Match Report: Kansas City Current Makes NWSL History In 3-1 Victory Over Portland Thorns

KANSAS CITY (May 24, 2026) — The Kansas City Current (6-0-5, 18 pts., 6th place) made NWSL history on Sunday at CPKC Stadium, extending a pair of league-record streaks in a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Portland Thorns (7-3-2, 23 pts., 2nd place). After the Thorns took the lead in the 14th minute, midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta leveled the contest just before halftime. Kansas City took control in the second half, with forward Temwa Chawinga notching the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute on a feed from midfielder Croix Bethune. In second-half stoppage time, a brilliant individual run from Chawinga set up a breakaway opportunity which was capped by forward Haley Hopkins to seal the 3-1 victory. 

Sunday’s victory marked the Current’s ninth consecutive regular season home win, the longest streak in league history. It also extended the club's regular season home unbeaten run (19-0-3) to 22 matches, tied for the longest streak in NWSL history. Kansas City improved its home record in 2026 to a perfect 5-0-0.

"Big three points for our team, and our fans showed up once again for another victory in this building with the players," said head coach Chris Armas. "[The players] get a lot of credit for the way they stepped on the pitch...them igniting the crowd and the crowd getting behind them. Great three points against a team we're chasing. We knew it was going to be a tough game and I think the players were on it. It's great to win, but to come from behind shows a lot about what this team is about. We're gritty, and we can win in different ways."   

Both sides created chances throughout a back-and-forth opening frame, and Portland made two critical defensive efforts to deny early goal-bound attempts from Bethune and forward Michelle Cooper. The visitors then went ahead in the 14th minute through forward Sophia Wilson, who darted down the left wing and into the Current penalty area following a throw-in. Her driven effort found the lower left corner of the net to give Portland a 1-0 lead.

The Current immediately went to work finding an equalizer and nearly did so in the 31st minute, springing a counterattack capped by a high, curled effort from defender Izzy Rodriguez near the top of the penalty area. However, Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold pushed the ball over the crossbar to keep the visitors’ lead intact.

Kansas City’s flurry of early chances paid off just before halftime with a quick-strike goal in the 41st minute. Midfielder Bayley Feist began the move, sending the Current’s front line forward with a looping ball into the attacking third. Sentnor capitalized on an errant touch from a Thorns defender, meeting the loose ball and angling towards goal. With multiple Current players in the penalty area, Sentnor spotted a wide-open LaBonta on her left, and captain took a touch to fire a low, driven shot past a diving Arnold and into the back of the net.

The goal marked LaBonta’s first of the season, the 26th of her regular season career and the 22nd for the Current — the second highest goal total in club history. Sentnor picked up her second assist of the year as the match entered halftime level at one apiece.

Portland had two quick scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of the second half, including a near-post effort from Wilson in the 47th minute that goalkeeper Lorena met with a full-extension dive. Kansas City put together several quality chances in the following minutes, but Arnold stood tall in the Thorns’ net to keep the contest square.

In the 63rd minute, LaBonta picked off a pass near midfield and steered her interception perfectly to the feet of Bethune with space. Bethune, who drove forward and found a wide-open Chawinga bursting down the left wing, split multiple defenders from the top of the 18-yard box with a pass that met Chawinga in stride in the box. Chawinga took a touch to settle herself before unleashing a low strike past Arnold into the bottom right corner.

Chawinga’s go-ahead breakthrough marked her sixth goal of the regular season and 41st of her record-setting NWSL career. Bethune earned her third assist of the 2026 campaign, and her second for Chawinga. It was the 15th assist of Bethune’s regular season career in just her 48th career NWSL match, the fourth fewest games to reach the milestone in league history.  

The goal also cemented a notable milestone for the Bethune-Chawinga duo. Since both players entered the NWSL at the start of the 2024 season, no active player has recorded more assists than Bethune (15) or scored more goals than Chawinga (41). Additionally, the goal was Chawinga’s 14th career game-winning goal and Bethune’s eighth career game-winning assist. Bethune trails only Lauren Holiday (37 matches), Tobin Heath (45 games) and Kim Little (45 games) on the list of the quickest players in league history to reach 15 career assists.    

Kansas City defended well to hold onto its advantage from there, even adding to its lead in second half stoppage time. As the Current cleared its lines from a Thorns set piece, Chawinga raced ahead to win a loose ball near midfield, bypassing a defender down the left wing and sprinting towards goal. Two other defenders converged on Chawinga at the top of the penalty area, leaving Hopkins uncovered on the right. Hopkins hammered a one-time shot into the lower left corner to seal the 3-1 victory.

The goal — Kansas City’s first stoppage time tally this season — marked Hopkins’ second of the regular season. It was the 11th career regular season assist for Chawinga, and the sixth time she recorded a goal and an assist in the same match during regular season play.

Also of note, Rodriguez made her 37th consecutive regular season appearance on Sunday, the second longest streak in club history. It was her 96th career regular season appearance, the second-highest total in franchise history.

Kansas City closes out its Summer Kickoff Series next weekend with a home tilt against Boston Legacy FC on Saturday, May 30, at 12:30 p.m. CT. The match will broadcast nationally on ION and simulcast locally on The Spot – Kansas City 38 with a pregame show, KC Current Matchday, beginning at noon. Fans in Kansas City can also listen to the action on 90.9 The Bridge, and an audio feed of the match is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese on the KC Current App.

Next weekend’s match is the club’s annual Pride Day, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive Pride-themed cooling towel courtesy of the Current and Blue KC. Fans will also be able to access exclusive Pride-themed merchandise at the KC Current Team Store. Limited tickets are available for purchase HERE.

NWSL Match Report  
Match: Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns  
Date: May 24, 2026  
Venue: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
Kickoff: 12:06 p.m. CT/10:06 a.m. PT 
Weather: 76 degrees, sunny 
Attendance: 11,500

Discipline  
NONE

Scoring  
14’ Portland – Wilson (Tordin)
41’ Kansas City – LaBonta (Sentnor)
63’ Kansas City – Chawinga (Bethune)
90+3’ Kansas City – Hopkins (Chawinga)

Scoring Summary

Kansas City Current Lineup: Lorena, Rodriguez, Sharples, Robinson, Bravo-Young, Feist, LaBonta ©, Bethune (85’ White), Chawinga (90+4’ Hocking), Cooper (85’ Rouse), Sentnor (76’ Hopkins) 
Unused Substitutes: Jordan, Brewer, Ball, Scott, Suliafu

Portland Thorns Lineup: Arnold, Reyes, Vignola (46’ Alidou), Calzada, Hiatt © (72’ Perry), Fleming, Bogere (72’ Moultrie), Tordin, Turner (54’ McKenzie), Müller, Wilson
Unused Substitutes: Messner, Obaze, Harvey, Immethun, Lyles