Temwa Chawinga has made her mark in an unexpected manner. The forward for the Kansas City Current became the leading goal scorer in a single National Women’s Soccer League season on Saturday when she recorded her 19th goal, breaking Sam Kerr’s record from 2019.
This achievement alone signifies that Chawinga has far surpassed expectations in her inaugural season in the NWSL. What’s intriguing about her adjustment to the league is that her anticipated statistics do not align with her actual performance on the field. In essence, it appears she shouldn’t be delivering at this level based solely on the data. There is more depth to Chawinga’s success than what is apparent.
Following a significant portion of her recent career in China, the Malawian international joined Kansas City to enhance the team’s depth with her striking proficiency, a move aimed at bolstering head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s squad. While her contributions were anticipated to be beneficial, her actual performance has propelled the Current upward in the standings, a significant improvement from last season’s second-to-last position. Currently, the Current is positioned fourth, having initiated the season with a remarkable 15-game unbeaten streak. Kansas City’s matches have been thrilling, featuring scores like 6-3, 5-4, and 5-2, with Chawinga being a crucial factor in this attacking prowess.
Throughout the season, the evolution of Chawinga’s game has been evident. We’ve looked into how she has netted her goals and how she has transformed into one of the most formidable forwards in the NWSL.
Image Source: Temwa Chawinga @ Instagram
