KC Current finish 2024 season with 3-1 win in Chicago

The Kansas City Current wrapped up the 2024 NWSL season at the Chicago Red Stars. With a spot in the playoffs safely secured and the number four spot locked in (since Washington Spirit defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 on Saturday night), the KC Current looked to end their season on a winning note in what has been a historic year for the club, breaking records and setting new ones along the way.

Kansas City entered this game with 54 goals, which tied the 2019 North Carolina Courage for most goals by a team in a season. The Current would set a new record of 57 goals by the end of regulation after this win. The Current also set a record earlier in the season of having 18 different goal scorers in NWSL regular season.

No Temwa Chawinga? No problem!

The big storyline for this game was that the Current would not have Temwa Chawinga for this game. She was listed unavailable with a knee injury she suffered in San Antonio pregame. The injury is day-to-day.

With plenty of depth in their roster, Kansas City would be covered. The Current went 4-3-3 for this one with Wheeler, Sharples, Cook, and Mace at defense, Hutton, LaBonta, and Cooper at midfield, and Debinha, Prince, and DiBenardo  playing up top.

For the last time this regular season 🥹@BlueKC | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/dhVdJdWbDM

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) November 3, 2024

With both teams in the playoffs and the Current safe at the number four spot, regardless of the result, the Chicago Red Stars were actually playing for position. They could finish as high as 6th with the win and with a loss placing them in the 8th spot to face the NWSL Shield winners, the Orlando Pride. The Current would take advantage of a shaky Chicago Red Stars and worked to get their first goal of the game.

In the 22nd minute, the Current were on the attack with Michelle Cooper dribbling in the midfield. Cooper lost possession on a brief challenge, but the ball bounced toward Nichelle Prince. Cooper continued her run though, and Prince found her for the pass. Cooper was able to finish for the first goal of the game. The goal would break the record for most goals in a single season scored in a season as the Current scored goal number 55 of 2024.

Michelle Cooper with the opener! 55th goal for the KC Current this year, the most in an NWSL season ever! #KCBaby #CHIvKC pic.twitter.com/vUgW2VouT7

— KC Soccer Journal (@KCSoccerJournal) November 3, 2024

Three minutes later, the Current extended their lead as the Red Stars struggled in the box. Vanessa DiBenardo won the ball back and passed to Debinha who scored the club’s 56th goal of the season and second of the game.

DEB MAKES IT LOOK EASY 🤯@Debinha7 finishes off the assist from @vdibernardo10 for the club's 56TH GOAL OF THE SEASON!@NWSL | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/DLqZge6q7g

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) November 3, 2024

Kansas City continued pressing and found themselves again in a scoring opportunity. Cooper attempted a shot in the box, but it was blocked by a Chicago defender. Hutton recovered the ball outside the box and sent it in for an attempt on goal. Chicago intercepted, but only briefly as the ball landed right to Nichelle Prince for her to get it past another Chicago defender and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for the third goal of the afternoon and number 57 of the season.

DEB MAKES IT LOOK EASY 🤯@Debinha7 finishes off the assist from @vdibernardo10 for the club's 56TH GOAL OF THE SEASON!@NWSL | #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/DLqZge6q7g

— KC Current – x (@thekccurrent) November 3, 2024

Kansas City allowed the Red Stars to score a goal in the 51st minute as the Current left a gap in the middle of the backline for Ally Schlegel to sneak through to make it 3-1 and the last goal scored in the game. The Red Stars did not manage a single shot on goal in the first half, but found more opportunities in the second half.

The one & only @sheabayy2 assists @allyschlegel34 to put us on the board 😤#WithTheStars | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/vMDMcFbtOc

— Chicago Red Stars – x (@chicagoredstars) November 3, 2024

With the win, the Current end the 2024 season with 16 wins, 3 losses, and 7 draws with a goal differential of +26. Kansas City is set to host the North Carolina Courage in the quarterfinals on Saturday at CPKC Stadium at 11 am. The winner of the match faces the winner of the Orlando Pride/Chicago Red Stars game.

Chicago Red Stars Vs. Kansas City Current Match Report
Date: November 3, 2024
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
Kickoff: 2:15 p.m. CT/3:15 p.m. ET
Weather: 60 degrees, cloudy
Attendance: 5,595

Discipline
81’ Kansas City – Magaia (Yellow)

Scoring
23’ Kansas City – Cooper (Prince)
26’ Kansas City – Debinha (DiBernardo)
33’ Kansas City – Prince
52’ Chicago – Schlegel (Groom)

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: Naeher ©, Anderson, Roccaro, Kuikka (45’ Curran), Malham, Franklin, Grosso (81’ Cook), Swanson (45’ Joseph), Groom (81’ Bike), Biegalski, Schlegel (74’ Nesbeth)
Unused Substitutes: Wood, Bianchi, Ayane, Milazzo

Kansas City Current Lineup: Schult, Wheeler, Sharples (60’ Ballisager), Cook (66’ Ball), Mace, LaBonta © (60’ Feist), Hutton (66’ Scott), DiBernardo, Prince, Debinha (80’ Magaia), Cooper
Unused Substitutes: Franch, Rodriguez, Hamilton, Jereko