Kansas City Current: 2022 NWSL Tactical Analysis and the Underdog’s Rise
Introduction: Defying Expectations in the NWSL
The Kansas City Current’s 2022 season has been nothing short of remarkable. Emerging as one of the year’s standout stories in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Current went on an extraordinary unbeaten run—winning or drawing 17 out of their last 20 matches—and earned a place in the league’s playoff final. Their achievements are even more impressive given the team’s modest budget and relative lack of marquee talent compared to some heavyweights in the league. Guided by head coach Matt Potter, the Current have relied on teamwork, tactical acumen, and relentless effort to surpass all expectations.
The Power of Teamwork Over Individual Stars
Rather than depending on superstars, the Kansas City Current have thrived as a collective. While seasoned professionals such as Adrianna Franch and Desiree Scott offer leadership, and attackers like Kristen Hamilton and Lo’eau LaBonta have made their marks in recent NWSL seasons, the team does not feature big-name internationals of the stature of Rose Lavelle or Megan Rapinoe, whom they faced against OL Reign in the semi-finals.
Instead, Matt Potter has cultivated an environment where emerging talents like Alex Loera and Addisyn Merrick and players who had been overlooked at other clubs—such as Elizabeth Ball and veteran Kristen Edmonds—have flourished. Significantly, the squad sustained its momentum despite Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis, arguably the team’s biggest names, being sidelined for the entire season due to injuries.
Building a Hungry, Tactical Unit
Many Current players arrived after being deemed surplus to requirements elsewhere in the NWSL. Potter built a cohesive unit focused on self-belief and development. His approach has centered on tactical flexibility and organization, especially emphasizing defensive resilience without dulling the team’s sharp, quick-hitting attack. It’s this strategic balance that set the stage for the Current’s playoff surge.
Kansas City Current’s Tactical Structure: 3-5-2 and 3-1-4-2 Formations
Early inconsistencies gave way to a major turnaround when Potter shifted to a 3-1-4-2 formation after May 30, 2022—a setup the team has consistently employed since. This strategic decision brought both stability and adaptability, allowing the team’s defenders to be better shielded and maximizing the versatility of players like Hailie Mace, Alex Loera, and Kate Del Fava across multiple roles.
At the back, goalkeeper Adrianna Franch has been a reliable anchor with a sweeping presence (1.55 defensive actions outside the box per 90 minutes) and a 76.5% save rate, with six clean sheets in 22 appearances. The center-back trio of Addisyn Merrick, Kristen Edmonds, and Elizabeth Ball has proven solid, but it’s Loera who plays a pivotal role distributing the ball and linking play. She leads KC in passes into the final third (4.62 per 90, ranking sixth NWSL-wide), and her shift into midfield during the playoffs has brought goals and assists at crucial times.
In midfield, Desiree Scott anchors as a destroyer, breaking up play and regaining possession, while Lo’eau LaBonta orchestrates attacks and creates opportunities with her forward runs and incisive passing. Claire Lavogez adds balance, offering the ability to receive in tight spaces and progress play via dribbling. Potter’s positional fluidity means players like Mace, Del Fava, and Loera frequently alternate between midfield and wing-back roles, keeping opponents off balance.
Mace and Del Fava, in their roles as energetic wing-backs, exemplify the Current’s work ethic. Mace tends to drive play forward and create, while Del Fava’s tireless running brings support during attacks and transitions.
Up front, Kristen Hamilton leads the line with 7 goals in 24 matches, partnering with players such as Cece Kizer, Elyse Bennett, or Victoria Pickett. The forwards operate as relentless channel runners, pressing opponents and capitalizing on transitions.
Defensively, the team transitions into a 5-3-2 or 5-2-1-2 shape, depending on the phase of play, pairing compact organization with high energy to stifle opponents.
Attacking Strategy: Maximizing Efficiency With and Without the Ball
Kansas City Current have proven highly effective on the attack despite having the lowest average possession rate in the NWSL at 47.5%. Their counterattacking prowess and clinical finishing have been vital; multiple players contribute goals—from Hamilton and Kizer to LaBonta and set-piece specialist Hailie Mace.
Set-pieces have been an especially productive avenue. The team’s creative short-corner routines, orchestrated by Loera and Mace, consistently generated confusion and mismatches, leading to scoring chances. Potter’s staff invested in tactical drills that overloaded wide areas, drawing out defenders before exploiting gaps in tight quarters.
Hailie Mace, in particular, has been integral offensively not only as a set-piece taker but as an all-action contributor—scoring four goals, providing two assists, and ranking top on the team for goal-contributing actions (0.6 per 90). Her instinct to move centrally or break into the box from the wing-back spot enables dynamic link-ups with LaBonta and Hamilton.
LaBonta’s distribution in the final third, including winning a league-high eight penalties, drives the team forward. Hamilton brings intensity and pace, enabling explosive transitions, while the side ensures it retains width through coordinated movement among center-backs, wing-backs, and strikers.
Building from the back, Ball controls tempo, while Franch offers a safety valve. Loera remains central in progressing play, distributing both short and long passes (14.5 long passes, 20.8 medium passes, and 11.8 short passes attempted per 90 minutes), always looking to unlock attacking runs.
Defensive Organization: Energy, Mobility, and Discipline
While attacking with variety and intent, Kansas City’s real strength has been their defensive discipline and mobility. In possession or when pressing, the team sets up in a compact 5-3-2, morphing into a 5-2-1-2 in transition moments as LaBonta moves forward and Scott/Loera provide dual protection in midfield.
Pressing duties start with the forwards, who help contain the opposition’s buildup by maintaining width and allowing midfielders to plug gaps centrally. Under Potter, the key defensive trait across the squad is unyielding energy—ensuring tight marking, swarming transitions, and relentless counter-pressing. Mace, LaBonta, and Kizer typify this approach, immediately closing down opponents to win the ball or force errors. If the initial press is bypassed, the pace and positioning of Merrick, Edmonds, and Ball, alongside Franch’s sweeping, help thwart threat from direct balls.
Desiree Scott anchors midfield defense, averaging 3.33 tackles per game (with a 63% success rate), excelling not only in breaking up play but in triggering rapid transitions. Edmonds brings a blend of speed, anticipation, and composure—showcased by her 68% tackle success and 9.13 ball recoveries per 90, without a single yellow card all season. Merrick dominates aerially (80% duel success), while Ball’s organizational skills ensure stability under pressure.
Team-wide, there’s no shortage of commitment to regaining possession—from willing tacklers in defensive and midfield roles to forwards contributing high-energy pressing. It’s this cohesion and tenacity that has become the Current’s hallmark, limiting opposition space and opportunities throughout games.
Conclusion: From Underdogs to Title Contenders
The Kansas City Current’s journey to the NWSL Playoff Final is a testament to the power of organization, tactical imagination, and collective will. With a roster of players written off elsewhere or still developing, Matt Potter’s squad delivered one of the league’s most dynamic and flexible styles of play. Standouts such as Alexis Loera and Kate Del Fava have seized the moment to enhance their prospects at an even higher level, while LaBonta’s creative influence has been pivotal throughout 2022.
Above all, it’s been a season defined by unity—every player driving toward a shared goal, undeterred by the absence of big-name stars or formidable budgets. As the Current stand on the brink of a potential first championship, their campaign is already a blueprint for building success through teamwork, belief, and intelligent football.
This tactical analysis illustrates how Kansas City defied the odds and redefined what’s possible in the NWSL.
