KC Current vs. Corinthians: Teal Rising Championship

From the moment the NWSL announced the 2025 league schedule, the month of July was always going to stand out. It is unusual for a professional league to take a six-week break in the middle of a season–the Chiefs don’t get to Thanksgiving and then say, “OK, we’ll reconvene after New Year’s.” Yes, it’s perhaps a little less unusual for the sport of soccer with so many players juggling regular responsibilities between club and country but regardless, a month-and-a-half is still a long time. That’s especially true for a team that is enjoying record-breaking success through the first 50% of the season.

A year ago, the NWSL helped fill the gap when the Olympic break rolled around by creating The Summer Cup, a competition that featured all 14 American clubs and 6 teams from Liga MX Femenil. (The Kansas City Current went on to win that as well as The Women’s Cup around the same time.) However, this season there was no league-wide tournament to help teams keep fresh. In effect each club got to choose how they would spend the time away from competitive matches. And in KC’s case, that meant creating a new four-team tournament pitting the NWSL against the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino (Brazilian league).

*Additionally, the Current have recently announced that they are hosting HB Køge Women for a “training” (which will no doubt include a scrimmage) and is open to season ticket holders and Current Club members on July 25. HB Køge is the Danish team that Current owner’s Angie and Chris Long also recently acquired.

Out of these conditions, the Teal Rising Cup was born. The semifinals took place on Saturday with the Chicago Stars falling 0-1 to Corinthians SC behind a 92nd minute winner from Letícia Teles da Silva.

Final from CPKC Stadium. pic.twitter.com/eYUJKKKjij

— Chicago Stars FC (@theChicagoStars) July 12, 2025

With one Brazilian side securing its place in the final, Palmeiras looked to follow suit against the hosts, but it was Kansas City who controlled the match from the opening whistle to book a chance at a title. A first half brace from Haley Hopkins and a second half goal off a shot from Flora Marta Lacho was more than enough offense as the Current earned a 3-0 win.

CHAMPIONSHIP UP NEXT 🤩

✔️ Hopkins First-Half Brace
✔️ Feist Multi-Assist Match
✔️ Ivory Club Debut / Shutout
✔️ Long First Start
✔️ Scott First Start / Pro Debut
✔️ Pfeiff Return
✔️ Lacho First Club Goal
✔️ Dominant Dub

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 13, 2025

With just three days between the semis and the final, the Current and Corinthians turn their focuses on each other. Will the team from São Paulo present KC more of a challenge than…another team from São Paulo did? In their domestic league, Corinthians currently sit second (Palmeiras are in 4th) with a league record of ten wins, four draws, and just a single loss. As Brabas (team nickname) have long been the most dominate team in Brazilian soccer; they currently hold both the Brazilian National Women’s Soccer and CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina titles. Even before notching the go-ahead goal, Corinthians were outplaying the Stars on Saturday with more shots, better chances, and more possession.

Meanwhile, despite trotting out a makeshift lineup that included giving two players their first ever professional minutes (Scott and Brewer), the Kansas City Current were never bothered by Palmeiras. The South Americans managed only a single shot on target allowing Laurel Ivory to ease into her first appearance in goal for KC. Both LaBonta and Pfeiffer returned to the pitch for the first times since suffering injuries (for Alex, it had been more than a year since she’d donned the KC kit). Mary Long earned her first start for KC and Regan Steigleder saw her first action of the season. Really, the only negative from Saturday for the Current was that, after contributing two assists in the first half, Bayley Feist was shown a (perplexing) red card. Andonovski, in his postgame press conference, suggested that after they got to study the film, they may consider appealing her ejection. If not, she’ll miss Tuesday’s match.

Will Kansas City again go with such a young and unproven group in the title match on Tuesday? Most likely it will be more of a combination of starters and reserves. Several regulars (LaBonta, Cooper, Hutton, Rodriguez) entered the match late and additional starters such as Chawinga and Mace were available off the bench. Friendlies, or a tournament such as this, provide a club a great opportunity to both let some role players see more action while also keeping the A team primed and ready for the resumption of the regular season.

And, not to be ignored, Kansas City want to win. This is, after all, the final of a tournament with their crest on it. The Current have only existed for half a decade, but they’re starting to grow their trophy case. After The Summer Cup and The Women’s Cup from 2024, this is their first (but not last!) chance to add to their collection this season.

Those who attend or tune in Tuesday evening will get to see one team rewarded at the end of 90 minutes. Will captain LaBonta and her teal-clad teammates get the honor, or will Corinthians have a shiny new item to cart back to Brazil?

WHEN: Tuesday, July 15 at 8:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN+

Record:

Kansas City Current: 1-0 (Teal Rising Cup)

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista: 1-0 (Teal Rising Cup)

Last Match:

Kansas City Current: 3-0 home win versus Palmeiras

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista: 1-0 win neutral site win versus Chicago Stars