KC Current gets major boost with return of star forward Temwa Chawinga

The reigning two-time league MVP has been sorely missed.

While it’s over simplistic to attribute all of the Current’s early-season struggles to the absence of star forward Temwa Chawinga, that void has reverberated since the 27-year-old sat down — mid-match, with an adductor hip injury — in the middle of the field at Houston last October.

The Current has since gone 2-4-0 across all competitions. KC was ousted from last season’s National Women’s Soccer League quarterfinals by this weekend’s opponent, Gotham FC. The good news? At long last, Chawinga is returning. The Current (1-3-0) will activate her off the NWSL’s season-ending injury list ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game at CPKC Stadium. “That’s great for her, and it’s good news for our team,” Current head coach Chris Armas said. Chawinga has scored 35 goals the last two years combined, breaking the league record for goals in a season (20). Her return comes as the match minutes tick up for Michelle Cooper and Lo LaBonta, two other KC players who are coming off injuries.

“(As) everyone’s getting going here, to have a reference point up the pitch like Temwa, it helps in so many ways.” Armas said. “Tactically, to stretch the defense, to score goals, the attention that she attracts on the field. And emotionally. When you have a player like that back, this can give a big, big lift.” Kansas City needs Chawinga for more than goals alone. Her pressing abilities and defensive work rate will help, too. In a recent game, Seattle’s Sofia Huerta sent a pair of crosses from the defensive left side of KC’s field, resulted in goals both times. A long ball over the top to the Reign’s Reilynn Turner also originated in that area.

Chawinga is known for her help-defense — denying passes to players in those spaces, or even closing down the player sending in such crosses.

“To be a team that is dangerous in transition attacking, to be a team that can counter-press and is relentless when we lose the ball, it’s important when you have a player that can meet those demands,” Armas said. “When some of your best players do that defensive work as well, it’s contagious and brings big energy into a team.”

The coach said it was yet to be determined how much Chawinga would play against Gotham. Saturday’s match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.

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

This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 10:48 AM.