Match Preview: Kansas City Current open the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup against the Houston Dash on Wednesday

The 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup opens Wednesday with the Kansas City Current travelling to play the Houston Dash Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Title sponsor UKG has doubled the prize pool for 2023 as all 12 NWSL teams will battle throughout the season for the tournament championship.

The Current won the Central Division in last year’s tournament, earning 13 points over the Dash, the Chicago Red Stars and Racing Louisville. Against the Dash, Kansas City earned a 3-0 victory in Houston and a 2-1 win at home. This year, the Current head into the tournament looking for a fresh start and the first win of the 2023 campaign.

The Current’s regular season has gotten off to a slow start as the team is still in search of its first points of the season. Although the scores have not been to the Current’s favor, the team has shown growth with each match. Over the weekend, the team saw the return of midfielders Debinha and Vanessa DiBernardo from injury. Defender Mallory Weber, who suffered a torn ACL in the 2022 season opener, was also available for selection for the first time since her injury.

Houston has started the regular season with a win and two draws, including a 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns over the weekend. The team opened with a 0-0 draw at home before a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars and a 1-1 draw with the Portland Thorns, both on the road. The team is led by forwards Maria Sánchez and Diana Ordóñez who have scored all the club’s goals so far.

Wednesday’s match will broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. In addition, Dave Borchardt and Jillian Carroll Letrinko will bring fans all the action from KC Current Radio on the Kansas City Current app, available on Apple and Android devices. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas City Current midfielder Cece Kizer – Kizer is set to enjoy her first full season with the Current after arriving through a trade midway through the 2022 season. She was one of the team’s leading scorers despite only playing in 15 games with the club. Kizer had the Current’s first goal of the season against the Thorns in week two. 

Houston Dash forward Diana Ordóñez– Ordóñez joined the Dash this season following a pre-draft trade with the North Carolina Courage. In her rookie season with the Courage, she was second on the team (behind Debinha) in scoring with 17 starts in 19 appearances. So far this season she has played all but one minute for the dash and scored the winning goal in the Dash’s victory over Chicago.

LAST TIME IN HOUSTON
This is the first time the Current will travel to what is now Shell Energy Stadium since the 2022 NWSL Semifinal in front of, what was then, a record attendance of 21,284 fans. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta got the Current on the board early with a penalty kick score in the fifth minute. Houston leveled the match 15 minutes later and the teams played end-to-end for the remainder of the first half and the first 45 minutes of the second half. Ten minutes into added time, LaBonta and midfielder Alex Loera combined for a brilliant give-and-go that freed Loera down the left flank. Loera slid the ball across the face of goal and past Campbell, and Del Fava was waiting at the back post to tap the ball home and give the Current it’s first playoff victory on the way to the 2022 NWSL Championship match.

NWSL CHALLENGE CUP 101
The 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup is the fourth edition of the tournament, but the first to be played concurrently with the regular season. What began as a way to bring back competition during the pandemic has turned into an annual tournament with all 12 teams competing for a prize pool that has doubled over last year.

The teams are split into three divisions, East, Central and West. The Current are in the Central Division with the Houston Dash, Chicago Red Stars and Racing Louisville. The top team from each group, plus the division runner-up with the most points, will advance to the semifinal stage of the group.

TIGHT SCHEDULE
With the midweek NWSL Challenge Cup game, the Current are in the midst of a three-games in eight days stretch. The week started with the team’s trip to play the Chicago Red Stars April 15, then the Dash on April 19 and concluding with a home match against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, April 23. Although somewhat common in previous seasons, this is one of only two times the team will be forced to play so many matches with such a short turn around.