KC Current
Kansas City Current win inaugural Teal Rising Cup
Despite a close and exciting 2-1 match on a Tuesday night, with Corinthians SC fighting until the end, the Kansas City Current won the inaugural Teal Rising Cup, presented by Visit Missouri and hosted at CPKC Stadium. Both teams punched their place in the championship match after winning their opening matches on Saturday. Corinthians defeated the Chicago Stars after a 1-0 win, and Kansas City won 3-0 versus Palmeiras.
With the return of Lo’eau LaBonta, Michelle Cooper, Izzie Rodriguez, and Claire Hutton to the starting XI after resting much of Saturday’s game, the Current started this title game taking the early lead with Cooper scoring the opening goal in the third minute. With Kansas City moving the ball forward, LaBonta found Cooper making a run towards the center of the goal. All Cooper had to do was get past a defender to get a shot on goal after receiving the ball.
Can I get a COOOOOOOOOOOOP 🗣️@michelle1cooper opens scoring in the Championship match of Teal Rising Cup 🔥@nwsl | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/7gyqtrgnFW
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 16, 2025
Twenty minutes later, the Current extended that lead to 2-0 as Corinthians struggled to contain Kansas City those first twenty minutes. Cooper made a run on the right side, taking the ball all the way to the box. Her pass to the middle found Mary Long who was left unmarked. With one touch, Long scored her first career professional goal, much to the joy of her parents, Kansas City co-owners Chris and Angie Long who were in attendance and celebrated.
MARY LONG FEELIN' THE TEAL TONIGHT 🔥@marylong2025 finds the back of the net for her first pro goal 👏@nwsl | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/cWyHk5dZKU
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 16, 2025
Corinthians would not allow Kansas City to get beyond two goals as Gabriela Zanotti scored off a header. While the goal in regular NWSL season play could have been reviewed for a potential offside, there was no VAR available for this tournament. The goal stood, despite some argument from the Current players, and the game was suddenly close at 2-1.
The game would remain close throughout the second half, with Corinthians having a much better half, appearing more organized, maintaining possession, impressing with their quick passes, and giving the Current defense a challenge. But the effort would fall short as Kansas City held on to win the tournament, adding a third trophy overall for the club.
ANOTHER TROPHY LIFT FOR #KCBABY!! pic.twitter.com/WQQdH0TC6S
— KC Current (@thekccurrent) July 16, 2025
Teal Rising Cup Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs. Corinthians SC
Date: July 15, 2025
Venue: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Kickoff: 8:10 p.m. CT/10:10 p.m. BRT
Weather: 86 degrees, sunny
Discipline
20’ Corinthians – Silva (Yellow)
47’ Corinthians – Alves (Yellow)
90+4’ Kansas City – Ivory (Yellow)
Scoring
3’ Kansas City – Cooper (LaBonta)
23’ Kansas City – Long (Cooper)
25’ Corinthians – Demoner (Alves)
Kansas City Current Lineup: Ivory, Scott (69’ Wheeler), Steigleder, Sharples, I. Rodriguez, LaBonta © (46’ R. Rodríguez, Hutton, Lacho (85’ Mace), Cooper (75’ Pfeiffer), Long (69’ Prince), Hopkins
Unused Substitutes: Gordon, Mace, Ball, Brewer, Chawinga, Zaneratto
Corinthians SC Lineup: Ramos, Silva (80’ Monteiro), T. Ferreira, Alves, Demoner, Rodrigues © (80’ Gil), Miranda, Silva, Almeida, Gomes, Santos
Unused Substitutes: K. Ferreira, Oliveira, Thais Regina, Passari, Pires, Oliviera, Correa, Godoi
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This felt like a more even competition than the summer cup, even if it was still mostly backups on our part. Corinthians hung in there. Good to see Lacho get minutes.
Next, do SC Internacional Feminina! 🙂
That was nervy. A lot of B team for us, as you said, but once they got up 2-0, Corinthians had better of the play. Even if their goal probably shouldn’t have counted. Good to get some backups minutes and to get others into the flow.
There really does need to be a secondary competition for more gametime. Bring back the Challenge Cup and make it the women’s version of the US Open Cup (invite USL teams), make the Liga MX thing bigger and annual, whatever it takes.