Highly-anticipated win: The KC Current defeat the Orlando Pride

In a matchup that deserved all the the hype and was highly-anticipated, the Kansas City Current faced the Orlando Pride at Inter&Co Stadium. Kansas City entered the game at the top of the NWSL table for the fourth week in a row with 18 points, but Orlando was right behind them with 16 points. The last meeting between the two teams was in the semifinals in Orlando which the Pride ended up winning 3-2. Orlando went unbeaten against Kansas City in 2024.

Facing a team like Orlando and preparing for players like Barbra Banda, who leads the goal in shots, Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski set a starting XI that could withstand the attack, opting to start Hailie Mace and Ellie Wheeler in a dual right back position, allowing Wheeler to move up in the attack as well and drop to into a five-back defensive unit.

They listed it as a 4-3-3, but it's definitely a back 5 in defense, which Mace as RCB and Wheeler as RB. In attack, it's more fluid. #KCBaby

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-05-17T00:23:50.548Z

Orlando, like Kansas City, is not unbeaten this season, and they were coming off a 1-1 draw at the North Carolina Courage. The Pride immediately gave an early scare as Izzy Rodriguez gave the ball away, and Banda had her first opportunity of the game in the first minute. Lorena made her first save of four, and the game continued at 0-0. The Current had an early opportunity as well in the 9th minute with Temwa Chawinga taking a shot in the 9th minute. Later in the 22nd, Debinha received a ball, lobbing it towards goal, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse got a touch to clear it away. In order to keep Orlando from scoring, the Current had to have key defensive stops. One of them came in the 28th minute as Kayla Sharples stepped up to stop Banda from beating the defenders and breaking through. Sharples would have five clearances and won seven duels. She also reached 5,000 regular season career minutes.

A moment for this CLUTCH defending from Kayla Sharples 💪 pic.twitter.com/vPrYbErIEv

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 17, 2025

Finishing a physical first half, both teams returned for the second half to get on the board. Orlando kept Kansas City from scoring by congesting the middle, forcing Kansas City to go wide. If the Current were going to break through, they had to have a quick counter, or capitalize on a mistake, or break up that compact defending, or simply have Chawinga beat a defender to the ball. In the 52nd minute, Kansas City checked off all of those mentioned. Izzy Rodriguez recovered the ball as Orlando tried to send it to the Current’s half, countering it by sending the ball forward, getting it past Orlando’s three defenders. Orlando defender Kylie Strom got a touch on the ball but did not have control. Chawinga was already racing to win the ball and took a one touch shot to send it past Moorehouse for the first and only goal of the game, giving the Current the 1-0 lead.

Temwa Chawinga saw her moment and she took it 👏

That's 25 career regular season goals for the 2024 NWSL MVP! pic.twitter.com/QxTeVsDRPm

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 17, 2025

Hoping to get a goal of their own to turn the game in their favor, Orlando spent the majority of the rest of the second half, and added extra 12 minutes, pressuring the Kansas City defense, committing foul after foul and being frustrated by the Current’s defensive marking. Along the way, the Current lost Alana Cook, Debinha, and Chawinga to injuries. Their status is unknown at press time, but Cook’s was a non-contact injury, and she went to the locker room for further evaluation. Debinha was dangerously tackled by Emily Sams, and Chawinga appeared to have aggravated the injury she’s been dealing with for a couple of weeks. But the Kansas City Current held on and defeated the defending champions for the first time since July 2023. It was also the time that the Current held off Orlando scoreless at home.

The Current remain at the top of the table and get some separation from 2nd place, going four points ahead. Up next for Kansas City: A trip to the Chicago Stars on Saturday, May 24. Kick off is set for 6:30pm CT on ION TV, locally on KMCI, 38 the Spot, and broadcast over the air on 90.9 The Bridge.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current
Date: May 16, 2025
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

Kickoff: 8:10 p.m. ET/7:10 p.m. CT
Weather: 89 degrees, clear
Attendance: 8,414

Discipline

NONE

Scoring

52’ Kansas City – Chawinga

Orlando Pride Lineup: Moorhouse, Hernández (76’ Chilufya), Nadaner, Sams, Pickett, Abello, McCutcheon (83’ Yates), Gautrat (65’ Watt), Angelina (76’ Lemos), Banda, Marta ©

Unused Substitutes: Crone, Dyke, Chavoshi, Villacorta, Chanda

Kansas City Current Lineup: Lorena, Mace, Cook (62’ Ball), Sharples, I. Rodriguez, LaBonta ©, Hutton (62’ DiBernardo), Debinha (68’ R. Rodríguez), Wheeler, Zaneratto (89’ Hopkins), Chawinga (89’ Prince)

Unused Substitutes: Ivory, Long, Feist, Lacho