The Kansas City Current kicked off their 2025 season with a spirited 3-1 win against the Portland Thorns on March 15, 2025, at CPKC Stadium, captivating fans who had packed the stands.
Reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga left her mark early, scoring on her very first shot just two minutes after the whistle blew. This strong opening echoed the start of last season, where the Current also triumphed over the Thorns. Last year's contest ended dramatically, with the Thorns battling back to nearly equalize before falling 5-4.
The Current's offense was relentless this time. Michelle Cooper added the second goal with a well-placed shot from outside the box, giving the home team a substantial 2-0 lead by the 23rd minute. Debinha, another standout player for the Current, capped off the first half with another goal, making it 3-0 just 13 minutes later. Fans roared as the team headed to the locker room at halftime with this commanding advantage.
Despite the Current's early lead, the Portland Thorns were determined not to go down without resistance. Star player Olivia Moultrie put the ball in the net just after halftime, cutting the deficit to 3-1 with help from Hina Sugita's assist. Moultrie had nearly brought her team closer to leveling the score late, but her penalty missed when it hit the crossbar, sealing the victory for the Current.
Aside from the game’s scoreline, several players achieved significant milestones, contributing to the narrative of the match. Debinha's goal marked her 13th league goal for Kansas City, tying her with CeCe Kizer for third place all-time on the club's scoring list. Her scoring prowess does not end there—her assist during the match was her ninth for the club, which broke her tie for most assists, now surpassing Vanessa DiBernardo's previous record.
Michelle Cooper, meanwhile, made her mark with her 43rd league appearance, breaking her tie with Desiree Scott and Kristen Edmonds for eighth all-time on this list. She also secured her seventh goal for the Current, tying her with Sydney Leroux and Yael Averbuch for 11th all-time among KC NWSL teams.
Vanessa DiBernardo excelled with performance stats of her own. She made multiple game contributions, including significant advances on the all-time minutes played leaderboard for the Current. DiBernardo passed several players during the match, culminating with her finishing the day with 3,254 minutes logged, moving up to 13th place all-time for league minutes played.
The excitement transcended just the match results, as fans were delighted to once again support their team at the CPKC Stadium, which is lauded as the first purpose-built facility for women’s professional sports. “Oh man, I’m really excited. You know, it's a home opener, and it’s been a long time since we've been able to see them play,” expressed current fan Thomas.
Fellow fan Kyla Bently added, “I just love coming out to the games because it’s so fun supporting them.” The community around the Current feels tightly knit, with many eager to be part of what they see as history-making moments since the field only boosts local women's sports awareness.
Looking forward, the Kansas City Current is set to travel to Washington to face the Spirit on March 22 at 6:30 p.m. Following this, they will return home for another exciting match against the Utah Royals on March 29, also at 6:30 p.m.
The victory on opening day affirms the team’s resolve and capability for the season. With impactful performances, significant milestones, and strong community backing, the Kansas City Current is well-positioned to make waves both on and off the pitch as they continue their campaign through the 2025 NWSL season.
