Photo Credit: Peter Aiken for Imagn Images
Just two minutes into the 2025 season, Kansas City’s reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga found the back of the net, an all too familiar sight for National Women’s Soccer League defenses who have become accustomed to the Current’s crafty forward.
Now, through five games, it appears the whole squad has picked up right where it left off last November when the Current advanced to the league semifinals. The biggest difference?
“It’s just more mature,” coach Vlatko Andonovski said after his team’s 2-0 victory against Houston on Saturday. “We still have a very similar system and the structure is very similar but there are little things that we do better.”
One specific thing that has helped the Current take over the top of the table is their ability to limit scoring. At this point last season, the Current had conceded 10 goals including four in a nine-goal barnburner against Portland to open the season. They also had a 1-1 draw against Gotham.
This time around, Kansas City is undefeated and has allowed just one, giving goalkeeper Lorena four shutouts to start the season. It also helps that she’s only faced 15 shots on target. That mark is second-lowest in the league, though Orlando has allowed one more goal.
“She certainly gives comfort and confidence to the backline,” Andonovski said. “Our whole line plays more composed, they defend with confidence, it’s just a different feeling and I’m glad that we have that. It shows every game.”
So far, Lorena appears to be another rousing success story for Andonvski’s international recruiting portfolio, playing in her first NWSL season. The Ituverava, Brazil, native made her professional debut in 2017 and helped lead her home country to a silver medal in 2024 Olympic Tournament.
With her in goal, the Current set a club record last week with 401 consecutive shutout minutes. Her five straight wins to start the season is the second-longest streak of its kind. As a team, the Current have won nine regular season matches in a row and boast an NWSL-best +6.9 expected goal differential.
“I think it’s really engrained in this team that everyone has to defend and also what we really try to hit on is defend with attack in mind,” Kayla Sharples said after the match. “Being put in those specific positions also allows us to score on the other end, to be lethal and attack in transition. I think it’s all just coming together.”
Another valuable element to this team is the lack of offseason movement. Outside of Lorena, who signed a three-year deal in December, the club did not add any other consistent contributors after the Olympic break, which proved to be an important turning point for the team last year.
Adding Sharples and Alana Cook, as well as goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who departed in the offseason, the Current went on a run, ending a three-match losing streak and allowing just one goal in the next six matches. Now, they are finally seeing the benefits of a full season together. Beatriz and Nichelle Price are healthy too, which certainly doesn’t hurt.
“We had all of last year to put everything into place for us,” veteran midfielder and Current captain Lo’eau LaBonta said. “Now, there is no new learning this year. You know what you are supposed to do and if you don’t do it, the next person will do it for you. I think everybody knows their roles and everything has fallen into place.”
