The Kansas City Current joined the NWSL prior to the 2021 NWSL season. In the club’s first regular season, the team secured 16 points from 24 matches; good enough for the bottom of the NWSL table. Expansion sides in the NWSL historically do not produce winning seasons their first year. However, the tides are turning in Kansas City. With several recent high-profile moves on and off the field, Kansas City could be a powerhouse in 2022. Since the North Carolina of 2017-2019, no team is the consensus best team in the league. Can the Current become the next NWSL dynasty?
Rising from the Bottom
After opening 2021 with consecutive draws, the Current did not record a win until week 14. As an expansion side, slow starts are common. However, with quality athletes, the drought alarmed players and fans. On the field, the team responded. As the season approached its end, the Current became known as a postseason wrecker. Even though already out of playoff contention, they took points away from playoff hopefuls. The team recorded 5 points in the last month of the seven-month season. This represents nearly one third of their point total. The strong finish hints at future success, but a claim for a potential next NWSL dynasty needs more support.
In this successful last month on the field, the team unveiled a permanent identity. The release occurred during a home game at the end of the regular season. The team operated under a temporary name, crest, and colors for a majority of the 2021 season. The new logo ranked among the top five league-wide amongst Beyond Women’s Sports writers. The club released its new identity with this explanatory hype video.
Committed Ownership
Another indicator the club may be trending towards “next NWSL dynasty” status is investment from ownership. Majority owners Chris and Angie Long have the resources and willingness to get these players what they deserve. Co-owner Brittany Matthews brings experience in the women’s soccer space and contributes strategic planning. As the partner of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes II of the Kansas City Chiefs, Matthews knows the community. That knowledge creates connections back to the Current.
Aside from financial backing, the club prioritizes player and fan experience. Kansas City announced groundbreaking on a 15 million dollar state of the art training facility. The owners expect the privately funded facility to be completed in 2022. After playing the 2021 season on a minor league baseball field, the team announced a change of scenery for 2022.
Children’s Mercy Park, home of MLS team Sporting KC, will be the team’s temporary home in 2022. The team eventually intends to play in their brand new stadium. Opening in 2024, the 70 million dollar project will be privately financed by the ownership group. It will be the first NWSL stadium built specifically for an NWSL team.
Building a World Class Roster
The most important factor to build the next NWSL dynasty is the players. Due to these off the field moves, Kansas City is now a desirable player destination. The Current began the offseason by acquiring the rights to USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis via a trade with North Carolina. Mewis earned the title of US Soccer Women’s Player of the Year in 2020. ESPN FC voted Mewis the best female player in the world, in March 2021. Recently, the club announced another trade with North Carolina for USWNT forward Lynn Williams. Williams is the second all-time leading scorer in the NWSL.
These moves come after the mid season acquisition of USWNT goalkeeper Adrianna Franch in a trade with Portland. Another mid season trade brought forward Kristen Hamilton and forward/defender Hailie Mace over from North Carolina. The club also signed contract extensions for several key players. Veteran midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta signed through 2024. Defender Elizabeth Ball also signed through 2024. All of the previously mentioned players project to be starters for 2022. In addition, this roster boasts many other talented domestic and international athletes. The club has the firepower to increase its yearly point total for years to come. On paper the talent assembled could even turn into a dynasty.
Strong Leadership
Leading the charge are several new faces. The club announced former NWSL player Cami Levin as general manager. Since retirement, Levin spent time as a vice president of a media and entertainment company. She additionally served as the Manager of Talent Development for WWE.
Ownership also hired Matt Potter as the new head coach. Potter holds a USSF Pro License, which is the highest coaching license available in the US. He served as a USWNT assistant coach, USWNT lead opposition scout, and coached at the collegiate level. The team announced Lloyd Yaxley as the new goalkeeping coach. Yaxley is a well-known commodity in the league after coaching for Orlando, Washington, and the USWNT. This staff hopes to transform the club into something special.
While there’s no guarantee of future success, the Current are making all the moves of a future dynasty. Fortunately, they don’t have to wait long to build strength on the field too.
Preseason starts February 1 for the Kansas City Current and the rest of the NWSL. Continue to follow Beyond Women’s Sports on Twitter or writer Tim Antoniewicz on Twitter for more NWSL news and analysis.
