San Diego Wave FC falls 2-0 to the undefeated Kansas City Current
Credit: Tammy Ryan/ EVT Sports
Kansas City Current visited San Diego and washed away Wave FC, winning 2-0 and maintaining their undefeated record through four matches.
The Current (4-0-0, 12 points) demonstrated a more effective attack throughout the match, scoring two goals within the first 25 minutes. In contrast, San Diego (1-1-2, 4 points) struggled to create opportunities in the attacking third. Ultimately, the better team won the match.
“The first half doesn’t give us a chance to get the result we want from the game, and we are very disappointed,” San Diego Wave FC head coach Jonas Eidevall said postgame. He also mentioned that the team was more “cohesive” to finish the game.
NWSL teams are returning from FIFA’s April international window. San Diego had 11 players representing their national teams across the youth and senior levels. Wave players combined for three goals, four assists, a championship win, and FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification at their respective clubs.
Before the break, the Wave suffered their first loss to Orlando Pride, 2-1. Minutes into Chiamaka Okwuchukwu’s debut, she scored the equalizing goal. Orlando missed their penalty kick to take the lead, but the VAR decision allowed a re-kick, and they made it—a heartbreaking turn of events.
Kansas City, however, picked up its third win of the 2025 season, shutting out the Utah Royals and winning by three goals on March 29. Entering today, the Current have shown to be a complete team, scoring eight goals and allowing just one.
Leading Kansas City is star forward Temwa Chawinga. Chawinga exploded onto the scene in her rookie year last season, winning the NWSL MVP award and the NWSL Golden Boot, scoring 20 goals, the most regular-season goals in NWSL history. The Current made it to the semifinals last season.
San Diego is riding a new wave this season. After a dismal 2024 season marked by numerous coaching changes and the departure of key players, including star defender Naomi Girma (who signed with Chelsea FC) and legendary forward Alex Morgan (who has retired), the team has made significant adjustments.
Under the leadership of Eidevall, San Diego aims to establish a fresh identity with a young and revamped roster. The team is led by captain and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, along with forwards María Sánchez and Delphine Cascarino, defender Kristen McNabb, and midfielder Gia Corley, who has emerged onto the scene and led the team with two goals.
Eidevall adjusted the starting XI this match, inserting Okwuchukwu, defender Trinity Armstrong, and midfielder Favour Emmanuel—all three getting their first start.
“It was really valuable experience for all three players to get their first start, and it was well-deserved for them because they’ve worked hard for that opportunity,” Eidevall said.
“I think it’s amazing that he (Eidevall) trusted me to single-up against last year’s MVP, Chawinga, and on top of that, trusting me to be able to play with such an amazing team,” Armstrong said.
It was a big night for Savannah McCaskill, who logged 10k minutes in the NWSL. “I’m getting old,” McCaskill jokingly said. This is her eighth season, and she mentioned that the league has grown immensely since joining.
As the game started, Kansas City appeared confident and in control. Chawinga quickly made her presence known with a strong offensive effort. Sheridan made an impressive save, and a defender from the Wave cleared the ball. A minute later, midfielder Claire Hutton took a shot from outside the box to no avail.
Fifteen minutes into the match, Kansas City defender Izzy Rodriguez advanced down the left sideline and delivered a cross into the box. Midfielder Debinha received the pass, controlled it, and took a right-footed shot. The ball bounced once before rolling into the bottom left corner of the goal, as Sheridan arrived just a moment too late to make the save. This goal marked Debinha’s 50th in the NWSL over eight seasons.
FIFTY @NWSL GOALS FOR DEBINHA
@NWSLpic.twitter.com/mWBH8qipLO
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) April 13, 2025
“It’s no secret that they have many, many threats,” McCaskill said about Kansas City. “You shut down one of them, and someone else pops up and scores a goal. So I just think it’s a big learning lesson for us that we have to be switched on from minute one.”
Minutes later, a penalty was awarded to Kansas City after a VAR review determined that a handball had occurred. Lo’eau LaBonta took the penalty shot, aiming for the top left corner of the net. The goalkeeper guessed correctly but could not prevent the ball from going over her outstretched arms and into the goal.
Through 25 minutes, the Wave trailed the Current by two goals.
.@L0momma on PKs?? Automatic
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) April 13, 2025
Sheridan was being attended to for an injury but remained in the game. After the short stoppage, the Wave showed some attack but lost possession inside the box. LaBonta sought her second goal of the match, but it glided just over the top right corner of the net.
At halftime, Kansas City had eight shot attempts, while San Diego managed only one. It was not an ideal 45 minutes for the Wave, as they conceded two goals and showed no signs of an offensive attack.
Eidevall expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance in the first half but noted they looked much better in the second half.
Eidevall said the team played with more effort in the second half, and it showed on the pitch: “I think it’s important once we started to do those things, you can see the players got more energy and the stadium got more energy as well.”
Sánchez had a free kick on the right wing, but the ball was lost in the crowd. San Diego maintained the majority of possession, holding 63%. The Current seemed content to drop back and protect their lead for the second half.
The Wave created several chances but were unable to score. Despite this, both aspects of their play improved, as they finished the match with eight shots while not allowing Kansas City to register any shots in the second half.
Eidevall said the Current is a great team, and it’s not a “shame losing to them.” He mentioned it’s a bigger disappointment that they only played one good half of soccer.
San Diego will look to snap out of its two-game losing streak, as they travel to face Racing Louisville FC (1-1-2, 4 points) on Saturday, April 19 at noon PST.
