At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Kansas City Current face the top-ranked Orlando Pride for a spot in the NWSL Championship match.
No matter who wins, the championship will be decided at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Nov. 23.
Sunday’s matchup in Orlando will be a test for the Current’s historically high-powered offense. The Pride surrendered a league low 20 goals (tied with NY/NJ Gotham FC) and allowed the second-fewest shots on target during the regular season. In two meetings this season—a draw and a Pride win—they held the Current to one goal.
The Current will lean on their offense and surging goalkeeping to get to the finals. The club scored 57 goals this season—an NWSL record—and touts the league’s leading scorer in forward Temwa Chawinga. Goalkeeper Almuth Schult, who joined a shaky Current defense in late August, saved 86 percent of the shots she faced in the regular season and shut out the North Carolina Courage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Pride’s offense is formidable, as well. They totaled 46 goals on the year—good for third in the league—including ten goals in their last five matches played. They have two of the league’s top-five scorers in Barbra Banda and Marta Vieira da Silva.
No matter the scenario, the Current’s road to the NWSL Championship is marked with redemption. Only three teams beat them in the regular season: the Courage, the Pride, and the Washington Spirit. They avenged their loss to the Courage last Saturday in the first round; they’ll look to dispatch of the Pride on Sunday; and if they do, either the Spirit or Gotham FC will be waiting. Gotham FC played the Current to a draw on April 14 to end their season-opening win streak.
The Current face the Pride on Sunday afternoon on ABC.