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Eleven pivotal moments kicking off Sporting KC's resurgence

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

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Sporting Kansas City’s rebuild gained momentum with major moves on and off the field. A record $9M investment brought in key players like Dejan Joveljic and Manu Garcia, instantly refreshing the roster. New faces such as Mason Toye and homegrown signing Jacob Bartlett added depth and energy.

On the field, tough wins like the extra-time victory over FC Dallas and a resilient rivalry match against St. Louis showed the club’s rekindled spirit. Johnny Russell’s uncertain future and the emotional post-Vermes era highlight how deeply tied leadership and identity are to Sporting KC’s resurgence.

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Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell (7) kicks the ball away from Real Salt Lake midfielder Fidel Barajas (17) in the first half at America First Field on May 4, 2024. By Rob Gray

NO. 1: SPORTING KC WAS MISSING KEY PIECES VS. REAL SALT LAKE. HERE’S HOW THE MATCH UNFOLDED

Take a look back at Sporting KC’s match against Real Salt Lake. | Published May 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy (26) celebrates a goal with teammates in the first half during a MLS game against Inter Miami at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Kansas City. By Emily Curiel

NO. 2: SPORTING KANSAS CITY MAKES SPORTICO’S LIST OF WORLD’S MOST VALUABLE SOCCER CLUBS

Sporting KC has a valuation of $670 million in 2024, according to Sportico. Here’s where that ranks among teams around the globe. | Published May 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maddie Hartley

Sporting Kansas City’s Dany Rosero scored the decisive goal in extra time early Thursday morning as KC beat FC Dallas in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match that began at 8 p.m. Wednesday and endured a lengthy weather delay. By Jay Biggerstaff/file photo

NO. 3: SPORTING KC OUTLASTS FC DALLAS FOR WEATHER-DELAYED U.S. OPEN CUP WIN IN EXTRA TIME

Here’s the story of Wednesday’s Sporting KC-FC Dallas match in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals (which finished Thursday morning). | Published July 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Sporting Kansas City defender Robert Castellanos is flanked by forwards Khiry Shelton, left, and Daniel Salloi after scoring on a header against the Chicago Fire during Sunday night’s Leagues Cup match at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. By Denny Medley

NO. 4: SPORTING KC SCORES TWICE VIA HEADERS, BEATS CHICAGO FIRE IN LEAGUES CUP SHOWDOWN

Sporting KC scores twice via headers and beats the Chicago Fire in a Sunday night Leagues Cup showdown. | Published July 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes By Andrew Wevers/file photo

NO. 5: COULD THIS BE IT FOR JOHNNY RUSSELL? HOW SPORTING KC IS VIEWING MLS HOME FINALE

Here’s Sporting KC’s mindset ahead of the team’s final home match of the 2024 MLS season. | Published October 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Sporting KC has signed St. Thomas Aquinas graduate Jacob Bartlett to a homegrown MLS soccer contract, the team announced on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Bartlett is 19 and competed this past season as a freshman at Notre Dame. By ALEX LORENZO

NO. 6: SPORTING KC’S NEWEST HOMEGROWN SIGNING JUST FINISHED FRESHMAN SEASON AT NOTRE DAME

Jacob Bartlett joins Sporting KC’s first team after spending his freshman season at Notre Dame. | Published January 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Then with the Portland Timbers, forward Mason Toye takes a shot against against the Colorado Rapids during an MLS match in 2024. By Troy Wayrynen/file photo

NO. 7: IS SPORTING KC'S NEWEST STRIKER A PULIDO/AGADA HYBRID? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MASON TOYE

Sporting KC's newest forward, Mason Toye, will be asked to score goals consistently this season. | Published January 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

L.A. Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (foreground) fights for a ball during an MLS playoff match against Minnesota United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Nov. 24, 2024. By Kelvin Kuo/file photo

NO. 8: SPORTING KANSAS CITY LANDS HIGH-SCORING STRIKER FROM L.A. AHEAD OF 2025 MLS SEASON

Just 25, he’s already scored 85 career goals. | Published February 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

L.A. Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic celebrates after scoring against the New York Red Bulls during the 2024 MLS Cup championship soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2024. By Jayne Kamin-Oncea

NO. 9: SPORTING KC SPENT CLUB-RECORD $9M ON 3 PLAYERS THIS OFFSEASON. SO WHAT COMES NEXT?

Sporting KC has long had a reputation for being able to do a lot with a little. That won’t cut it in MLS anymore. | Published February 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi takes a shot on goal in the first half of the Concacaf Champions Cup match vs. Sporting KC on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Sporting Park. Messi scored the match’s only goal. By Dominick Williams

NO. 10: HOW CONFIDENT IS SPORTING KC HEADING INTO 2ND LEG VS. MESSI, MIAMI? ‘BELIEF IS 1,000% THERE’

Sporting Kansas City will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the second leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup tie on Tuesday. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Sporting Kansas City forward Dejan Joveljic (9) reacts after scoring his second goal against St. Louis City in the second half at Children’s Mercy Park on April 5, 2025. By Peter Aiken

NO. 11: SPORTING KC WINS 1ST GAME OF THE POST-VERMES ERA, A RIVALRY MATCH VS. ST. LOUIS

The streak is finally over. Sporting Kansas City earned its first win since September 2024. | Published April 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.