Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

We're in week three of the 2025 NWSL season! Utah Royals FC continue their road trip with a stop in Kansas City, Missouri next!

Match Details

Utah Royals FC (0-1-1) @Kansas City Current (2-0-0)

CPKC Stadium | 5:30 pm MT

WATCH on ION TV

The Royals face one of the top teams in the NWSL and one of the contenders to win it all in 2025. Can Utah go to Kansas City and defeat the Current? Now, I know what you're thinking, if you're incredibly optimistic, you will say, "Of course they can!" If you know how good Kansas City has been playing two games in, you will say, "Not this game..."

Both are valid thoughts!

For the optimists, I can see it! Though both meetings between the two teams have gone to Kansas City, the wins were 1-0 both times, and both goals came in the second half. Utah held a high-scoring team to just one goal in both games. If you remember the Kansas City of 2024, you know they scored quite a lot of goals. Like 54 or so. But we don't want to think of the past to focus on this matchup. Looking at Utah of 2025, this is a team that is better prepared to face the top teams. Yes, last week was a loss, but the Royals erased the 2-0 deficit they saw in San Diego in the first half. Utah leveled it 2-2 in the second half against the Wave with goals from Claudia Zornoza and Mina Tanaka, and if it wasn't for Mandy McFlynng serving the ball right to Gia Corley leading to a goal in the 74th minute, Utah could have ended in a 2-2 draw or perhaps even the victory.

Ah, but the Royals get caught in their own mistakes, as we saw in San Diego. That McGlynn misservice, Oof! And there were plenty last season, too (that often to PKs). This comes with having young players, though. I still believe that in order for Utah to be fully a well-rounded out team, they need a strong veteran presence, so for those thinking, "I don't think Utah beats Kansas City this time," I'm with ya. Kansas City's roster is incredibly well-rounded, and they're not easy to beat, especially not at CPKC Stadium, where their only defeat was against Orlando in a 2-1 game last July. And of course, they have leading goalscorer Temwa Chawinga..and Debinha and Lo'eau LaBonta and Vanessa DiBenardo and Alana Cook, to name a few.

Utah cannot be counted out, though. Where last year a 2-0 deficit would have meant the end of the game, easy peasy victory for the opponent, in San Diego, the Royals almost pulled the comeback. Tanaka and Ally Sentnor are players that will keep the KC backline busy, and Zornoza can score from set pieces. Expect a good game, especially if the Royals play like the 2nd half Utah Royals vs. San Diego of last week.

Prediction: 1-0, Kansas City (to keep the tradition going)

Injury Report

To be released Friday evening