Gotham FC Shocks Kansas City Current in NWSL Quarterfinal Upset

The NWSL quarterfinal on Sunday was anything but ordinary.

Entering the match, the Kansas City Current stood as the most dominant No. 1 seed in the league’s history. Their opponents, Gotham FC, the reigning Concacaf champions and 2023 league champions, represented the most formidable No. 8 seed in the league’s brief history of playoff quarterfinals. Both teams were forced to compete without their star forwards, the top scorers in the NWSL.

The outcome was shocking, particularly for those outside the league: Gotham’s 2-1 triumph in extra time at CPKC Stadium marked an early conclusion to what many considered the best season ever by an NWSL team.

“We’re not an eighth-place team,” asserted Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw, who scored one goal and assisted another. “I’m sorry, but underdog, my ass. We are not an underdog.”

Shaw netted a goal in the 68th minute and assisted Katie Stengel’s decisive goal in the 121st minute.

With this victory, Gotham is set to face the No. 3 seed Orlando Pride in next week’s semifinal, bringing together the league’s past two champions.

Kansas City’s defense, which had allowed only 13 goals across 26 regular-season matches, a league record, and achieved records for points (65) and wins (21), concluded the season 21 points ahead of second-place Washington Spirit.

However, the Current played Sunday’s quarterfinal without reigning MVP and two-time NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga, who was sidelined due to a hip injury. Chawinga led the league with 15 goals this season. Additionally, Current forward Michelle Cooper was unavailable due to a foot injury, while teammate Bia Zaneratto struggled through a leg issue throughout the match.

Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski remarked that “if there was even a slight chance for Temwa to play, even for one minute, she was probably going to be on the field.” However, after Saturday’s training session, he concluded that risking a more severe injury was not advisable.

On the other side, Gotham also missed forward Esther González, who contributed 13 goals this season and was dealing with a hip issue. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros mentioned that while González could have potentially played a minor role, she ultimately remained on the bench, bundled in a puffer jacket as the game began in frigid conditions.

Shaw’s goal in the 68th minute appeared to secure the lead for Gotham until stoppage time, when Current winger Ellie Wheeler managed to score in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time, marking the latest equalizer in NWSL playoff history and pushing the match into extra time.

As a penalty shootout loomed, Shaw’s clever flick from a long free kick by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger found Stengel, who converted with a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Shaw’s performance underscored her impressive resurgence at Gotham after a tumultuous year that saw her traded twice in nine months. Initially leaving San Diego Wave FC for North Carolina Courage in a major January trade, she struggled to acclimate before Gotham acquired her for a record fee of $1.25 million in September.

Although Shaw’s arrival coincided with a brief boost in Gotham’s form, a disappointing four-game winless streak saw them drop to the No. 8 seed following a loss to North Carolina in the regular-season finale.

On Sunday, Gotham sought to recapture the momentum from earlier in the season, with Shaw playing a crucial role. “It’s been so fun being a part of this club,” she expressed. “We all knew we were going to give everything we had in this game.”

Gotham maintained control in the first half, boasting nearly 70% possession, yet Kansas City created the two clearest scoring opportunities. Ally Sentnor, playing as Kansas City’s No. 10, had a shot on goal in the 17th minute that was expertly saved by Berger. Just 12 minutes later, Berger thwarted Nichelle Prince twice in quick succession, denying a counterattack that could have put Kansas City ahead.

Despite struggling to convert, Gotham finished the match with 15 shot attempts and ultimately secured the victory.

Stengel, the hero of the quarterfinal for Gotham, has experienced a varied career, including multiple stints with the club. She returned to Gotham this summer after a transfer from Crystal Palace, where she had moved in September 2024.

Stengel also scored a crucial extra-time winner during the 2023 semifinal on Gotham’s path to their first NWSL Championship.

Kansas City’s failure to advance this year follows a bitter semifinal loss to eventual champions Orlando Pride last season, which prevented them from competing for a title in their home stadium.

“I’ve been saying this for two years: We’re not here to have one good season and vanish,” Andonovski stated. “We’re here to stay and to make a mark every season.”