Temwa Chawinga Aims to Turn Individual Accolades into a Championship for Kansas City Current

Kansas City Current entered the 2025 playoffs as the top seed after a record-setting regular season, but lost 2–1 in extra time to eighth-seeded Gotham FC in the quarterfinals. The defeat came without the league’s leading scorer, Temwa Chawinga, who suffered an adductor injury in the penultimate regular-season match against Houston on October 18 and missed both the season finale and the postseason. The injury also sidelined her into the start of the 2026 campaign.

ESPN

The Current captured their first NWSL Shield in 2025, finishing 21-3-2 with a league-record 65 points, 21 ahead of Washington Spirit. Chawinga led the league with 15 goals that year, earning a second consecutive Golden Boot after a 20-goal, record-breaking 2024 season. She became the first player in NWSL history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons and the first African-born player to claim both MVP and Golden Boot honors. Her 15-goal tally in 2025 made her the first since Sam Kerr to score at least 15 goals in consecutive seasons.

ESPN

Chawinga has repeatedly emphasized that individual awards are insufficient without a championship. She told ESPN that “everyone on the team knows we need to get back to the championship game” and highlighted the club’s belief in her, noting that trust from the coach, owners, and teammates motivated her to sign a new contract. The Current secured her through 2029 using the NWSL’s High Impact Player mechanism, underscoring the organization’s confidence in her long-term value.

ESPN

• “Everyone on the team knows we need to get back to the championship game,” — Temwa Chawinga

ESPN

• “There isn't a big difference because we're still playing the same system we used under Vlatko," Chawinga said.” — Temwa Chawinga

ESPN

• 2024: 20 goals (single-season record), MVP, Golden Boot.

ESPN

• 2025: 15 goals, second consecutive Golden Boot, MVP repeat.

ESPN

• 2025 regular season: 21-3-2 record, 65 points, NWSL Shield.

ESPN

• Contract extensions: initial extension through 2028 (January 2025), further extension through 2029 via High Impact Player designation.

ESPN

• Playoff quarterfinal loss: 2–1 (extra time) to Gotham FC.

ESPN

Chawinga’s pursuit of the missing championship remains the focal point of Kansas City Current’s ambitions as the club looks to translate regular-season dominance into postseason success.

ESPN