‘Pinch me!’ KC Current just trying to take it day by day as championship hype builds

Because the National Women’s Soccer League’s season starts annually in March, many teams begin training in the cold. A sure sign of success through the course of the season is getting to train in the cold again as the leaves turn and the postseason unfolds.

The Kansas City Current returned to training this week wearing sweats and parkas instead of the shorts and tanks they wore in August and September.

Yep, it’s been a successful and eventful 2022.

The Current on Tuesday took their first touches in preparation for the NWSL championship game they’ll play Saturday night, a prime-time showdown against the Portland Thorns on CBS/Paramount+.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for the Current in year two.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we find ourselves here because of the work we’ve done, and that credit goes to the players,” coach Matt Potter said. “They’re the ones that have been doing it every day, and we’re proud o them to get to this point. Hopefully, there’s one more to come.”

The groundwork laid by co-owners Chris and Angie Long and Brittany Mahomes has paved the way toward moments like this. They’re motivated to be one of the best women’s soccer clubs in the world.

“It’s hard to not be energized by the project,” Potter said, referencing the new stadium that will soon be constructed along the Missouri River near downtown. “Angie, Chris and Brittany, they’ve got this idea in their head about what they want this to look like. We believe in the project. I’m just grateful that I get an opportunity to be part of it.”

Veteran player Lo LaBonta said the gravity of the club’s berth in the title game hadn’t quite hit her yet.

“My body still hurts from the game yesterday, or whenever it was,” she said with a smile. “But maybe when we land in D.C. (site of the championship game), we’ll start feeling the butterflies.”

The Current have a saying: “Never get too high, never get too low.”

Potter has mentioned it weekly since the playoffs started, and the players have shown they can continue to handle it. They weren’t playing well in Houston, during their quarterfinal match, and stayed the course to win. The nerves could’ve overcome them Sunday, when the host OL Reign settled in and started generating chances in the semis.

Instead, the Current suffocated the Reign on their home field, winning 2-0.

When it’s time to lock in once more on Saturday, maybe it won’t be hard.

“It’s very easy to focus on this game because it’s the last one of the entire year,” LaBonta said. “It’s gonna be our biggest one. So I think it’s very easy to focus on the little things (in preparation), because the more we do the little things right, the more successful we’ll be.”

The success has certainly come. And with that success, belief has followed. At this time of year, belief can propel a team to the highest of highs — a pinnacle the Current fully intend to reach Saturday night.

“I’ve never gone into a game thinking that we’re not going to win,” rookie defender Izzy Rodriguez said. “Obviously there’s been times where that’s been wrong. But every game, I’ve never had a fear that we’re not gonna win, that we’re not gonna put up a fight, that we’re not gonna be the first to the ball.”

Honors for 3 Current players

Three Current players — midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta (first team), goalkeeper AD Franch (second team) and defender Hailie Mace (second team) — were named to the NWSL Best XI on Tuesday.

“We are so excited for these players to be recognized for their standout play and leadership on the pitch this season,” Current general manager Camille Levin Ashton said. “While there is still more to do, their contributions to our team have been invaluable all season long.”

Here are the complete first and second Best XI teams:

BEST XI FIRST TEAM

Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan (San Diego)

Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Naomi Girma (San Diego), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Carson Pickett (North Carolina)

Midfielders/forwards: Lo’eau LaBonta (Kansas City), Sam Coffey (Portland), Alex Morgan (San Diego), Debinha (North Carolina), Mallory Pugh (Chicago), Sophia Smith (Portland)

BEST XI SECOND TEAM

Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City)

Defenders: Hailie Mace (Kansas City), Kelli Hubly (Portland), Tatum Milazzo (Chicago), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland)

Midfielders/forwards: Kerolin (North Carolina), Jess Fishlock (OL Reign), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Diana Ordóñez (North Carolina), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Ebony Salmon (Houston)