The Women’s Cup match preview: Current vs. Sundowns

The summer of international soccer rolls on for the Kansas City Current this week as, for the first time, the team squares off against an opponent from Africa on Wednesday and then either Europe or Asia on Saturday.

The last few weeks have seen KC experiencing success in the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup going 4-0 (outscoring their opponents 12-2) and securing a spot in that competition’s final (set for late October).

During that tournament, the Current easily dispatched their two international foes, Pachuca & Tigres of the Mexican league. This week finds the 2nd place team in the NWSL hosting The Women’s Cup and welcoming teams from South Africa, Spain, and Japan for a quick tournament as the Olympic break stretches on for the league.

The competition begins with Atlético de Madrid (Spain) playing INAC Kobe (Japan) Wednesday at 5 p.m. A few hours later, KC takes the field against Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C. from South Africa. The Sundowns are the most successful women’s team in South Africa, having won six league titles, including the last four straight (they currently have a +64 goal differential in league play). They are also among the most successful teams from the continent of Africa, having won the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021. The team is comprised entirely of African athletes, including all but three from South Africa.

The NWSL in general, and the Current specifically, have come to appreciate the talents of soccer players from Africa as stars from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, & Malawi were all signed to NWSL contracts this past offseason. Currently, the Golden Boot race is being led by Barbra Banda (Zambia/Orlando) and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi/KC).

As a nation, South Africa has experienced increasing women’s soccer success, not only qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, but advancing to the knockout rounds. Twelve (!) members of the Sundowns roster have appeared recently for their national team, Banyana Banyana. This won’t be a group that is easily rattled by a hostile crowd at CPKC Stadium.

Meanwhile the dream season continues for the team from the Soccer Capital of America. In the past ten-and-a-half months, the Current have suffered exactly one defeat in competitive matches. They are averaging 2.5 goals per match in league play, and, again, just cruised through the group stage and semifinals of the Summer Cup. Their first of its kind stadium not only gives them a huge lift in home matches (the team has sold out every league game thus far), but also has provided them with the opportunities to host the Summer Cup, the Women’s Cup, and in just a few months, the NWSL Championship match.

The Summer Olympics forced a 50-day break from league play, but that hasn’t dulled any of Kansas City’s momentum. In fact, an argument could be made that the team has grown deeper and more dangerous over the past month. Three KC’ers were named to the NWSL’s Best XI for July–LaBonta, Debinha, and Hamilton. This recognition is especially significant for Debinha, who has delt with injuries and hasn’t been her usual dangerous self for much of this season, and for Hamilton, who had barely seen the field in 2024 prior to the international break. As the team has adjusted to absences and injuries along the front line (Prince, Bia, Pfeiffer, etc.), Hamilton has infused energy and a deft scoring touch.

As the team has adjusted to absences and injuries in the center back role (Lauren, Ball, Robinson, etc.), the Current went out and signed former USWNT star Alana Cook who has started the past two matches as the Current have only conceded once in that time. There is also new veteran depth in goal as the team has added Almuth Schult, a keeper with 66 caps for the German national team.

What this all means is that as players return from international duty and others mend from their injuries, a team that was already in the top tier of the sport may become that much more invincible. And The Women’s Cup this week gives them their first chance at hardware, not to mention a $100,000 prize pool. The KC-edition of TWC will be the third of 2024 after Gotham won in Colombia in February and Louisville is currently hosting the second. The winner of each event gets an invitation to play in the Global Series Finals in early 2025.

Prediction for this Wednesday? The train horns drown out any vuvuzelas that made the trip over from South Africa.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 14 at 8:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, MO

HOW TO WATCH: VIZIO WatchFree+

Record:

KC Current: 0-0-0 in The Women’s Cup; 10-5-1 (35 points, 2nd place in NWSL league standings)

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C.: 0-0-0 in The Women’s Cup; 15-2-1 (47 points, 1st place in SAFA league standings)

Last Match:

KC Current: 2-0 home win to North Carolina Courage

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C.: 8-0 home win to Richmond United