Chawinga nets 6th as KC Current sends Portland packing: Photos from CPKC Stadium

The Kansas City Current conceded the first goal of the match on a sunny Sunday afternoon at CPKC Stadium.

But after allowing the visiting Portland Thorns to get on the board first, the Current clamped down for a 3-1 home victory.

Team captain Lo LaBonta, super-striker Temwa Chawinga and forward Haley Hopkins provided the firepower for KC, and stellar defense sealed it.

Veteran midfielder LaBonta scored in the 40th minute and reigning National Women’s Soccer League MVP Chawinga netted her sixth goal of the season in the 62nd, curling the ball around the Thorns’ goalkeeper.

LaBonta’s goal, off a sweet feed from Ally Sentnor, was her first in more than a year. Before Sunday, LaBonta’s most recent strike came on April 19, 2025, during a game against the Houston Dash.

A second-half added-time goal by Hopkins completed the scoring for Kansas City. Sophia Wilson had broken the ice with a goal in the 13th minute for Portland (7-2-3).

With the victory, the Current improved to 6-0-5 — six wins, no draws, five losses — in 2026.

Sunday marked the club’s ninth straight regular-season NWSL home win — the longest such streak in league history. And KC has not been beaten in 22 straight home matches, tying Seattle’s league record set in 2014-15.

“Big three points for our team, and our fans showed up once again for another victory in this building with the players,” said Current coach Chris Armas. “(The players) get a lot of credit for the way they stepped on the pitch ... them igniting the crowd and the crowd getting behind them.”

Up next: The Current has one more match before the NWSL’s international break. KC plays host to the Boston Legacy on Saturday, May 30 at CPKC Stadium.

In the meantime, check out these great photos from Sunday’s game in Kansas City by KC Star visual journalist Dominick Williams.

This story was originally published May 24, 2026 at 2:03 PM.