KC Current carrying impressive defensive streak while dominating NWSL standings

Ellie Wheeler got things started with a bang on Saturday night, when the Current took on the Portland Thorns at Providence Park.

The defender got on the scoresheet twice, including with the opening goal less than a minute into the game. She also assisted Temwa Chawinga’s 11th goal of the season as the Current won in Portland 2-0.

“There were so many good things that the team did tonight against a very good opponent in a hostile environment,” coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “I can say that I’m very proud of the team.”

The victory puts the Current (14-2-1) back in the win column a week after the first draw of the season. The Current remains in first place, 12 points ahead of second place Washington.

Saturday marked the first time all season Portland lost at home.

“We knew coming here it was going to be hard to play in the stadium just like it’s hard to play in ours,” Wheeler said. “We wanted to come in and impose ourselves, and we did just that.”

Fifty seconds into the game, Wheeler put KC in front, picking up on acres of space left at the far post by Portland. Izzy Rodriguez saw the long run Wheeler made and picked out the perfect cross to the back post. Wheeler deposited her header into the far corner.

“Once I saw Izzy get the ball, I knew exactly where I needed to be,” Wheeler said.

“I honestly did see her pink headband streaking out of the corner of my eye,” Rodriguez added. “I knew I just had to get it back there and she was gonna get on it. She always scores those headers perfectly.”

The Current had many more chances and could’ve been up by multiple goals at halftime. Temwa Chawinga hit the post and had a one-on-one opportunity saved.

Portland made its push to level the score, but Lorena stood tall in goal, making a couple of difficult saves. Her four saves on the night helped KC to its 10th shutout of the year.

Kansas City has only allowed 10 goals in 17 games this year. And the club hasn’t allowed a goal in NWSL play since June 14 — that’s five straight clean sheets.

Chawinga made good on her chance in the second half, too. A nearly 80-yard pass from Wheeler dropped perfectly into the run of Chawinga, who took it in on goal and toe-poked a shot through the legs of Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold for a 2-0 lead.

Also of note: Gabrielle Robinson made her return to play after more than a year’s absence with a torn ACL. The center back was activated off the Season Ending Injury List on Friday. But minutes into her debut, Robinson received a straight red card following a video review.

Referee Alexandra Billeter, who did not issue a card in real time, said a challenge from Robinson met the threshold for serious foul play on review — with Robinson’s studs making contact with a Portland player’s Achilles.

Robinson will be suspended for the Current’s next game.

Up next: The Current returns home after playing three of its last four games on the road. KC’s matchup against the North Carolina Courage kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday from CPKC Stadium.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.

This story was originally published August 24, 2025 at 12:16 AM.