Match Preview: KC Current at Seattle Reign

For likely the first time this season, the Kansas City Current are exiting a match with a real sense of disappointment. The schedule-makers, weather, and Jane Campbell all played havoc on Kansas City’s plans to open this busy week.

Sometimes soccer feels like a unique sport in which one team can be demonstrably better and yet not win. That was certainly the case in Texas on Sunday as the Current outshot the Houston Dash 29 to 8 and yet had to settle for a draw after they couldn’t capitalize on most of their chances and then gifted the Dash a goal with some sloppy play on one of the few forages into KC territory. Perhaps a result like this was inevitable as for much of the season KC has far exceeded their expected goals and yet xG would have had them scoring at least two this weekend. That’s compared to the 0.2 xG for Houston.

The KC Current need to quickly put any feelings of disappointment behind them because just 72 hours after they walked off the field in Houston, they’ll be walking onto the field in Washington to take on the Seattle Reign FC (née OL Reign, Reign FC, etc.). Not only will the Reign have the advantage of two extra days of rest, but they also played home on Friday and remain home for Wednesday’s fixture. Additionally, they may be riding an emotional high as Laura Harvey’s women overcame a red card and a goal in a comeback win against the Wave last time out.

But excuses are for those who aren’t good enough and all evidence suggests that the Current are good enough to persevere through any disadvantages.

Despite Friday’s victory, the Reign find themselves in unfamiliar territory a quarter of the way into the season. Turn back the clock to November and you would see Seattle clashing with Gotham in the NWSL Championship, but they currently sit in eleventh place with just two wins in seven matches. They have a minus three goal differential on the season and their recent win followed five straight losses.

The Reign have traditionally been so consistently successful that Harvey was rumored to be on the shortlist for the USWNT coaching vacancy created with Vlatko departed (a job that would ultimately be awarded to Chelsea’s Emma Hayes), but that consistent success has been absent in 2024. The club did say goodbye to legend Megan Rapino in the offseason and has delt with a few injuries (Claudia Dickey, Jordyn Huitema, and Quinn were “out” for Friday’s game) but still boasts a roster rife with talent. Alana Cook, Ji So-yun, Jess Fishlock, Sofia Huerta all feature on their respective national team rosters. Tziarra King will be unavailable for the Reign as the recipient of aforementioned red card.

Meanwhile, the Current enter Wednesday’s match in the unusual position of having to look up at a different team occupying the top spot in the league standings. Like KC, the Orlando Pride are undefeated this season; five wins and three draws give them 18 points, one better than the Current’s 17. They have, however, played an extra match compared to KC so a win for the Current on Wednesday allows them to reassume their rightful spot in first.

One of the primary questions to ask as we prepare for this Lumen Field matchup is what sort of lineup Kansas City will trot out. After being unavailable for the weekend’s game, will Bia make the trip northwest? Did Mace suffer a serious injury Sunday? What players will need rest after the very unusual (4-hour “halftime”) game in Houston? Will this quick turnaround give some players (Hamilton, Scott, Prince, etc.) who have either fallen down the depth chart or yet to debut for the team a chance at some playing time? Who are the team’s starting center backs–Ball? Robinson? Ballisager? What about the starting forwards? When healthy, Bia and Chawinga are clearly two of them, but is Spaanstra definitively the third? If Bia’s still unable to go, does Lavogez continue in the #9 spot?

After being lauded for pulling the right strings in the second half of the Angel City match, Vlatko didn’t quite get it right in Houston. He and his staff will earn their pay if they can successfully navigate this congested schedule and emerge from Seattle with a win; especially if they can then follow it up with another W just a few days later against the Courage.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 8 at 9:00 PM (Central Time)

WHERE: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

HOW TO WATCH: 38 The Spot/NWSL+

Record:

Current: 5-2-0 (17 points, 2nd place)

Seattle Reign FC: 2-0-5 (6 points, 11th place)

Last Match:

KC Current: 1-1 draw away to Houston Dash

Seattle Reign FC: 2-1 win home to San Diego Wave