July 16, 2026
photo by Michael Turner, WPSL 2026
By Andrew Mosier, WPSL Communications
When Kansas City Current II returned to the WPSL this season, it was a vastly different from the previous iteration of the club that last played competitively in the league in 2022. During its hiatus from league play, Kansas City Current II rebuilt as a true second team with the purpose of incubating talent for its NWSL side, focusing on developing talent that would, in turn, achieve results.
It has been quite a return. On Saturday Kansas City Current II faces off against five-time WPSL champions California Storm in the WPSL Championships Semifinal.
“Advancing to the WPSL Championships is another opportunity to demonstrate the standards we’ve built not only with the first team, but with KC Current II as well,” Vasil Ristov, Kansas City Current II head coach, said. “We will continue creating an environment where players can develop while competing for championships. We’re proud to represent Kansas City on the national stage.”
As suddenly intense as the national spotlight is on any team appearing in the WPSL Championships, the spotlight will burn that much brighter for Kansas City Current II with the 2026 WPSL Championships held at the 2,000-seat Riverside Stadium, which is part of Kansas City Current’s state-of-the-art University of Kansas Health Systems Training Center where Current II trains, and Current II’s home field for the entirety of its 2026 campaign, which was selected to host the WPSL Championships before the season started.
In the 28-season history of the WPSL, it is not completely uncommon for teams to advance to the WPSL Championships and play on or near its home ground. A total of 10 teams have advanced to the WPSL Championships, four of which went on to win the WPSL championship that year: California Storm in 2002, Long Island Fury in 2009, Gulf Coast Texans (Pensacola FC) in 2012, and Beach Futbol Club in 2014.
“Advancing to the WPSL Championships is something everyone at our club has earned. The players put in a tremendous amount of work every day, and they’ve shown commitment, resilience, and a willingness to compete for one another throughout the season,” Ristov said.
Being part of a fully professional organization makes on-field success that much more difficult, as opposing players often use games against Current II to prove their own playing abilities.
After opening Heartland Division play with three straight wins, including a 5-1 win over Union KC at Riverside Stadium, Current II stumbled with two consecutive draws: first against Union KC 1-1, effectively the same team it had beaten 5-1 at Riverside Stadium the week before, followed by Side FC 92 Tulsa at home, failing to score for the first and only time all season in a 0-0 draw.
Flying high after three straight wins, including a 2-0 win at reigning division and conference winners, Oklahoma City FC, Current II came crashing back to earth, falling at Riverside Stadium 2-1 in the return match with Oklahoma City midweek of the final week of regular season play. A 3-1 win at Wichita in the final regular-season game of the season put Current II two points clear of Oklahoma City at the top of the Heartland Division table, finishing the regular season 7-2-1 with 23 points.
With division winners alternating as hosts of the Midwest Conference Championship, Current II traveled to St. Louis to face Gateway winners Lou Fusz Athletic. Bridget Kopmeyer, Chloe Guenther, Syenna Haynesworth, and Tori Vassor, scored in the 4-1 win that put Current II through to the Central Region Playoffs in St. Paul, Minn., where it drew Lone Star Conference winners Austin Rise FC in the regional semifinal. Caroline Kelly, Naila Schoefberger, and Haynesworth scored goals in the 3-0 win to advance to the Central Region Playoffs final versus hosts, Salvo SC. Avery Clark scored in the 13th minute to mark her 13th goal of the season to lead the club in scoring, followed by Kelly in the 52nd, with goalkeeper Evelyn Vitali earning her fourth clean sheet in six appearances in goal for Current II, to give Current II its first WPSL trophy as Central Region champions.
Clark’s 12 regular-season goals, which included a hat trick and two braces put her atop the Heartland Division and Midwest Conference Golden Boot race, and second league-wide behind Pensacola FC’s Faith Johnson.
“The regional playoffs brought a new set of challenges for us. We faced quality opponents who challenged us in different ways that we saw during the regular season,” Ristov said. “Playing back-to-back matches requires both physical and mental discipline. We had moments where we needed to defend together, stay organized, and manage the game under pressure. I was pleased with how our players responded in those situations and continued to compete until the final whistle.”
With the nation watching, Kansas City Current II has a daunting task facing the winningest team in WPSL history, California Storm, in the WPSL Championships semifinal Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CDT. The Storm has appeared in four of the last five WPSL Championships, advancing to the WPSL Championships Final in all four trips, winning WPSL in 2022 and 2024 for a league-high five WPSL Championships dating back 1999.
“We have a lot of respect for California Storm. We’ll spend the week preparing the same way we always do: studying their strengths, reinforcing our principles, and making sure our players are physically and mentally ready,” Ristov said. “At this point in the season, it’s about executing our game plan, staying disciplined, and embracing the opportunity to compete against another top team. We’re excited for the challenge.”
Kansas City Current II take on five-time WPSL champions and 2025 runners-up California Storm Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CDT in the second WPSL Championships semifinal match of the day. New York Athletic Club and Georgia Impact kick off play at 9 a.m. Semifinal winners face off at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 19 at Riverside Stadium. Purchase tickets here. All three matches will be available live and on demand on WPSL.TV.
