Match Preview: Portland Thorns at KC Current

For the second time already this season, the Kansas City Current will get to host a team that defeated them on the road. A couple weeks ago, KC dismantled the Chicago Stars after that same Chicago team beat the Current in Illinois. Now KC’s focus turns to a Portland Thorns team that made the Current look like a junior varsity squad back in March. The match wasn’t even as close as the final 0-2 scoreline would make it seem as Portland dominated possession and outshot KC 18-6.

Will the Current be able to put up more of a fight this time around?

Until a few days ago, it seemed like Kansas City was trending in the right direction. They were riding a three-match winning streak, including two-in-a-row by shutouts. However, they headed out to the west coast on Wednesday and eventually departed having suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Angel City. Digging a little deeper into the wins that had seemingly created some positive momentum, they mostly came against bad teams. The Current edged out ninth place North Carolina before winning by a combined 6-0 scoreline against Chicago and Houston teams that will struggle for points throughout the campaign. Perhaps it’s not a surprise then that as soon as KC ran into a pretty competent Angel City team, they reverted to a version of themselves that often looks rather lost.

While all of this has been unfolding for the ladies in teal, the Thorns have steadily marched up the table, finally claiming the top spot recently. Portland has lost just twice in eleven matches, once to second-place San Diego and once (surprisingly) to Louisville. Their upward mobility has been aided by the return of Sophia Wilson from her maternity leave. Wilson, one-third of the USWNT’s “triple espresso”, has been the proverbial thorn in Kansas City’s side for years, including scoring against KC in the Current’s only ever Championship Match appearance.

Wilson, three goals on the season, is aided in the attack by players like Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner, both with four goals. Further back on the field, midfielder Jessie Fleming, defender Sam Hiatt, and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold have helped power Portland to a league-best +8 goal differential. This is a team that is deserving of their spot atop the standings.

With all this said, this weekend’s match is taking place in the friendly confines of CPKC Stadium, a site where the Current haven’t lost a regular season match in nearly two years. Despite the very up-and-down nature of this season, the Current have won all four prior matches at home, including beating teams like Gotham (5th place) and Utah (3rd place). In the brief history of this stadium, Kansas City has welcomed the Thorns twice, both times as season-opening matches. In 2024, the Current famously defeated Portland 5-4 in a wild start to a memorable season. Then in 2025, KC topped Rose City 3-1 to get things going. So…over the past two times the Current have hosted the Thorns, they’ve managed to net eight goals (and concede five). If history is any indication, this could be a high-scoring affair.

Of course, just as the Thorns have appreciated working Wilson back into full fitness, Kansas City have benefitted from the return of Temwa Chawinga. In fact, Chawinga missed that earlier 0-2 meeting and there’s little doubt that her presence on the field forces the opposition into a different style of play. In the six matches since Chawinga’s return, the Current are 4-2 (as compared with 1-3 without her) and she’s notched five goals. She’s also (re)developing a nice chemistry with Michelle Cooper and Croix Bethune. Even in the disappointing performance midweek, there were flashes of a team that can unlock a defense with ease. If not for some fantastic work from Angel City’s goalkeeper, Angelina Anderson–including saving a penalty kick, the Current could have escaped SoCal with another win.

Temwa has almost scored as many goals as ALL opponents combined at CPKC Stadium. Let that sink in. 🤯

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-05-22T19:14:34.878Z

Following Sunday’s match, the Current will finish up the front half of the season by hosting expansion side, Boston Legacy next Saturday. In sports’ talk, there’s an expression about getting caught looking ahead. Well, that’s not an issue here. Sure, the Legacy have started to find their form, but the real challenge is this weekend, hosting the Thorns. If the Current hope to enter the long Summer (World Cup) break with some real momentum, they will need to notch another home win against the team sitting in first.

WHEN: Sunday, May 24 at 12:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: CBS / Paramount+

Record:

KC Current: 5-0-5 (15 points, 6th place)

Portland Thorns: 7-2-2 (23 points, 1st place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 1-2 road defeat at Angel City FC

Portland Thorns: 2-0 home win versus Bay FC