KC Current heads to Gotham for NWSL playoff rematch

The Kansas City Current will travel to New York on Sunday to face Gotham FC in the NWSL playoffs. The match starts at 2 p.m. This second meeting of the year pits the two teams against each other with the roles reversed from their last encounter.

Gotham FC holds the home advantage this time. Last season, Gotham defeated the Current at CPKC Stadium to advance. The Current won their most recent quarterfinal match at home. Now they must win on the road to keep their season alive.

Fans in Kansas City view the upcoming trip as a chance for revenge. Matt Huggins, a Current supporter, said he hopes the team returns the favor by winning at Gotham's home ground. Rachel Glenn of The Dub agreed, noting that Gotham knocked the Current out last year. She expects the Current to do the same to Gotham on their field.

Local venues are preparing for a surge in attendance. Kansas City's first women's sports bar anticipates a full house for the broadcast. Huggins described the atmosphere on game days as feeling like a mini stadium. Glenn said the energy is intense, with patrons running through the bar and reacting together when the team performs well.

The players acknowledge the importance of that local support. Lo'eau LaBonta, a midfielder for the Current, said the fans mean everything to the team. She recalled a season marked by highs and lows, stating that the team fought hard to reach the playoffs. Croix Bethune, another midfielder, said the focus now is on rest and recovery to prepare for the next competition.

The team plans to hold a watch party at the Current Landing for the game. This gathering allows supporters who cannot travel to New York to watch the match together. The Current aims to secure a win that would send them further into the tournament. Both teams have played each other twice in the last two years, with the current matchup deciding who advances from this round of the playoffs.