Match Preview: Kansas City Current kicks off busy week with home match against San Diego Wave

The Kansas City Current (2-4-0, 6pts.) are back at Children’s Mercy Park Sunday for a matchup against 2022 expansion side, San Diego Wave (3-3-0, 9pts.). The match is set for a 5 p.m. CT kickoff with Jacqui Oatley and Lori Lindsey bringing all the action on Paramount+. Locally, coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. CT with Jillian Carroll Letrinko hosting KC Current Matchday followed by Aly Trost Martin and Dave Borchardt on the call at 38 the Spot, KMCI-TV and on KC Current Radio.  

Kansas City looks to get back on the positive side of the scoreboard this week after falling to Angel City 3-2 last week in Los Angeles. After a couple of good chances early in the match, Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson was able to get off a shot from a tough angle that just passed over Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller’s hand. Then the home side netted two more in the final five minutes of the half. 

Despite the large deficit, Kansas City came out for the second half determined to battle back. A deflected shot found its way to forward Cece Kizer in the 57th minute. The Overland Park, Kansas native calmly collected the ball and laid off an easy back pass to a rushing Izzy Rodriguez. The young defender, who was subbed into the match at the beginning of the half, hit a rocket to the far post for her first career score. Kizer jumped on another loose ball four minutes later and scored her third of the season to get Kansas City within a goal. Unfortunately that is as close as the team could get.

San Diego comes into Sunday’s match on a two-game losing skid. Last week the Wave played the Washington Spirit tough for the first half with both teams going into the break without a score. Forward Alex Morgan nearly broke the tie early in the second half, getting past the defense on the right side, then angling around Washington’s goalkeeper, but she was unable to get a shot off and her centering pass was cleared away. Countering the San Diego attack, the Spirit then managed to knock in three scores in the next 20 minutes of action. Morgan did get one back late in the game for San Diego, but it was too little, too late.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current defender Hailie Mace – Hailie Mace has been one of the key figures to Kansas City’s success over the past two seasons. Originally joining the team via midseason trade in 2021, she became a regular game starter last season. Mace has played all but four minutes this season, second only to midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta. With interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom stating how much she wants to get Mace into the attack, the veteran midfielder has a chance to really turn some heads this season.

San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan – Alex Morgan has been a superstar in the NWSL and on the U.S. Women’s National Team since breaking onto the world stage in 2010. In the NWSL has the most penalty kick attempts all-time, is fourth in goals scored and is in the top ten for Assists, Shots and Shots on Target. This season she is tied with Kansas City’s Debinha for the league lead in goals and is fourth in the league in shots taken.

PACKED SCHEDULE
This week will see the Current play three games in seven days with regular season matchups against San Diego on Sunday and Racing Louisville Saturday May 20, both in Kansas City. In the middle of those two games, the team will take a trip to Kentucky for a Wednesday UKG Challenge Cup match against Louisville. This is the second time this season the Current will face a packed week like this. Earlier this season, the team went 2-1-0 playing the Chicago Red Stars and Houston Dash on the road and then the Orlando Pride at home, all within an eight-day timespan. 

TEAL RISING
For the second time this season, the Kansas City Current are expected to break the club’s home attendance record, last set on April 1 with 11,301 fans. The team is averaging over 10,000 fans this season, with three of the club’s top five attended games all occurring this season. The excitement around the team and its home matches is only expected to grow with the opening of the new stadium in 2024. With a capacity of 11,500 fans, the club fully expects to sell out every match next season. Fans have until Wednesday, June 7 to place a membership deposit on KCCurrentStadium.com, which secures their place in line to select a seat for 2024 season ticket membership at KC Current Stadium. The club expects demand to exceed capacity in the new KC Current Stadium, so fans will need to place a membership deposit to claim their spot in line. The club will give new stadium seat selection priority to 2023 KC Current Season Ticket Members, who will select their seats before fans with deposits.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION
The Kansas City Current will honor Happy Bottoms as the Community Champion of the Match, a local organization that collaborates with the community to empower, connect and impact low-income families by alleviating diaper need in the Kansas City community. The Current is also working with Happy Bottoms on a diaper drive ahead of Mother’s Day to help local families. One in three families do not have enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry and healthy, and an estimated 23,000 children in Kansas City need diaper assistance. Fans can donate to the diaper drive online here, or bring donations to the Current’s match on Sunday against San Diego Wave FC. 

HOMETOWN HERO
Rachel Walton, a volunteer at KC Mothers in Charge, will be honored as Sunday’s hometown hero. KC Mothers in Charge cares for Kansas City families who have lost a loved one to homicide, providing victim and family services, education and advocacy. The organization's vision is a KC community safe for all, where families are empowered and supported.