Temwa Chawinga showcased her dominance once again by notching her league-leading 17th goal of the season, assisting the Kansas City Current in securing a 1-1 draw against Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League match held on Saturday.
Gotham FC took the lead in the 23rd minute through Yazmeen Ryan’s cross, which deflected off a Current defender, slipping beneath goalkeeper Almuth Schult’s legs. However, Chawinga responded effectively in the 52nd minute, skillfully maneuvering around her defender and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, with an assist from Debinha.
With this goal, Chawinga has reached 17 goals this season, trailing only one goal behind Sam Kerr’s single-season record of 18 set in 2019. Impressively, Chawinga has scored 12 goals at CPKC Stadium, setting a new record for the most goals scored by a player at home in a single regular season in the league’s history.
Goalkeeper Almuth Schult was pivotal for the Current, making six saves in the match. Gotham FC, currently in third place, has suffered only one loss in their last eight games and recently made history by being the first NWSL team to visit the White House.
In another NWSL fixture, the Utah Royals secured a 1-0 victory against Racing Louisville at America First Field, with Ana Tejada’s second-half goal proving to be the difference. Tejada struck a powerful shot from distance that found the lower left corner of the net in the 79th minute.
Utah’s goalkeeper Cristina Roque, who was making her regular-season debut due to an injury to Mandy Haught during warmups, managed to make two crucial saves. Despite the loss, Racing Louisville (6-9-7) remains in contention for the eighth and final playoff spot with four games left to play.
The Orlando Pride continued their impressive form by defeating the Houston Dash 3-1 at Inter&Co Stadium, extending their unbeaten streak to a league-record 23 games. Carson Pickett, Angelina, and Marta all found the net for the Pride in the victory.
In another match, the San Diego Wave emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns at Snapdragon Stadium. Mya Jones and Melanie Barcenas scored for the Wave, securing a vital win as they remain just three points behind Racing Louisville for the last playoff spot with four games remaining.
Notably, Portland Thorns suffered a defeat without their top scorer Sophia Smith due to an ankle injury and midfielder Hina Sugita, who was sidelined with a facial injury. The Thorns (8-10-4) are currently on a six-game winless run but are still holding onto a playoff position above Racing Louisville in the standings.