Photo by Eric Thomas/NWSL via Getty Images
Mother’s Day Sunday in the National Women’s Soccer League delivered a mix of drama. While Kansas City lit up the afternoon with a multi-goal performance, Washington found the edge in a tight contest.
Chawinga breaks through in style as Current dominate Stars
After waiting more than a month for her first goal of the season, Temwa Chawinga decided one wasn’t enough.
The reigning, back-to-back league MVP and Golden Boot winner became the first player to score a regular season hat trick in Current history, powering Kansas City to a 3-0 win over Chicago Stars FC at home.
Chawinga opened the scoring midway through the first half after combining with Croix Bethune, then took over immediately after the break with goals just two minutes apart to put the match out of reach. The victory also marked the Kansas City Current’s first clean sheet of the 2026 season, rounding out a statement performance on both sides of the ball.
Kansas City had entered the weekend in the middle of the table despite Chawinga not yet scoring this season, which makes Sunday’s breakthrough even more ominous for the rest of the league if the Current attack is now fully clicking.
On the flip side, the result only deepened Chicago’s early-season problems. The Stars have now dropped seven of their opening nine matches and sit in second last in the standings, with a league-worst goal difference of -14.
Martínez socres Spirit winner as Reign’s offensive woes continue
The late game in Seattle was far less eventful for most of the night, but the Washington Spirit still found a way to keep rolling.
After a match largely defined by misplaced passes, few clear chances, and long stretches without either side seriously testing the goalkeeper, Claudia Martínez finally broke through in the 84th minute to lift Washington to a 1-0 win over Seattle Reign FC. It was a fifth consecutive win for the Spirit — matching the club’s record — who continue climbing the standings after a slow start to the season.
Martínez’s finish was another big moment in an impressive start to life in the NWSL for the teenage forward, whose composure provided the difference in an otherwise cagey contest. Her signing this offseason is looking like another excellent piece of business from the Spirit staff, as she now has three goals across her last four matches.
There was also an anxious moment for Washington in the second half when Trinity Rodman — coming off an NWSL Player of the Week performance — left the match after receiving treatment on the field. Postgame updates appeared encouraging, however, as Jason Anderson reported that Rodman left the stadium with “no boot, no crutches, walking normally to the bus.”
Seattle, meanwhile, continues searching for answers in attack, as they have now gone more than four full matches without scoring. Despite injuries and absences affecting the squad, the lack of offensive production is a serious concern.
More results from Sunday
Elsewhere, Bay FC and Utah Royals FC played to a scoreless draw on Sunday. With the draw, the Royals’ five-game winning streak came to an end, though they remain unbeaten in their last seven matches.
