Kansas City Current capture NWSL Shield after 2-0 win

Kansas City versus Seattle. Vlatko Andonovski versus Laura Harvey. The only remaining original head coaches of the 2013 inaugural season, and the only two coaches to have over 100 wins to their name. A fitting matchup on a night that the Current would clinch the NWSL Shield with the win as the regular season’s best team. But they would have to defeat the team that won 1-0 in their last meeting back in May, and doing so was what they needed to celebrate at CPKC Stadium.

With home-field advantage already clinched for the playoffs, Andonovski continued to opt for rotation, resting Michelle Cooper, who was listed as questionable on the injury report, and having Hailie Mace, Bia Zaneratto, and Lo’eau LaBonta starting on the bench. All three entered the match in the second half. Mace would leave in the 62nd minute with an ankle injury. Temwa Chawinga, though listed as questionable, returned after missing last week due to injury. Defender Gabrielle Robinson made her first start since May 2025.

MOVE. AS. ONE. 🫶@BlueKC | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/9VwlgRzp6j

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) September 20, 2025

From the start of the game, the Current began to control the first half, maintaining possession (67%) and keeping most of the play on the Seattle half as they vied for the first goal (14 shots, 4 on target, 1.71 xG). There were close opportunities: a nice lob from Chawinga to Nichelle Prince in the 6th minute that went just wide, and in the 15th minute, when Chawinga found Ally Sentnor, who took a shot on goal, but it was saved by Seattle goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. Sentnor, who often kept the ball to take a shot instead of passing, was not able to get the breakthrough needed for Kansas City.

But in the 30th minute, Sentnor again attempted to send a goal outside the box. In her attempt to block the shot, the ball hit Seattle’s Angharad James-Turner’s hand. It took VAR to confirm it, and once it did, Debinha went to the spot and converted, giving Kansas City the 1-0 lead, putting the Current one step closer towards capturing the Shield. The PK was Debinha’s sixth goal of the season.

The second half began with quite a bit of injury time, which added 10 minutes of extra time at the end. While possession shifted to Seattle (57%) and even expected goals (.76), Kansas City had more chances, including in the 55th minute as Chawinga passed to Prince, but her shot went right to the keeper. In the 74th minute, Haley Hopkins, who subbed in for Debinha in the 73rd, took the ball into the box and beat a defender before losing the ball. Bia gained control of the loose ball and took a shot at a goal. Dickey blocked the shot and went back into the box. Chawinga, near it, headed it in for the goal.

BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL 🎉

With her 13th goal of the season, Temwa Chawinga regains the lead for the Golden Boot Race 👏@NWSL | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/xU7PmaZpdR

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) September 21, 2025

Chawinga’s goal would be the celebratory moment for the Current to clinch the Shield, becoming the fastest club to win the Shield in NWSL history, with five regular-season games left in the 2025 season. The Current improved to 17-2-2 and will finish as number one regardless of results.