Match Preview: Kansas City Current hosts the North Carolina Courage for Saturday’s Pride Night, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

The Kansas City Current (2-7-0, 6pts.) begin the month of June at home with the club’s annual Pride Night, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. The match against the North Carolina Courage (4-3-2, 14pts.) from Children’s Mercy Park kicks off at 7:30 p.m. CT. Anna Witte and Jillian Carroll Letrinko will be on the call in the Kansas City metro area on KMCI, 38 the Spot and the KC Current App while Josh Easton and Saskia Webber broadcast the match nationally on Paramount+. 

Kansas City hopes to start the month on the right foot against North Carolina after finishing the month of May with a loss to the Houston Dash last weekend. Houston came into the match last week with determination after Kansas City had won six of the past seven matches in the rivalry. Dash forward Diana Ordóńez forced a diving save from Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller in only the second minute of action as Houston kept Kansas City on the defensive for most of the opening half. The Dash found the net on both sides of the halftime break and led 2-0 after the 54th minute of the game. Despite a strong effort in the second half which saw the Current outshoot their opponents, Kansas City was unable to find a goal.

North Carolina traveled to Louisville, Kentucky last week to face Racing Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium. A stalemate at the half, the Courage found two goals in seven minutes midway through the second period. Racing pulled one back late in the match to make it 2-1, but North Carolina was able to hold on for the win with stellar play from goalkeeper Casey Murphy and her defense. The Courage are now unbeaten in six matches across all competitions (3-0-3) heading into Saturday’s match against Kansas City.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current defender Gabrielle Robinson – Robinson was the 15th overall selection in this year’s NWSL Draft. A standout player on West Virginia’s back line, Robinson won numerous awards during her collegiate career, including All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Year. She has started every match for Kansas City this season, including the regular season and UKG NWSL Challenge Cup matches. She leads the team in clearances (24) and is second on the roster for Minutes Played (794).

North Carolina Courage forward Tyler Lussi – Lussi leads the 2023 Courage with 13 shots and is second with two goals, both of them game winning scores. She came to the Courage before the 2023 campaign through a trade with Angel City and was immediately signed to a contract extension. Prior to her time with Angel City she spent four years with the Portland Thorns, averaging 12 games per year and scoring five goals. 

HIGH SCORING AFFAIRS 
Since joining the NWSL in 2021, the Kansas City Current’s matches against the North Carolina Courage have featured plenty of scoring. The two teams average three goals per match. The 2023 series saw Kansas City winning both high-scoring matches. In Cary, North Carolina the teams traded goals throughout the match, with Kansas City forward Claire Lavogez finding the fourth in the 79th minute of the match as KC won 4-3. When the teams faced off again in Kansas City two weeks later, the goals were flying once again. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta, forward Cece Kizer and forward Kristen Hamilton each scored for the home side, propelling the Current to a 3-2 win. The Current is unbeaten in three of the past five matches against North Carolina. 

KANSAS CITY COURAGE/NORTH CAROLINA CURRENT
The talent pipeline between North Carolina and Kansas City has been very active in the past three years, beginning midway through the 2021 campaign when defender Hailie Mace and forward Kristen Hamilton arrived to Kansas City via trade. Prior to last season, the Current acquired midfielder Sam Mewis in another trade with the Courage. More recently, the Current signed midfielder Debinha as one of the club’s first free agent signings in January. The Brazilian star had spent the previous six seasons with North Carolina. In the opposite direction, forward Brittany Ratcliffe started her career in Kansas City with FC Kansas City and then was rostered with the expansion Kansas City franchise in 2021. She joined the Courage later that season. Midfielder Victoria Pickett also started her career in KC as one of the club’s first draft picks. She was traded to North Carolina earlier this year after spending the first part of the season with NJ/NY Gotham.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION
The Modern Family Alliance (MFA) will be honored as Saturday’s Community Champion of the Match. MFA operates with a mission to support LGBTQ parents and their children through events, resources and education to foster a community in the Kansas City metro area that is respectful, encouraging and inclusive of all families. A portion of proceeds from all KC Current Pride merchandise will be donated to MFA.

HOMETOWN HERO
In honor of Pride Month, Saturday’s Hometown Hero, presented by Midwest Ford, will be Lea Hopkins, a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights in Kansas City and beyond. 45 years ago, Hopkins organized the first Pride Parade in Kansas City. She co-founded Kansas City’s Christopher Street organization and the Gay Injustices Fund. Throughout her life as a civil rights leader, she served in numerous activist organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). At 78, she continues her work by sharing her story with the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders in the Black community.