July 12, 2026
Photo by Michael Turner
ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 12, 2026) — Kansas City Current II now has the luxury of playing at its home ground, Riverside Stadium, in the WPSL Championships June 18 and 19.
But it had to win to get there.
On Sunday, Current II won the right to compete in the league championship on its home ground with a 2-0 win over Salvo SC in the Central Region Playoffs final—on Salvo’s home ground.
Kansas City Current II, Heartland Division and Midwest Conference winners, advanced to Sunday’s Central Region title match after a 3-0 win over Lone Star Conference champions, Austin Rise FC.
Current II carried the momentum over from the night before, taking the game to Salvo from the opening whistle, testing Salvo goalkeeper Ayden Gagner several time before Caroline Kelly put Current II in the lead in the 13th minute with a skillful individual effort, taking a controlling touch at the top of the penalty area, slicing between two defenders, before slamming the ball past Gagner at close range to put Kansas City in the lead.
It was a lead that was never threatened before the halftime whistle.
Kansas City Current II doubled its lead in the 52nd minute off a mis-played corner kick that flashed across the face of the goal where Avery Clark redirected the ball just inside the far post.
The 2-0 lead was all Kansas City Current II needed, seeing out the game in a professional manner to give Current II its third title and first ever trophy.
Kansas City Current II now advances to the WPSL Championships Semifinal Saturday July 18, where it will face the winner of the West Region. Kickoff is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. (or later, depending on the result of the first semifinal kicking off at 9 a.m.) at Riverside Stadium, with the winners meeting in the WPSL Championships Final Sunday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
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WPSL Central Region Final
Sunday, July 12, 2026
7 p.m. CDT
University of Northwestern St. Paul
St. Paul, Minn.
Salvo SC: 0
Kansas City Current II: 2
0-1: Kelly 13’
0-2: Clark 52’
Misconduct: None
Salvo SC: Ayden Gagner; Gabrielle Hofeld, Brooke Nygaard, Fiona Skwierawski, Sophia Barjesteh; Avery Petty, Savannah Backberg, Matigann Vixayvong; Becca Smith, Josie Seehafer. Leighton Rogers. Substitutes: Alexis Larson, Ana Oenning, Audrina Hess, Ivy Wessel, Makayla Lee, Savanna Varbanov, Tatum Janezich, Trista Crosby.
Kansas City Current II: Evelyn Vitali; Skylar Blaise, Itala Gemelli, Naila Schoefberger, Chelsea Wagner; Talia Gabberra, Avery Clark, Elle Kershner; Taylor Cheatham, Taliana Kaufusi, Caroline Kelly. Substitutes: Addy Rozycki, Alexa Heredia-Beltran, Ally Henry, Ella Rorabaugh, Ella Rorabaugh, Syenna Haynesworth.
