Kansas City Current Close Out Inaugural Season with Brand Reveal and Fan Celebration

Kansas City fans packed Legends Field on a memorable night as the team revealed its new brand and name, the Kansas City Current. Powered by the rising momentum of a historic Inaugural Season, the Current played hard, but unfortunately fell to the OL Reign 3-0. 

Head Coach Huw Williams stated after the game that he is proud to be a part of Kansas City and proud of the future with this ownership. “Not in my wildest dreams did I believe that they (Angie Long, Chris Long and Brittany Matthews) were going to be able to accomplish what they've accomplished this season. That everything is in place for this team to have success going forward and having local ownership that is committed to our community, love the game of soccer, and specifically love the game of women's soccer. I'm just proud to be associated with this group.”

When asked after the game, Goalkeeper Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch had nothing but positivity for this group going forward. “We're only going to go up from here. And that's the part I'm excited about - to be here now with these girls and be a part of all the news. What's going to be coming. I mean, you're setting the standard and you're setting the tone, and you know the expectation will continue to grow on the players and in all different departments from our fans. Because, you know, we do play it for the city. And we want the city to show up for us and the owners are putting the city on the map in this way across the world. So hopefully everybody comes out and continues to support this team and because it's all going to get better from here.”

Franch got things started in the first three minutes with a sprawling save against the Reign attack to tip the ball over the net. Kansas City’s defense continued to shine as Defender Katie Bowen came in sliding on OL Reign’s Midfielder Rose Lavelle as she had a clear shot opportunity and kept the game scoreless. 

Kansas City’s attack took off in the 12th minute of play as Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta went dashing down the right side and was able to clip a perfect corner into the Reign box, but no one was home to finish. 

Although Kansas City’s defense was holding up, OL Reign was able to find the back of the net in the 35th minute when a Reign cross took an unfortunate bounce off KC Defender Kiki Pickett into the net for the first goal.

At halftime, the exciting reveal of the new name and crest were showcased with a dramatic video and stadium light show that included the participation of all fans in attendance. The Kansas City players returned to the field to play the second half in kits bearing the new crest.

The Reign came out in the second half and added two goals in the 48th and 63rd minute by Forward Eugénie Le Sommer to complete the scoring for the Reign.

The Current will play its 2022 season at Children’s Mercy Park. Season tickets are available online at kansascitycurrent.com/tickets.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City NWSL vs OL Reign
Date: October 30, 2021
Venue: Legends Field, Kansas City, Kansas 
Kickoff: 7:07 p.m. CT, 8:07 p.m. ET
Weather: 55 degrees, chilly
Attendance: 6,345

Discipline
43’ KC - LaBonta (Yellow)
57’ KC - Hamilton (Yellow)
90’+5’ OL Reign - Brooks (Yellow)

Scoring
35’ OL Reign - (Own Goal)
48’ OL Reign - Le Sommer (Lavelle)
63’ OL Reign - Le Sommer (Rapinoe)

Scoring Summary

Lineups: 

Kansas City: Franch, Corsie© (23’ Leach), Ball, Weber (75’ Nolf), Pickett, K., Edmonds, LaBonta, Bowen (45’ Pickett, V. (75’ Del Fava)), Scott (62’ McCain), Jenkins, Hamilton  

Substitutes Not Used: Rowland, Vincent, Larroquette, Silva

OL Reign: Bouhaddi (89’ Tulis-Joyce), Huerta, Cook, Barnes©, McNabb, Quinn (86’ Brooks), Fishlock, Lavelle (75’ Balcer), Le Sommer (86’ Watt), Marozsán (86’ Angelina), Rapinoe

Substitutes Not Used: Constantine, Baker, Cruz, Hammond, King, Weatherholt