Excitement mounts for NWSL Championship match in KC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Across from the Rockhurst University campus, a sandwich board outside Gaels Public House advertised the coming of the National Women’s Soccer League Championship match between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit.
Kansas City’s team, the KC Current, won’t be in the match but their home stadium, CPKC will be hosting. It was selected as the site months ago, before anyone knew what teams would take to the pitch.
Gael’s owner Derrick Bachman has an entire wall of KC Current paintings in the pub. Goalkeeper Adrianna “AD” Franch is his brother-in-law’s cousin. She went to the same Salina high school as Bachman. He’s disappointed he won’t see the Current on the pitch Saturday, but he’s thrilled to have the championship happen in their home stadium.
“It’s not just national attention, but worldwide attention,” said Bachman. “We have the first stadium built specifically for women’s sports.”
That may be one reason CPKC stadium was selected. It was under construction until March of this year. Caleb-Michael Files was at Gaels with his running club. He’s a marathon runner who just moved back home from D.C. He’s excited to see the Spirit vie for championship status in his hometown.
“I’m sad that we’re not out there supporting the Current,” he said, “but I think it’s a great opportunity for us to show off, not only our stadium, the ownership group’s dedication to the sport and our excitement around women’s sports writ large.”
Over at Charlie Hooper’s, Timmy Tilton regaled the Current for a strong season until putting up a valiant but ultimately failed effort to best the Orlando Pride in the semifinals.
“I think it’s amazing that they got the stadium built so quickly,” said Tilton. “Women’s Soccer is every bit as exciting as men’s soccer. I think it’s just great for bringing the spotlight onto Kansas City.”
It’s a sentiment that was echoed by Travis Verdi a few tables down. His daughters play soccer.
“I think women’s soccer is better than men’s soccer, more competitive,” Verdi said. “It’d be better if the KC Current won last week to get to get into it, but it’s always good to have sports people in town.”
Grady Price remarked on the enthusiasm and television viewership brought by basketball star Caitlin Clark. Now playing in the WNBA, the Iowa Hawkeye phenom is credited for the NCAA Women’s Championship game drawing more viewers than the NCAA men’s championship.
“It’s just part of the evolution of sports,” Price said. “It’s exciting. Kansas City is growing and sports in Kansas City is growing.”
Another sign of that growth he cited is the World Cup coming the Kansas City. Many said they would be watching the match on television, but Uli Schneider will be in the stands at CPKC Stadium. She played soccer as a girl in Germany. Her enthusiasm is not dampened one bit by the Current not taking to their home pitch for the championship.
“All of the teams in the tournament have played really, really well. The decisions in the finals were hard fought, played with extra time and penalty shots,” she said. “No soccer fan can ask for better games.”
The NWSL Championship from CPKC Stadium will air on KCTV5 this Saturday at 7 p.m.
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