KC Current at Chicago Stars: Match Preview

Nearly one month ago to the day (April 26), a first place Kansas City Current team traveled to a last place team (in that case, the North Carolina Courage) looking to pad their record with a stress-free victory. Needless to say, that didn’t go according to plan with the Courage stealing all three points by scoring twice in the waning moments. This weekend, the first place KC Current will travel to the last place Chicago (no longer “Red”) Stars hoping to avoid a similar slip up and actually come away with the W.

Beyond their place in the standings at the time they squared off against KC, there aren’t actually that many similarities between the Courage and the Chicago Stars. One of the perennial league powers, the Courage were expected to compete for a spot towards the top of the table after finishing fifth last season. They followed their win against KC with by winning two of their next three (including a 2-0 victory against the Stars) and drawing versus the Orlando Pride.

Meanwhile, while the Stars did squeak into the postseason in 8th place last year, it’s been at least half a decade since they would have been thought of as a strong team. They began the 2025 season with a 0-6 drubbing at the hands of the Pride and have only earned one win and one draw (four total points) through nine matches this year. In fact, their goals for and against are nearly a mirror opposite of Kansas City’s as Chicago has scored five and conceded 19 while KC has scored 19 and conceded just six. A goal differential of +13 (KC) compared with -14 (Chi) is about as extreme as possible a third of the way into the season.

And the plot thickens… Week 9 shook up the standings 🐸☕@carmax.com | #RoadToTheShield

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-05-19T15:36:22.697Z

A quick glance at the standings & schedules show that the Current are not only alone in first place, four points clear of any other team, but they have already defeated the 2nd (road), 3rd (road), 4th (home), and 5th (road) place teams. By contrast, Chicago has only beaten 10th place Bay FC and drawn 8th place Gotham–their seven other games have ended in defeat.

Like all squads, Chicago made some personnel changes over the offseason, bringing in the likes of Spaniard Maitane, Japanese youth international Manaka Hayashi, and US U-18 player Micayla Johnson. The biggest “departure” is actually Mallory Swanson, who is still with the club but sitting out this season as she expects her first child. Despite their struggles, the Stars still employ some high-profile athletes, including goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, USWNT defender Sam Staab, Brazilian attacker Ludmila, and old friend Chardonnay Curran.

Unfortunately for the Current, they do enter this match in the Windy City significantly banged up as the win in Orlando came at a high cost. Stalwart center back Alana Cook is likely going to be out long term with a noncontact knee injury. Superstar Debinha, fresh off a renewed place in the Brazilian national team squad and earning a lot of MVP chatter for her play thus far in 2025, will miss much of the summer with her own (very much full contact) knee injury. And finally reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga limped off the field (with the help of Lo LaBonta) after aggravating a leg issue she’s already been dealing with.

16 seconds of pure love for a teammate 🩵

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-05-19T22:59:29.525Z

As our very own Thad Bell notes below, at least Michelle Cooper seems ready to return to action after missing the last month-and-a-half. Hopefully, too, center defender Gabby Robinson may be getting close to a return as it’s now been a full year (May 25, 2024) since she suffered a torn ACL. Until then, the center back pairing will presumably be Kayla Sharples (a Week 9 Team of the Week honoree) and Elizabeth Ball. The team could also choose to lean into their strength at fullback (as they did against Orlando) and deploy a modified five-back system with Hailie Mace effectively playing a right-center back allowing both Ellie Wheeler and Izzy Rodriguez even more freedom to get forward.

Not good injury news for Current. Alana Cook has a long term injury, trying to determine the extent. Debinha not quite long term but prob not back until after the summer. Temwa being evaluated still. On positive side. Cooper is expected to see some time in next game. #kcbaby

— Thad Bell (@thadbell.bsky.social) 2025-05-20T16:17:09.309Z

With potentially both Debinha and Chawinga out for this Saturday’s game and Cooper presumably not 90 minutes fit, look for Bia to pair with some combination of Hopkins, Prince, Lacho, and Long along the front line. This upcoming stretch may also be the time that players like Jeriko and Hamilton (as long as she’s healthy) make their season debuts. Hopefully too, Alex Pfeiffer is recovering well from her own ACL injury suffered last season and could be inching closer to being match ready.

Injuries aside, life is good for the first place Current as no fewer than eight athletes have received call-ups to their respective national teams for next week: LaBonta, Hutton, Cooper (US), Long, Scott (US U-20), Prince (Canada), and Lorena, Debinha (Brazil). This is especially significant for Lo as she could become the oldest player to earn her first national team cap for the US Women.

TRIPLE THREAT FOR COUNTRY 🇺🇸Claire Hutton, Lo LaBonta and Michelle Cooper have been called up with the #USWNT 🙌

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2025-05-20T15:04:25.186Z

In another battle of worst versus first, Kansas City is looking to flip the script from their trip to North Carolina. The Current won’t be at full strength but should be briming with confidence after getting past a Pride team that thwarted them thrice last year. The Stars haven’t really aligned for a Chicago team mired in a slump that, dating back to the end of last season, has seen them win just twice in 15 matches. However, a win against the first place Current could be the tonic that starts to turn their season around (much like it seems to have for the Courage). With stars like Swanson, Debinha, and Chawinga likely out, who will step up to tally some goals?

WHEN: Saturday, May 24 at 6:30 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: SeatGeek Stadium, Brideview, IL

HOW TO WATCH: ion, 38 the Spot

Record:

KC Current: 7-0-2 (21 points, 1st place)

Chicago Stars: 1-1-7 (4 points, 14th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 1-0 road win versus Orlando Pride

Chicago Stars: 0-2 road loss versus North Carolina Courage