On Sunday, KC NWSL marked its tenth game without a win, which was unfortunate because goalkeeper Abby Smith had an incredible game, making five saves, including a penalty-kick block midway through the first half. But just as Smith had made heroic stops, a mistake in stoppage time in the first half allowed for Portland’s Simone Charley to score, giving the Thorns the lead for the rest of the game.
As exciting as it has been to welcome back an NWSL team to Kansas City, fans have not been able to celebrate a win. Since the start 2021 competition, including the four games of the Challenge Cup, KC has gone 0-7-3, with a 0-4-2 record in the regular season.