SeatGeek Stadium | Bridgeview, Illinois – Saturday, April 15 at 8:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson suffered a long-term injury over the international break and underwent a surgery on a torn patella tendon. This leaves Chicago with a hole in their attack, one that draftee Penelope Hocking and attacking standout Yuki Nagasato will aim to help fill. In Chicago’s opener at San Diego, Nagasato scored her 19th career NWSL goal (17th with Chicago) and will aim to help the Red Stars carry on against a winless Kansas City team on Saturday night.
The Current are stacked with firepower but have yet to properly connect their pieces, with forward CeCe Kizerscoring the lone goal across their two regular season games this season. Goalkeeper AD Franch, though having conceded five goals in two games, has been plenty involved on the year with eight saves already. That puts her nine away from 400 career regular season saves. Also of note is Kansas City’s willingness to put faith in their draftees, as the Current are the only club to have started two draft picks in both regular season games, with forward Michelle Cooper and defender Gabby Robinson both in the starting XIs.
Match facts: Neither the Chicago Red Stars nor the Kansas City Current have picked up a point on the year so far and are two of only three teams (Orlando) in that category. However, that will change come Saturday night’s matchup at SeatGeek Stadium with at least one of the two sides earning at least a first point this season.
First, everyone is wishing Chicago forward Mallory Swanson a speedy recovery after her injury with the U.S. Women’s National Team over the international break. Swanson will be an obvious miss for the Red Stars with the attacking talent leading in shots and shots on goal as well as helping pace the league in those categories (shots – 3rd; shots on goal – T-2nd). This leaves Nagasato, Hocking, and the likes of Ava Cook, Sarah Griffith, and others to help fill the void. One bright spot for Chicago over the break was the debut of midfielder Julia Bianchi, though, who joined the club after two years with Brazilian side Palmeiras. Bianchi scored in her debut—a 5-2 friendly loss to the Mexico Women’s National Team—directly from a corner kick in the 39th minute.
Meanwhile, Kansas City didn’t seem to gel in their season-opening loss at North Carolina and were unfortunate in timing in meeting a rolling Portland side at the beginning of April for their second loss. However, another road trip to Chicago won’t be without its challenges as the Current seek a first result. The club boasts plenty of players with the ability to find the back of the net, with Kizer, fellow forward Kristen Hamilton, and midfielders Lo’eau LaBonta, Vanessa DiBernardo, and Debinha all boasting more than 10 regular season goals. That experience coupled with the arrival of the likes of draftee Michelle Cooper and forward Mimmi Larsson would suggest that, at least in due time, Kansas City will find their own momentum.
Though both teams underwent a bit of roster reconstruction in the offseason, their four meetings in all competitions last year mean they are plenty familiar with each other. The Red Stars fought their way to a point in the first regular season meeting in a 2-2 draw in June. But, the last time these two teams met at SeatGeek Stadium (September 2022), Chicago ended Kansas City’s 13-game unbeaten streak which was the second-longest such streak in NWSL history with a 4-0 win.
