With Chiefs & celebs on hand, Chawinga’s 7th goal in 5 games lifts Current to win

The Kansas City Current played host to the Boston Legacy in an intense National Women’s Soccer League match at CPKC Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Intense and significant, because this was both teams’ final NWSL contest ahead of the league’s international break. The Current didn’t waste the opportunity to collect three points, riding Temwa Chawinga’s second-half goal to a 1-0 victory in front of a crowd that included Chiefs rookies and “Big Slick” celebrities.

KC’s next true NWSL game won’t be played until July 3, on the road, against another expansion franchise, the Denver Summit. But Saturday’s action left plenty to ponder in the meantime.

A scary moment hushed the home crowd early: Kansas City center-back Kayla Sharples opened a gash on her head while going for a header not long after kickoff. With a trainer by her side, she remained down on the grass for about seven minutes before sitting up with a bandage on her head.

Sharples then made her best case to remain in the match, but instead she was subbed off in the ninth minute. KC head coach Chris Armas sent on Gabrielle Robinson in her stead.

Once play resumed, the Current (7-0-5) started putting shots on goal. Chawinga went in early on Boston goalkeeper Casey Murphy, but the window the reigning MVP left herself was too tight for a quality finish.

Later, but still before halftime, Chawinga fed a nice pass to Michelle Cooper ... but the latter’s strike sailed high above Casey’s head, as well as the crossbar. Chawinga didn’t get another look in the opening half, but her seventh goal in five games was in store.

Former Current forward Nichelle Prince, traded to Boston (2-3-7) in January, had two late looks during the sizable block of injury time that followed the opening 45 minutes. Neither hit, however, so the score midway through remained nil-nil.

The Legacy controlled 56% of the match’s possession prior to intermission, putting two of eight shots on goal. The Current managed half that production, with just one of a scant four first-half shots on target.

On Chawinga’s breakthrough goal, she was positioned well for a deflection off Boston’s keeper. When the ball came her way, she hammered it at Murphy one time — but it was deflected right back to her again.

Given one too many opportunities, Chawinga unleashed a true close-range screamer that did not miss.

By game’s end, the possession and shots metrics were much closer. Boston finished with 12 total shots, three on goal, while KC had 11 shots, four on target.

“Big Slick” celebs — in town for the KC natives’ annual charity event for Children’s Mercy — attended the match, as did members of the Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Draft class.

Up next: As noted, the Current’s next true league match is July 3 at NWSL newcomer Denver (8:30 p.m. Central Time). Before then, however, KC does have one other match: the NWSL Challenge Cup final, set for 7 p.m. Central against Gotham FC on June 26 in Harrison, New Jersey.

This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 2:36 PM.