Photo Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images
The San Diego Wave displayed their resilience on Friday night, securing a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium. Forward Trinity Byars scored twice, including a critical equalizer in stoppage time, allowing San Diego to maintain its position at the top of the NWSL standings. The Current initially took the lead with goals from midfielder Croix Bethune and forward Temwa Chawinga before Byars struck again to salvage a point for her team.
Kansas City extended its impressive league-record unbeaten streak at home to 24 regular-season matches, although they saw their home winning streak come to an end after 10 consecutive victories. The Current aimed to leverage their home advantage but found themselves stunned early on.
Byars made her mark quickly, netting her first goal in the sixth minute. She capitalized on a defensive error, demonstrating excellent awareness and precise finishing after a well-coordinated attack. Despite her early goal, San Diego was pressured throughout the match.
Kansas City responded vehemently, with Bethune striking the crossbar in the first half. However, San Diego held their slim lead as the teams headed into halftime. The momentum shifted not long after the break when Bethune connected with a mesmerizing volley from a pass by Laney Rouse, equalizing the score and marking Rouse’s first career assist alongside Bethune’s 10th goal of the season.
Just moments later, Bethune showcased her playmaking skills again, threading a perfect ball to Chawinga, who finished confidently to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead. This marked Chawinga’s ninth goal of the season, putting her in a tie with Ashley Sanchez for second place in the Golden Boot race, trailing only Barbra Banda. Notably, Chawinga will miss upcoming matches after being called up to represent Malawi in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 26 to August 16.
<pAs the match approached its final moments, San Diego found an opportunity to equalize. Defender Kristen McNabb unleashed a shot that caught Kansas City goalkeeper Marisa Jordan off guard. The deflected effort was met by a opportunistic Byars, who slid in to push the ball over the line, bringing her season total to six goals.
This draw marked the third instance in which Kansas City conceded a late equalizer during their home unbeaten streak—a challenging trend they will look to address moving forward. As the teams head deeper into the season, both the Wave and the Current aim to solidify their standings in the competitive NWSL landscape.
