Kansas City sets new standards for NWSL ahead of historic championship match
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As Kansas City prepares to host a historic NWSL Championship match, team members from both sides of the pitch can agree on one thing - the City of Fountains has set new standards for the league.
National Women’s Soccer League leaders along with the Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride, filtered into Kansas City’s Union Station Board Meeting Room on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 21. Players mingled with members of the community and the media as they prepared for Saturday’s Championship match.
While Kansas City’s own club, the KC Current, was knocked out of the playoffs in the semi-finals by the Pride with a score of 3-2, the NWSL is still overwhelmed with the city’s love of the sport.
“I’m so impressed with Kansas City from top to bottom. You go into the airport, all you see is Kansas City Current, right? And I’m like, yes,” said Lauren Holiday former midfielder for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. “Like you see Kansas City Chiefs and you see Kansas City Current, and I love it. We knew it was possible.”
As the community embraces the sport, players have also embraced the City of Fountains.
“I’ve always loved Kansas City, mainly for the barbecue,” said Aubrey Kingsbury, Washington Spirit Team Captain. “We’re also big fans of Messenger Coffee and just a nice downtown area, we’re used to coming here - at least twice this season.”
Even with a heartbreaking defeat for the Kansas City home team, those on the Orlando Pride hope fans can still come together to support the sport.
“I just hope they can stay by my side because the last time that we played here, there was a little bit of fight when we played against Kansas City,” Brazilian Orlando Pride Forward Marta said. “It was a really really important game, in the moment, and then here, this was the game we were supposed to play before the Olympics.”
While the league prepares for a historic Championship match, those who play the game said they never stopped believing in the NWSL’s popularity.
“There was always a belief. That’s what’s so special about women’s soccer,” Holiday continued. “We’ve never stopped believing. But I don’t think in my wildest dreams I could’ve ever imagined it like it is now.”
At 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, Kansas City is set to make history as the Championship match is hosted at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium built specifically for women’s sports.
“To have an entire facility and stadium just for women I think is great,” said Trinity Rodman, Washington Forward. “There’s a lot of teams in the league, including ourselves, that share facilities with our men’s teams. So them [Kansas City] setting that standard - I think that should be the standard.”
Even though the pair are set to face off on the field, Rodman and Kingsbury can agree that Kansas City meets the mark.
“This is my 10th year in the league and even just year after year I continue to be amazed by the growing fans. The growing numbers that we have. How much they care and are engaged in games and social media,” Kingsbury noted. “It’s just been this big vacuum and now that we’re finally delivering a product to have these better podcast deals they’re seeing it explode so it’s been really exciting.”
Washington Forward Ashley Hatch agreed that Kansas City now sets a precedent in the league and hopes the momentum continues, on and off the field.
“It sets a standard and a precedent. Women can have their own stadiums and that we can fill it and have big games and championship games there,” Hatch noted. “So, hopefully, this is the first of many.”
Other players hope the historic weekend spurs a movement for more engagement in women’s sports.
“It’s nice and simple, where we need to work and have more moments like that, to have more places,” Marta noted.
Orlando has already reigned victorious against Washington at home and on the road, now the team hopes to even the odds. However, as the Spirit has gone into extra time in both playoff rounds and the Pride has not, Orlando is favored to win.
The NWSL Championship match is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22. You can watch along on KCTV5.
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