third kit.

Friday's Forecast: Severe Storm ⛈️Storm Kit debuts May 15 under the lights ⚡️Get your tickets: seatgeek.com/kansas-city-current-tickets/national-womens-soccer/2026-05-15-7-pm/17997400

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-05-11T19:54:56.981Z

The Current will be welcoming the Houston Dash to town–a team the Current have played (18 times) and beaten (10 times) more than any other competition. The last time the Dash were in KC, the Current notched a 2-0 victory. However, the last time they played anywhere, it was the Dash who snatched a 1-0 win over the Current in Houston last October.

Houston have experienced a somewhat inverse season to the Current thus far. They raced out of the gate, winning three of their first four and briefly occupying the top spot in the standings. However, they are 0-1-3 over their last four, including getting played off the field at home against the expansion side Denver Summit to the tune of a 1-4 loss last weekend. They sit in 9th place, but are definitely trending in the wrong direction.

Unlike some of Kansas City’s opponents, the Dash’s roster isn’t full of household names. Jane Campbell, the Dash’s primary goalkeeper, has recently hit some significant milestones, including 200 appearances for Houston–the first GK to reach that mark with a single club. She has occasionally been called up to the USWNT, though seems to be on the outside looking in for this round of WC qualifications. However, just ahead of her on the pitch is fullback Avery Patterson, who seems to be working her way into becoming a mainstay on Emma Hayes’s national team roster. Interestingly, Patterson and the Current’s Izzy Rodriguez would appear to be in competition for the same spot within the USWNT, so perhaps a head-to-head game between their clubs could advance one of them.

Manager Chris Armas seems to be settling on a preferred lineup. Part of this, unfortunately, continues to be based on injuries and availability, as superstar Debinha was designated on the D-45 injury list, meaning she’ll be out for a while. Additionally, Rocky Rodriguez, who had started at the 6 in North Carolina, was ruled out versus Chicago with a head injury. What this all means is that Bayley Feist has slotted into the defensive midfield role next to LaBonta, and Bethune occupies the more attacking midfield role that Debinha usually plays. Also, Ball and Sharples appear to be cementing their partnership in the center of the defense and Rouse has leapfrogged Bravo-Young as a starting fullback.

In much the same way that a team with the talent and ambition of the Current appropriately cruised to victory against the Stars, KC should also be able to take care of business versus the Dash. A win on Friday sets up an important next match when Kansas City will host current leaders Portland. However, a loss this weekend calls into question any perceived gains made recently and reduces the Current to “average at best” status.

WHEN: Friday, May 15 at 7:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: Prime Video

Record:

KC Current: 4-0-4 (12 points, 6th place)

Houston Dash: 3-1-4 (10 points, 9th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 3-0 home win over the Chicago Stars

Houston Dash: 1-4 home loss to the Denver Summit