Kansas City Current Secures 2025 NWSL Shield
On Saturday, the Kansas City Current secured the 2025 NWSL Shield, achieving this milestone with a decisive 2-0 win against Seattle Reign FC at CPKC Stadium. The match featured an early breakthrough as forward Debinha successfully converted a penalty kick in the first half. Following this, Temwa Chawinga extended the lead with her 13th goal of the season, making her one of the league leaders in scoring.
Historic Achievement
This victory marks a significant achievement for Kansas City, as they reached the NWSL Shield title faster than any previous team in league history, completing 21 out of 26 games in their schedule. For context, previous holders like the 2014 Seattle Reign and the 2018 North Carolina Courage clinched their respective shields after 20 matches, during seasons originally spanning 24 games. Notably, while the 2014 Seattle team ultimately fell short in the playoffs, the 2018 Courage triumphed in the NWSL Championship.
Current Standings and Playoff Positioning
Following this latest win, Kansas City has established a commanding 16-point lead over the second-place Washington Spirit with just five games remaining in the regular season. This positions the Current as the top seed for the upcoming playoffs, set to host the eighth-seeded team in the quarterfinal round come November.
Defensive Record and Season Performance
In a remarkable defensive run, Kansas City has maintained a clean sheet for nine consecutive matches, setting a league record for the longest duration without conceding a goal at a remarkable 812 minutes. The team has not tasted defeat since May 2, showcasing an impressive run of form as the season progresses.
Approaching the end of the regular season, the Current is just one victory away from matching the league’s single-season win record of 18, a feat accomplished by both the Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit last year. They are also closing in on Orlando’s prior record of 60 points for a season, requiring just seven more points to tie that benchmark.
Historical Context
Historically, only three of the eleven teams that have previously won the NWSL Shield have also claimed the NWSL Championship, underlining the rarity of achieving both in the same year; the Orlando Pride notably accomplished this dual feat in the previous season.
Significance of the Title
This title represents a historic victory for the Kansas City Current, which has never before earned the NWSL Shield. It also marks a significant personal achievement for head coach Vlatko Andonovski, one of only two coaches in the league to surpass 100 wins. Before his time with the Current, Andonovski led FC Kansas City to two NWSL Championships, a franchise that ceased operations in late 2017 but ultimately paved the way for the Current’s establishment.
