KC Current resume NWSL play with 2-0 win in Louisville

The second half of the 2025 NWSL season kicked off after a six-week summer break with the Kansas City Current making a trip to Racing Louisville, winning 2-0. With an already earlier summer meeting, which Kansas City won 4-2, both teams were familiar with one another this season, and Racing Louisville appeared better prepared to host the Current, holding the league leaders scoreless until the 65th minute.

Despite coming in as the top team in the NWSL, the Current started slow in the first half in Louisville. The break and a few personnel changes impacted the way the Current began this game, though. Vanessa DiBenardo, who recently announced her pregnancy, was missing in the midfield, with Marta Lacho earning a start in her place. Goalkeeper Laurel Ivory made her NWSL regular season debut as Lorena is with the Brazilian national team for the Copa America.

Ivory, already having made her first appearance as a member of the Current in the Teal Rising Cup, kept Kansas City in the game in the first half as Racing Louisville attempted to take the lead in front of their hometown fans, stepping up to make key saves or intercept the ball. Ivory made a double save in the closing minutes of the half, stopping a cross in the penalty area. The ball went loose, giving Racing Louisville another opportunity, but Ivory had recovered from the first attempt and dove to save the second shot. Neither team was able to break through at the halfway point as they both worked through getting back to regular-season play.

Kansas City came out looking more like themselves in the second half, creating more opportunities and having their best of the night in the 64th minute to take the 1-0 lead. Temwa Chawinga had the ball near the top of the 18 and sent a pass to Lacho, who found Cooper on the right side. With a strong cross to the middle by Cooper, and Chawinga making a run to meet the ball, Chawinga scored her ninth goal of the season and her 29th career regular season goal for the club.

Debiha also returned in the 66th minute, making her 150th NWSL appearance. She became the 44th player all-time to reach 150 appearances, and the first Brazilian to reach that mark. Debinha had been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in May against Orlando.

TC6 CANNOT BE STOPPED ‼️

Temwa Chawinga finds the back of the net for her 9th goal of the season 👏@nwsl | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/QVIfyDcqUU

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) August 2, 2025

The Current were not finished, scoring one more goal to earn another victory. On a set piece, Izzy Rodriguez sent a rocket towards the goal. It appeared to be a goal for the defender, but Elizabeth Ball was able to get a touch on the way, and the credit went to Ball, who marked her 100th NWSL appearance. Ball became the 115th player in NWSL history to reach 100 games, and Izzy recorder her fourth assist of the season.

EBALLER BE BALLIN' 🔥@eball_er what a way to celebrate your 100th match 👏@nwsl | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/nCH91hS1L4

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) August 2, 2025

With the 2-0 win, Kansas City marked its seventh straight win, increasing its lead in the NWSL table with 36 points, 11 points of separation from Orlando Pride, which sits in second with 25 points (before their game on Sunday). The Current have also scored a league-leading 31 goals in the first 14 regular-season matches.