KC Current earn first win since July 29, defeating North Carolina

The last Saturday of August, at 97 degrees, delayed the start of the Kansas City Current match against the North Carolina Courage by 17 minutes. The game featured the return of Temwa Chawinga, who spent the past month with Malawi at WAFCON, where Malawi qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The match also featured the number six team (North Carolina) versus the number seven team (KC), but the 3-2 win would give Kansas City three much-needed points after a series of draws and a loss since its last win on July 29.

Chris Armas decided to go with the same starting lineup as the previous week, having Haley Hopkins on the left wing for Debinha to play the nine. Chawinga started on the bench, but subbed in for Michelle Cooper in the 62nd minute. Gabrielle Robinson left the game with an injury in the 24th minute. She appeared to hyperextend her knee and returned briefly before being subbed out by Katie Scott.

ALL GAS NO BREAKS ⛽️

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-08-29T21:31:49.045Z

To keep a North Carolina team that came into this match having won four of the last games, the Current started attacking early and constantly, barely giving the Courage a chance at goal. By the 12th minute, Kansas City took the early lead. Izzy Rodriguez recovered a loose ball and sent it into the box. Kayla Sharples connected with the service, but the ball last touched North Carolina defender Natalia Staude, and the goal was ruled an own goal.

Chaos in the box and KC Current capitalizes 💪

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-08-29T23:06:13.503Z

The Current did not slow their attack and continued to limit the Courage’s touches and kept them away from reaching Kansas City’s final third. In the 35th minute, Croix Bethune, despite being challenged in the box, went around her defenders and went right for goal as Kailen Sheridan came off her line. It was another masterpiece of Bethune’s vision. The goal marked Bethune’s fourth goal of the season.

The hustle.The golazo.Everything about this from Haley Hopkins and Croix Bethune is #KCBABY❗️

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-08-29T23:40:07.946Z

Kansas City scored its third goal of the first half as Haley Hopkins found Michelle Cooper making a run in between two defenders and beating them to the ball sent her way. She took one touch and placed her shot in the upper corner for goal.

COOP GETS HERS.Michelle Cooper with a 💰 finish to make it 3-0!@nwslsoccer.com

— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) 2026-08-29T23:41:55.754Z

North Carolina would not leave the first half without a goal, and with their only shot on goal out of four shots total, Ashley Sanchez, the NWSL’s leading scorer, easily beat Katie Scott on the wing to meet with a pass and found Evelyn Ijeh unmarked to make it 3-1.

While the first half was Kansas City winning the xG (1.70) and shots/shots on target (8/6), North Carolina began to control the second half and was nearly awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute as Katie Scott fouled near the box. It took VAR to confirm it was outside the box. But in the 77th minute, an actual penalty kick was awarded for a handball on Sharples, and Riley Jackson converted for the 3-2 score, making it a very close and tight game until the end.