Two of the NWSL's highest-scoring teams meet in the quarterfinals as the Kansas City Current host Angel City FC at CPKC Stadium on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on CBS. Both clubs finished the regular season with 54 goals scored, and each side enters the postseason on strong form. Kansas City boasts a 32-game home unbeaten streak dating back to 2024, while Angel City arrives on a 10-game unbeaten run and returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
Kansas City's Playoff Return
The 2025 NWSL Shield winners endured a difficult start to the 2026 season. After an opening-round playoff exit in 2025, Vlatko Andonovski moved to an executive role and Chris Armas was hired as head coach. Two-time Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga began the season injured, and the club lost key players including Bia Zaneratto and Claire Hutton. Kansas City went winless in its first four games and sat near the bottom of the table. The turnaround came with Chawinga's return and the emergence of midfielder Croix Bethune, who set an NWSL single-season record with 11 assists, including six game-winning assists. Forward Haley Hopkins, acquired in 2025, co-leads the team with 12 goals alongside Chawinga. The roster's 54 goals are spread across 13 different scorers. Armas told CBS Sports that the team's adversity early in the season ultimately built belief and consistency heading into the playoffs.
Angel City's Remarkable Second Half
Angel City made bold midseason changes. After a three-game winning start, the club managed only one win in its next eight games and parted ways with head coach Alexander Straus in June. During the summer break, Angel City traded $850,000 in intraleague transfer funds to Kansas City for forward Ally Sentnor. Under interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerud, with Sentnor's addition and the return of defender Savy King, the team went on one of its best runs in club history: one loss in the last 14 games and a 10-game unbeaten streak. Angel City also co-leads the league in goals scored (54) with 13 different scorers. Sveindis Jonsdottir and Maiara Niehues combined for 19 goals, setting club single-season records. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson posted 10 clean sheets, and fullback Evelyn Shores led the team with eight assists. Smerud emphasized the team's ability to adapt to different game scenarios and expressed confidence ahead of the road quarterfinal.
What's Next
The winner of this quarterfinal will face the winner of Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign in the semifinals, scheduled for November 14 and 15.
