2022 NWSL Championship Preview: Portland Thorns vs Kansas City Current

In the 2022 NWSL Championship, Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current face off in this winner takes all final.

Audi Field is expected to have a near sellout crowd which will make this atmosphere raucous and memorable.

Jessica Berman confirms that the #NWSL Championship is 1,000 tickets away from being sold out.

Audi Field has a 20,000 stadium seating capacity.

— womenkickballs (@womenkickballs) October 28, 2022

Path to NWSL Final

Kansas City

• Quarterfinals: @Houston Dash 2-1
• Semi-finals: @OL Reign 2-0

Portland

• Quarterfinals: #2 Seed (Bye)
• Semi-finals: vs San Diego Wave 2-1

Previous Meetings

• 4-30: Portland vs Kansas City 3-0
• 9-18: Portland @ Kansas City 1-1

Projected Starting XIs

Portland

• Could we see Janine Beckie or Christine Sinclair start?
  • Thorns will likely stick with this lineup in order to maximize speed to stop the Current’s counterattack.

Leave it all on the field today 😤

Let’s do this Rose City! 🌹 #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/nSE7YyIJ61

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 23, 2022

Kansas City: No changes expected

Our Semi Starting XI 🤩#CurrentRising | #RGNvKC pic.twitter.com/bWB8n3p9iv

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) October 23, 2022

Advantage:

Defense: Tie

• Backline – Thorns: Portland have a solid backline led by 2nd team NWSL Best XI, Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelli Hubly.
  • Portland’s backline has only conceded 24 goals which is 3rd best in the league.
  • Kansas City’s backline has conceded 29 goals which is 7th best in the league.
• Goalkeeper – Current: AD Franch was selected on the 2nd team NWSL Best XI and was 2nd in saves.
  • Bella Bixby is tied for the league lead in clean sheets and 2nd in GAA (goals against average).

Midfield: Portland

• Thorns are led by the trio of Sam Coffey (1st team NWSL Best XI), Rocky Rodriquez, and Hina Sugita.
• Current are led by superstar Lo’eau LaBonta, a 1st team NWSL Best XI selection and one of the most underrated players in NWSL.
  • Kansas City lost key contributor Claire Lavogez due to injury.
  • Desiree Scott does a ton of work that goes unrecognized and is not listed in the box score

Attack: Portland

• Portland led the league in goals scored with 49 and goal differential of +25.
  • Thorns had 14 different goal scorers
    • 4 players had 5 goals or more (Smith, Weaver, Sinclair, Sugita)
  • Yazmeen Ryan is third in NWSL with 5 assists.
• Sophia Smith was named NWSL MVP after having a career year with 14 goals and 3 assists.
  • Smith also has 10 goals with the USWNT this…