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KC Current Injury Updates and Bassong to Miss LAFC Clash

Injury updates on Debinha, Alana Cook, Michelle Cooper and sort of Temwa Chawinga. Plus, a ton of other stories around soccer.

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3 weeks ago

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Credit: Thad Bell

Digital Crawl

A times, there is just so much soccer we can’t keep up. The Digital Crawl will allow us to catch up while paying homage to Digital Takiwira, the first goal scorer in Kansas City Wizards history. Not to mention it’s a bit of a ‘digital crawl’ on the bottom of the screen on ESPN and various news channels. Check out the Digital Crawl archives if you missed any stories.

Plus, it’s a nice tie in for a similar segment at the end of every episode of the For the Glory KC podcast.

KC Current Injury Updates

As Xander Kennedy posted in his lovely Kansas City Current/Chicago Stars preview, our own Thad Bell provided an injury update from last weekend’s Current game. And it’s mostly bad news.

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

The headliner is the “long term” injury for USWNT center back Alana Cook. Cook went down with a non-contact knee injury in the second half of the game against the Orlando Pride. Not long after, Debinha went down after a violent knee to knee collision with defender Emily Sams, who saw no card. In fact, no Orlando players were booked in a relatively physical game.

As for Debinha’s timeline, it’s not as long, but will cost her the whole summer. On Instagram, she said the injury “will keep me out of action for a while, but I know it could have been much worse” (via Google Translate). It’s a real shame as she was on pace to be league MVP with the way she was playing.

Speaking of MVPs, Temwa Chawinga is still under evaluation. After the game, Vlatko Andonovski said it’s the same injury she’s been dealing with. It looked like a pulled muscle live in the game, and those can vary in duration.

In a positive update that was built on by her USWNT call-up, Michelle Cooper should return to action this weekend against the Chicago Stars.

Update 2:47 PM: Alana Cook has been added to the season ending injury list. She has a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus.

KC Current Friendlies

The Chinese Women’s National Team is in the country to face off against the United States (including Lo LaBonta, Michelle Cooper and Claire Hutton) on May 31st, but before that, they are having some tune up matches right here in Kansas City.

Behind closed doors they are set to play KC Current II on May 23rd and the actual KC Current on May 27th. Presumably it will be a rotated squad for Kansas City. They have eight players already called up for international duty that week and were hit with tough injury news (as noted above) this week.

We’ll likely never find out the results of these games against China, but we did learn the result of KC Current II versus Minnesota Aurora FC from last weekend. The II’s went on the road and lost 2-0 behind two second half goals. Minnesota plays in USL W, an amateur league. Aurora also has a beautiful lineup of kits and wears a similar turquoise color.

Bassong Called Up

On Wednesday, Canadian Soccer announced their roster for the upcoming international window and Sporting KC’s Zorhan Bassong got the call once again.

Sporting KC recently rescheduled a game against LAFC to happen during this same international window to provide both teams relief from midweek congestion. The clubs were originally scheduled to play May 28th. LAFC have a very important FIFA Club World Cup qualifier that could land them $9.5 million if they win it and now, they’ll enter that game on full rest.

As for the games Zorhan could feature in, Canada is hosting the 2025 Canadian Shield and will face Ukraine and the Ivory Coast. New Zealand is also involved but only plays the other two nations.

So far, only Bassong has been called up from Sporting KC for this window.

Sporting KC Podcasts

Sporting Kansas City are in the habit of sending coaches and players on The Program with Soren Petro. This week, Kerry Zavagnin joined the show and last week it was John Pulskamp. Both are worth a listen.

Last week, former SKC player Andreu Fontas appeared on 4theFutbol’s podcast and was interviewed by another former KC player, Uri Rosell.

And from way back on April 9th, American Soccer Analysis did a podcast on Peter Vermes being fired and how they would fix Sporting KC. It’s interesting to listen to with six weeks of data in our heads.

St. Louis “Love”

Sporting Kansas City’s cross-state rivals, St. Louis City SC, were bounced from the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after blowing a late lead on Wedensday. Minnesota United and former STL fullback Anthony Markanich scored in the 85th and 88th minutes to pull MNUFC to a 3-2 win. The loss will leave St. Louis still chasing their first trophy.

In other news, there were reports that St. Louis were going to fire their new coach, Olof Mellberg, just 14 games into his first season at the helm. However, GiveMeSport’s Tom Bogert said those reports are “premature at the moment.” He also added that “the club’s leadership continues to evaluate the team’s performance and progress.”

Sources: Any rumor that St. Louis City have parted ways with head coach Olof Mellberg is premature for the moment, but the club's leadership continues to evaluate the team's performance and progress.STL have just 11 points after 14 matches, scoring just 11 goals (28th in MLS).

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-05-19T14:50:42.017Z

The last prematurely fired coach in St. Louis, Bradley Carnell, is now the coach of the Supporters Shield leading Philadelphia Union. In his only full season in charge, Carnell took expansion St. Louis to a first place Western Conference finish before being bounced out of the playoffs by Sporting KC in the first round.

Carnell was fired 23 games into his second season at the helm. Only time will tell if Mellberg lasts that long. He currently has his team sitting in 14th place in the West, only ahead of the lowly LA Galaxy and behind 13th place SKC.

New England Revolution

Speaking of the US Open Cup, this weekend’s opponent for Sporting KC is the New England Revolution. The Revs played a USOC game on Tuesday against the Chicago Fire and were eliminated 3-1 in the Round of 16.

The lineup was heavily rotated, so it’s unlikely the short rest will have an outsized impact on Saturday’s game against SKC.

Digital Crawl

  • There are still good players available in college.

  • Mexican Clubs filed suit to attempt to reinstate Promotion and Relegation in Liga MX. The league suspended Pro/Rel during COVID and some are concerned the league is becoming too much like MLS.
  • Sporting KC Academy defender Luca Antongirolami was called up to the US U-15 Boys’ National Team this week.
  • Former Sporting KC midfielder, Gianluca Busio, is on the verge of relegation (again) with Venezia FC. They need a win against Juventus and potentially help to avoid a Serie B tumble. If Busio is relegated, there is a possibility of a relegation clause in his contract that could see him leave, as these are common in world football.
  • Former KC Current goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz was called up by the US U-23s for a training camp and matches in Germany.
  • Christian Pulisic won’t be on the USMNT roster as he looks to get some rest before this summer’s Gold Cup.
  • FIFA and US Soccer approved a special 10-day transfer window for Inter Miami, the Seattle Sounders and potentially LAFC (if they qualify) ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. No other MLS teams will get this special June window.
  • The LA Galaxy extended Greg Vanney last week in the midst of the longest winless run to start an MLS season in league history. The streak has since gotten longer with the draw against LAFC in El Traffico this past weekend.
  • Stephen Colbert does a little roasting of USL League Two side, Portland Bangers FC.

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Since 2014, Chad Smith has been deeply involved in covering Kansas City soccer. He's written about Sporting KC, the KC Current and SKC II for numerous platforms, including The Blue Testament, which was the precursor to the KC Soccer Journal. While his initial connection to Sporting KC was established in Phoenix covering preseason, he now resides in the Kansas City area, offering thorough analysis and a strong commitment to local soccer.

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