The Rise of Kansas City WoSo
Kansas City faced an uphill battle coming into the league as quickly as they did. The circumstances around bringing the team to Kansas City made it a quick turnaround. The deal was done in December, with the team taking the field for the first time in April.
With the fallout of the Utah Royals owner, it became obvious that the team wasn’t going to continue there. So the ownership group in Kansas City took over the team, the group includes Angie and Chris Long, and Brittany Matthews, who is a former soccer player. The ownership group in Kansas City bought the team and relocated them, bringing the NWSL back to KC four years after FC Kansas City was moved to Utah.
Off the field, there is still a lot of change to come for this team. They are operating under a temporary crest and name for the 2021 season. In terms of play, though, Kansas City is trending upwards, and the club could play spoiler for some teams as the postseason gets closer and closer.
Key Trades
Kansas City made some big trades mid-season, one that brought them a world-class goalkeeper and three key players.
In July, they traded Amy Rodriguez to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for Kristen Hamilton, Hailie Mace, and Katelyn Rowland. Hamilton was a player that KC had been trying to acquire, and they quickly built their game plan around the striker. Mace is another player who has seen a lot of minutes with Kansas City, her connection with Hamilton up top has made the team more dangerous offensively. Finally, Rowland is an established NWSL goalkeeper with a ton of experience and a great backup.
The next big move came just a month later when they acquired Adrianna Franch from the Portland Thorns. They were able to bring Franch back to her home state and get a terrific USWNT goalkeeper with a ton of experience and leadership qualities.
First Win
Kansas City struggled during the beginning of the season, starting off at 0-9-4 until August 13. KC got their first win at home against OL Reign with a 1-0 victory. It was a much-needed victory for team morale and confidence, and it was also nice for them to win at home in front of their fans against a quality OL Reign team.
11 days later, they would pick up their second win at home in the expansion derby against Racing Louisville FC. KC came away with a 2-1 win with a goal from Kristen Hamilton and an own goal.
Overall, Kansas City has some really talented and experienced players, with Kristen Edmonds, Kristen Hamilton, Lo’eau LaBonta, and more. Not to mention, they now have one of the best goalkeepers in the league, AD Franch. It’s a team with so much potential, and we’ll be eager to see how they progress in the coming seasons.
Featured image via @KCWoSo on Twitter
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