Two top contenders for the Golden Boot will face off as the NWSL regular season resumes after an international break. Temwa Chawinga of Kansas City (six goals) and Esther Gonzalez of Gotham FC (seven goals) are separated by just one goal in the race for the scoring title. These two clubs will meet for the first time this season when Gotham FC hosts Kansas City Current on Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The match will be broadcast on CBS.
Both teams reached the NWSL semifinals in 2024 but are having different seasons this year. Kansas City currently sits in first place, leading the league with eight victories. They have quickly emerged as a title favorite, showcasing a deep squad, precise finishing, and an improved defense. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski`s team is dealing with an injury to MVP candidate Debinha but possesses enough depth to remain competitive as the season approaches its halfway point.
Despite being in ninth place, Gotham FC recently won the first-ever Concacaf Champions Cup. This victory secures their qualification for the 2026 FIFA Women`s Champions Cup and the inaugural FIFA Women`s Club World Cup in 2028. Coach Juan Carlos Amoros and his staff have faced challenges due to numerous injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear for USWNT defender Tierna Davidson. However, the team is hopeful that USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle is close to returning from her offseason ankle surgery.
Last Meeting
The teams last met in the final of the inaugural NWSL x LIGA MX FEMENIL Summer Cup last year, held at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. Kansas City Current won that match 2-0, with goals from Temwa Chawinga, to lift the cup. During the 2024 NWSL regular season, their two encounters both ended in 1-1 draws. Both clubs qualified for the postseason in 2024 but were eliminated in the semifinal round.
What Gotham Are Saying
Gotham FC is buoyed by their recent Concacaf W Champions Cup triumph, adding another trophy alongside their 2023 NWSL Championship. While this success is significant, participation in the tournament meant they played fewer league games initially. Now level on ten matches with other teams, Gotham is in ninth place, just outside the 2025 playoff spots. With the season`s halfway point approaching, head coach Juan Carlos Amoros sees this match as a crucial opportunity for Gotham to climb the table.
Amoros commented on the transition back to league play: “The competition in Mexico was different, obviously, with the extra time, with different opposition to the NWSL, different challenges, different weather conditions, but at the end of the day, it`s another football game where we want to be Gotham. We want to entertain our fans, enjoy the gameplay, and get the three points. Obviously, paying extra attention, we can`t ignore the fact that at the moment they`re top of the table, in their own right they`ve been the best team this year so far. So, we need to make sure, hopefully, that we stop that run, and then we can get three points out of them.”
What the Current Are Saying
As the league leaders, the Kansas City Current understand the challenge ahead. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski views the road trip to New Jersey as a significant test for his squad, emphasizing that they are not underestimating Gotham despite their league position.
Andonovski stated: “I just think that they`re dangerous. You can tell that even though they maybe didn`t get the goals or the points — as many this year, they`re creating a lot, and creating in a way that not many teams can do. We know that going to New Jersey to play Gotham, it`s going to be a difficult test for us, and we don`t take it lightly. We don`t even look at the standings, or where they stand, or how many goals they`ve scored or not. We just analyze them as a team, and we see a lot of good things that they do. Gotham is a very interesting team. They`re very, very savvy. Very free-flowing and creative. So, they present different challenges than most teams, if not different challenges than all the teams in the league. Because they do all kinds of different rotations, it`s hard to follow everything that they do. So, we have to be so alert and focused for 90 minutes, because if you just shut down for a second, they`ll punish you. They`ll have such great individuals that they`ll they`ll punish you. They`ll take advantage of it.”
Predicted Lineups
Gotham FC:
- Ann Katrin-Berger
- Lily Real
- Emily Sonnett
- Jess Carter
- Mandy Freeman
- Jaelin Howell
- Taryn Torres
- Geyse
- Sarah Schupansky
- Midge Purce
- Esther Gonzalez
Kansas City Current:
- Lorena
- Hailie Mace
- Kayla Sharples
- Elizabeth Ball
- Izzy Rodriguez
- Vanessa DiBernardo
- Lo`Eau LaBonta
- Claire Hutton
- Haley Hopkins
- Temwa Chawinga
- Bia Zaneratto
Player to Watch
Sarah Schupansky, Gotham FC:
The rookie forward has been a notable positive for Gotham, stepping up during early-season injuries. She has taken on increased responsibilities in both attack and defense. Her consistent and reliable performances have made it challenging for coaches to alter the lineup even as more experienced players regain fitness. The University of Pitt alumna is actively learning from veteran players. She discussed learning from teammates, including Rose Lavelle.
Schupansky shared her experience: “Rose is coming back now, and that is something that I`ve been so excited for because I`ve been watching her for the longest time, the biggest fan of her, and she`s just turning out to be the best person ever as well. Now that she`s getting more involved, she`s calling me over and helping me with the little idiosyncrasies that come with playing the number 10 position, and I don`t think there`s anybody better in the world to be learning from than her. So that`s been really special as well, but I think there`s so much to learn from every single person on the field, even if they`re not in your position.”
Prediction
The recent international break might have allowed some injured players to recover, which could influence the game`s dynamics as both teams shake off any rust. Expect a close result.
Pick: Gotham FC 2, Kansas City Current 1
