Over the next two days, ProSoccerTalk will be providing quick capsules of the eight teams participating in the new National Women’s Soccer League. Next up is one of the league’s early favorites, FC Kansas City.
If there’s one team that can be the Dallas Mavericks to Thorns FC’s Miami Heat, it’s FC Kansas City. At least, if we take the thin speculation that’s festered since early winter’s allocation and give it far too much weight, Portland are the favorites and FCKC are dark horse that can chase them down.
It’s a surprising status for a team that lacks one of the league’s marquee talents. Instead, FC Kansas City combines rock solid allocations, a fortuitous draft, and shrewd free agent signings to form one of the most well-rounded teams in the league. Whereas teams like the Thorns and Boston Breakers accent tremendous strengths with potentially worrisome weaknesses, Kansas City looks solid everywhere.
The question is not of faults but of potential. If another team with more firepower finds their stride, can FC Kansas City remain that galloping dark horse set to un-tell our narratives? Would you rather have a team that comes with guarantees, or one higher upside?
Who you know: Though she’s settling into a midfield role with the national team, Lauren Cheney (pictured) will be counted on for goals, something that weren’t easy to come by when she arrived in WPS from UCLA. When played at forward, she’ll be KC’s main option with the hope she’ll form a strong relationship with Kristie Mewis, the attacking midfielder that surprisingly fell to number three in the draft.
Becky Sauerbrunn, one of WPS’s best defenders, will be the cornerstone in central defense, while national team backup Nicole Barnhart will be the No. 1 in goal.
Who you should know: Casey Loyd may be the league’s ultimate X-factor. As skilled as anybody in this league, the former North Carolina Tar Heel was one of the final picks in the supplemental draft, falling after concern she wouldn’t play this season. With her commitment, head coach Vlatko Andonovski has a player who severely increases the team’s upside.
Canadian international Desiree Scott could be one of the league’s best defensive midfielders, Mexico’s Renae Cuellar will help Cheney in attack, while the likes of Melissa Henderson, Jen Buczkowski, Lauren Sesselmann and Sinead Farrelly round out a team that has very few obvious weaknesses.
That’s not a description that can be applied to a lot of teams in this league.
What it means: When U.S. Soccer announced Kansas City had been awarded a NWSL franchise, it looked like an isolated team with no pre-existing footprint, one that might struggle to attract (or be allocated) talent. Reality has painted a drastically different picture. This team may lack a superstar, but top-to-bottom, it’s one of the most talented groups in the league - a title contender.
The first game in FC Kansas City history will take place Saturday against the Portland Thorns.
More NWSL previews:
- Team preview: Boston Breakers
- Team preview: Chicago Red Stars
- Team preview: FC Kansas City
- Team preview: Portland Thorns
- Team preview: Seattle Reign FC
- Team preview: Sky Blue FC
- Team preview: Washington Spirit
- Team preview: Western New York Flash
And more: