The return of Temwa Chawinga – Equalizer Soccer

May 10, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Current players celebrate after a goal by Temwa Chawinga (6) during the second half of the match against Chicago Stars FC at CPKC Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

Week 7 saw a Temwa Chawinga explosion, another shutout for the Royals, struggles in Houston and Los Angeles, and a character-building point for the Boston Legacy.

Here are 11 thoughts from the weekend. We’ll do this every Monday following NWSL match weeks. Some points will be factual, some will be opinion based. And some will just be random statements or observations.

Let’s dig in!

I. Chawinga, Chawinga, Chawinga

Temwa Chawinga, welcome to the 2026 season. It’s remarkable how much better things look in Kansas City with the club’s star striker hitting form. The two-time Golden Boot winner began cutting into this year’s deficit — Barbra Banda nailed her eighth two nights prior — with her first NWSL hat trick to send the Current over the Stars, 3-0. It was also the Current’s first ever hat trick, save for Kristen Hamilton’s in the 2023 Challenge Cup.