Temwa celebrates with hat-trick hero Haley Hopkins (left)
* Scores and assists in KC Current’s 4-1 win over Denver Summit FC to bring back their playoff qualification back on track
* There’s nothing quite like having the world’s most dangerous player on the pitch to turn things around for KC Current
* Temwa Chawinga’s efforts to take over matches for Kansas City have become a staple of her game and the club
* We are watching one of the most prolific players in the world as women’s soccer continues to write the opening chapter of its modern era
By Duncan Mlanjira
After losing to San Diego Wave FC a week before, Temwa Chawinga’s Kansas City (KC) Current risked missing out the US Women’s National Soccer League (NWSL) 2026 playoffs — but they are back on track having thrashed Denver Summit FC 4-1 on Saturday.
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And Temwa was in the thick of things in KC Current’s push with a goal and assist, to move to 6th place from 8th — the final NWSL playoff spot.
After the 0-2 loss to San Dieg Wave, KC Current needed to collect 7 points from their three home games remaining, and now they are left with 4 points.
The crucial win at home CPKC Stadium, that earned them 41 points, saw forward Haley Hopkins score a hat-trick with Temwa providing the assist.
KC Current Media reports that after Denver Summit’s took the lead in the 13th minute, Hopkins equalised just before halftime on a close-range finish assisted by forward Michelle Cooper.
She then beat Summit’s goalkeeper to an errant back pass in the 47th minute, sending a composed finish into the back of the net.
After providing the assist for Hopkins to complete her hat-trick with a breakaway finish in the 57th minute, Temwa made it 4-1 in the 76th minute.
She was set up with a brilliant backheeled assist by midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo for the Malawi international to claim her 11th goal from 14 games this season alone, with four games to go — taking her overall 46th goal of the NWSL tally.
CNS Sports reports: “… there’s nothing quite like having the world’s most dangerous player on the pitch to turn things around [for KC Current].
“Temwa Chawinga’s efforts to take over matches for Kansas City have become a staple of her game and the club.
“Is it dangerous to be overly reliant on one player? — Sure. Are we also watching one of the most prolific players in the world as women’s soccer continues to write the opening chapter of its modern era? Also yes.
“It should be illegal to simplify or narrow Chawinga’s ability to just simply being quick or fast in transition.
“It’s her ability to read the game, time her runs, outwit the defenders around her, and be so damn good that she constantly instills doubts and fear in her opposition that even the softest challenges in the box lead to a quick penalty.
“When she won a penalty for the KC Current around the half-hour mark, it changed the trajectory of the game completely for the Current.
“It didn’t matter that Debinha wasn’t able to convert the penalty — it shook up the team and woke them up with an alarm that rang out, reminding them that this is a playoff push game.
“Just minutes later, Chawinga’s alternate path into the box alongside Haley Hopkins forced Denver Summit to stumble into the box, and no matter where Michelle Cooper’s cross landed, it was getting across the goal line — and it did, thanks to Hopkins.”
Meanwhile, KC Current Media reported that in her assist for Hopkins hat-trick, defender Izzy Rodriguez sent a clearance up the left wing for Chawinga to chase.
“Chawinga broke free from the Denver defense near midfield, bursting ahead for a two-on-one opportunity with Hopkins flanking her down the centre of the pitch.
“Chawinga made her way inside the 18-yard box then rolled a pass across goal for Hopkins, who calmly curled a one-time effort into the bottom right corner.
“As the Current entered the attacking third yet again, midfielder Bayley Feist played a pass ahead for DiBernardo near the top of the box. With her back to goal, DiBernardo played a cheeky backheel pass that split multiple defenders before finding Chawinga inside the penalty area.
“Chawinga cut back on her right foot, then curled a shot that took a deflection before bouncing past Smith for the team’s fourth and final goal.”
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