KC Current
KC Current head west to face the Portland Thorns
After a week of being in the news for the league’s poor handling of the mid-afternoon August game at CPKC Stadium last Saturday, the Kansas City Current head west to face the Portland Thorns, where they look to continue their unbeaten record and get one game closer to potentially clinching the NWSL Shield sometime this fall (It’s a high probability at this point).
Match details
Kansas City Current
@ Portland Thorns
Providence Park | Portland, OR
9 pm CT
TV: ION (nationally), KMCI 38 the Spot (locally)
Radio: 90.9 The Bridge, KC Current app
ICYMI and FYI
- The KC Current remain at the top of the NWSL table for 12 weeks in a row with a record of 13 wins, 2 losses, and a draw.
- After a 0-0 draw versus the Orlando Pride last Saturday, the club reached 40 points, with an 11-point game lead over second-place San Diego Wave.
- Kansas City is only 15 points away from tying its 2024 record of 55 points.
- Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski coached his 200th NWSL regular-season game against Orlando last weekend.
- The Current lead the league with nine shutouts, reaching 428 minutes, which goes back to Jun 14, 2025.
What you need to know about the Portland Thorns
The Thorns are 7-4-5, sitting fifth in the NWSL standings with 26 points. At Providence Park, they have scored nine goals in their last five matches and are unbeaten at home in 10 straight games. Their previous home game two weeks ago against Cascadia rival Seattle Reign, which Portland won 4-2, drew 21,811 fans, making it one of the toughest places to play in the NWSL. Portland is 3-1-1 in its previous five games. The Thorns’ attack is led by rookie Pietra Tordin, who has scored in three of the last five matches.
Recent KC vs. Portland meetings
Saturday’s match will be the 13th all-time meeting between the two clubs. Portland has won six of those meetings, with the Current winning four, and two games have resulted in draws. The last meeting took place on March 15, when both clubs opened their 2025 seasons, with the Current hosting the Thorns for the second consecutive year. Kansas City won 3-1 after taking a 3-0 lead in the first half. Portland’s one goal came in the 49th minute, and the Current began another season with a win over Portland.
Injury report
OUT – Alana Cook (SEI-knee), Kristen Hamilton (hip), Vanessa DiBernardo (maternity leave), Clare Gagne (head), Elizabeth Ball (hip)
QUESTIONABLE – None
Prediction
Kansas City is coming off a less-than-stellar performance in the 0-0 draw versus Orlando, where the Current managed one shot on target for the game. Much of that could have been the result of the 3 1/2 hour delay and the heat that plagued Kansas City that day. Portland is also looking to shake off its last performance at the North Carolina Courage, where it gave up a goal in the 71st minute, leaving WakeMed Soccer Park with a point. While Kansas City continues to sit at the top of the table, Portland is a team that is hoping a victory over the league leaders will cement them as one of the top teams this season, and the Thorns have already defeated two of the top teams this season, winning 1-0 at the Orlando Pride, and winning 2-0 versus the Washington Spirit. But getting past the Current will not be easy, as the Current are the league’s top attack with 32 goals this season, holding a 22+ goal differential. Defensively, the Current have only allowed 10 goals, the lowest in the league. It will be quite the matchup, and it has the potential to be a goalfest at Providence Park.
Score: 3-2, Kansas City
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Nice preview Cindy! The one area where I’m going to differ from you is the score prediction. I feel like KC is trending away from their high-scoring days. In their previous four league matches, they’ve scored a total of four goals. And they’ve conceded just once. I actually hope you’re right and I’m wrong and the Current can regain their scoring prowess, but I feel like this is more likely heading towards a 1-0 type of scoreline.