SAN DIEGO (Sept. 17, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC (13-8-3, 42 points) returns to Snapdragon Stadium to face the Kansas City Current (11-8-5, 38 points) on Friday, Sept. 18, looking to extend its four-game unbeaten run at home. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on Prime Video.
San Diego and Kansas City have met 10 times in NWSL play with the most recent match ending in a 2-2 draw at CPKC Stadium on July 17. Trinity Byars recorded her first brace as a professional, finding the opening goal in the sixth minute and the equalizer in the 90th minute to help the Wave earn a point on the road.
Last Time Out:
San Diego enters this weekend’s match following a 2-1 win over the North Carolina Courage on Sept. 12 at Snapdragon Stadium. Gia Corley found her first goal of the year in the 23rd minute to give San Diego the 1-0 lead. 18-year-old Melanie Barcenas would then add an insurance goal in the 72nd minute by cutting the ball inside to her left foot and curling home her sixth goal of the season. Ashley Sanchez pulled one back for North Carolina in the 82nd minute, but the Wave were able to hold onto the lead and secure all three points.
Kansas City is coming off a 2-2 draw against the Orlando Pride on Sept. 11 at CPKC Stadium. After falling behind to a brace from Orlando’s Barbra Banda, the Current led a second-half comeback by scoring two goals within three minutes. Temwa Chawinga created the first chance in the 53rd minute after receiving the ball at the top of the box, beating three defenders and placing a shot on goal that slipped through the hands of Orlando’s goalkeeper. The Current then capitalized on a corner kick in the 56th minute that ultimately fell to the feet of Elizabeth Ball who leveled the score allowing Kansas City’s to extend its unbeaten streak at their home stadium.
Player to Watch:
Melanie Barcenas, who signed a contract extension through 2028 this week, netted the game-winning goal for San Diego in the club’s last match, her sixth goal of the season, helping the forward tie the NWSL single-season record for goals by a teenager. In 2026, the 18-year-old leads the NWSL in goals and goal contributions by a teenager and recently moved into fourth place in league history with eight career goals scored as a teenager.
Temwa Chawinga leads the Current with 10 goals this season and enters Friday’s match having scored in five consecutive regular season starts. The forward became the first player in NWSL history to win MVP in consecutive seasons after taking home the honor in 2024 and 2025. Chawinga also won the Golden Boot in both seasons, becoming just the second player in league history to claim the award multiple times.
