KC Current’s Michelle Cooper scores first goal for United States Women’s National Team
Michelle Cooper isn’t used to coming off the bench. The KC Current winger earned her spot as a mainstay in 2024 with her two-way play and dangerous abilities on the right-hand side of the NWSL’s deadliest attack.
But in back to back games, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes has summoned Cooper off the bench. In Sunday night’s match against Australia, Cooper entered the game in the 62nd minute.
Six minutes later, she scored the goal that turned out to be the match winner as the USWNT defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup.
“It was like a blur to be honest,” Cooper said after the match. “It was such a crazy moment. We just kept attacking them and attacking them and attacking them. To be able to get the goal and win off of that, it felt great.”
That substitution in the 62nd minute was Cooper’s second cap (appearance) with the senior USWNT. She made her debut days prior in the United States’ 2-0 win over Colombia.
Cooper isn’t the only KC Current player to be featured in the SheBelieves cup so far. Nineteen-year-old Claire Hutton was also called into the team’s roster for the tournament, starting and playing 70 minutes in the 2-1 win on Sunday.
Hutton was instrumental in Cooper’s goal. She threaded a perfect through ball from deep to Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor, who came on the field in the same substitution as Cooper.
Sentnor cut inside after receiving Hutton’s pass, and whether or not it was intended, the ball fell straight to Cooper, who buried the chance. She tucked her shot inside the post to the goalkeeper’s right-hand side.
The goal gave the USWNT a 2-0 lead after Lynn Biyendolo (formerly Williams) scored seconds into the match. Michelle Heyman got one back for Australia in the 80th minute.
Cooper and Hutton will have one more match to play in SheBelieves Cup action. The United States will face Japan on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. local time.
More KC Current international standouts
Cooper and Hutton are not the only KC Current players on international duty.
Temwa Chawinga represented Malawi for the first time in over a year in a 2-0 loss to Zambia. Malawi will face Zambia once more during this international window.
Jereko was called in to represent Kenya for African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tunisia. The first of those matches ended in a 0-0 draw. The second leg is on Thursday.
Last but not least, Lorena was called into camp with the Brazil Women’s National team, and Nichelle Prince was called in to represent Canada in the Pinatar Cup in Spain. Prince started in a 1-1 draw against China and came off the bench in a 2-0 win over Mexico.
The Current kick off NWSL play on March 15 with the season opener at CPKC Stadium against the Portland Thorns. The match is slated for 11:30 a.m. Central.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.