San Diego Wave FC vs. Kansas City Current: Match preview, injury report, starting XI, how to watch

On Sunday afternoon, San Diego Wave FC will host the Kansas City Current in a matchup between two playoff teams. Wave FC remains at the top of the NWSL table with 24 points and the Current are unbeaten in their last eight games. (Yes, eight.)

Sunday will also be the first time that Wave FC players involved in international competition will play in front of their home fans since June. This won’t be a regular homecoming game, though, as the squad will have its hands full with the opposing side.

Although just sixth in the NWSL table, the Current are one of the hottest teams in the league, with four players on the July NWSL Best XI team: Haile Mace, Lo’eau LaBonta, Kristen Edmonds and AD French. The team had three wins and a draw along with two clean sheets in July. 

Let's get into it.

Kickoff

2 p.m. PT, Sunday, Aug. 7, at Torero Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

How to watch

The match will stream on Paramount Plus.

How to listen

Tune into the NWSL station on iHeartRadio for live coverage of the game and for other NWSL coverage.

Records

San Diego Wave FC: 7W-4D-3L (25 points, first place in NWSL)

Kansas City Current: 5W-4D-4L (19 points, sixth place in NWSL)

Last time out

Wave FC had its biggest win of the season last weekend, beating the Chicago Red Stars 1-0 on the road. 

Jaedyn Shaw, still just 17, scored the lone goal in her season debut. The second half saw Abby Dahlkemper sent off for her second yellow card of the game. Down to 10 players, Wave FC kept its lead intact until the end.

The climax of the game came in the 81st minute when Kailen Sheridan blocked a Mallory Pugh penalty kick to maintain the lead. It was the first time the Red Stars lost at home this season. 

Meanwhile, Kansas City Current tied the Orlando Pride 2-2 at home. Down 2-0 in the second half, Elyse Bennett cut the lead in half with her third goal of the season. 

In the 82nd minute, Cece Kizer tied the game by flicking the ball over Pride keeper Erin Mcleod and tapped the ball into the open net. The draw kept the Current eight-match unbeaten streak rolling. 

Injury report

San Diego Wave FC: OUT - Abby Dahlkemper (Suspension), Mia Gyau (Left foot), Jodie Taylor (Left foot), Jaedyn Shaw (International duty)

Kansas City Current: OUT - Chloe Logarzo (Right leg), Sam Mewis (Right leg), Mallory Weber (Right leg), Lynn Williams (Right leg)

Projected lineups 

Kansas City Current (3-1-4-2): AD Franch; Addisyn Merrick, Elizabeth Ball; Taylor Leach, Victoria Pickett, Kate Del Fava, Lo'eau LaBonta, Desiree Scott, Hailie Mace, Cecelia Kizer, Kristen Hamilton

San Diego Wave FC (4-2-3-1): Kailen Sheridan; Christen Westphal, Kaleigh Riehl, Naomi Girma, Kristen Mcnabb, Emily Van Egmond, Bella Briede, Sofia Jakobsson, Taylor Kornieck, Alex Morgan, Kelsey Turnbow

Players to watch

San Diego Wave FC: Sofia Jakobsson, winger

Jakobsson returns from the UEFA Women's Euros where she represented Sweden. In the tournament, Jakobsson's lone game was in the semifinal against England. Losing 4-0, she had a single shot and 57% passing percentage. 

As Shaw heads to the U-20 World Cup, it is imperative that Wave FC replaces her with someone of high quality. Insert Jakobsson.

This season, Jakobsson has 10 appearances and seven starts. Along with Alex Morgan and Taylor Kornieck, she has become the offensive anchor for Wave FC, consistently putting pressure on the opposing defense. With two assists, she had also created seven chances this season. 

Sunday will be her first game with Wave FC since June 12. She is the last of the international players to return to the club.

Her ability to create chances for Wave FC is vital as it continues a tough stretch of games to open the second half. For head coach Casey Stoney to have the lineup she has trusted all season back together will be vital during this stretch of games. 

In her first game back with Wave FC in four games, expect Jakobsson to have an impact.

Kansas City Current: Lo’eau LaBonta, midfielder

LaBonta has become the most important and versatile player on the Current. 

Need her to score? She is tied second on the team with three. To assist? She's tied for most on the team with three. Need someone who creates chances? She has seven chances created. 

On top of her goal and assists numbers, she is an extremely accurate shooter and passer. She has completed 77% of her passes and 75% of her shots are on target. 

Defensively, she has a 50% success rate on tackles and 10 interceptions on the season.

The Current is near the bottom of the league in offense, ranking eighth in goals per match and ninth in shots on target per match. For the Current to find a result in San Diego, LaBonta will have to be involved. She is the team's base and spark in the middle of the field. 

KEY MATCHUP: Naomi Girma vs. Current attack

Naomi Girma is a superstar. Her passing ability as a center back on its own makes her an elite player. Add that she may be the best defender in the league? Superstar. 

Last week against Chicago, when Dahlkemper was sent off, it was Girma’s job to anchor the defense. More specifically, lock down Pugh. That’s exactly what she did. Besides the foul in the box, Girma was stellar. Stopping Pugh on multiple one v one runs to goal. She is going to need to have that performance again Sunday night. 

Yes, the Current offense is in the bottom half of the league. But with Dahlkemper out, the back line will be without one of its key pieces. Kaleigh Riehl should slide into the starting center back besides Girma and expect Pogarch to see time at the left back position and potentially start. 

The Current are near the bottom of the league in shots on target and goals per match, but what they do well is create chances. They are third in the league in big chances created with 21. 

Key players on the Current offense besides LaBonta are Kristen Hamilton who has four goals and Cece Kizer who has three goals and three assists.

With new pieces entering the back line, it could lead to the Wave FC defense to be under siege like it was for much of the Red Stars game. But, who stopped the Red Stars offense for 90 minutes? Girma. Who is going to need to do the same Sunday? Girma. 

FOR THE WIN: Trust in Morgan

Sunday is the first home game back for Kailen Sheridan, Noami Girma, Alex Morgan, Taylor Kornieck and Sofia Jakobsson. 

The offensive trio who has lifted Wave FC to the top of the table is back together and in front of their home crowd for the first time since June.

They are going to score, especially after a game where they were asked to defend more than usual due to Dahlkemper being sent off. In regards to last week's game against Chicago, Stoney said, “I have never had to ask Alex Morgan to defend as much as she did.”

Wave FC averages 1.4 goals a game. The Current concedes 1.2 goals a game. Alex Morgan averages a goal a game this season and is still the NWSL goals leader with 11 even with her time away from the Wave. While the numbers suggest San Diego will overwhelm the Kansas City defense, it's a team that still hasn't lost since May. Similar to last week, it may come down to the grit and intensity Wave FC plays with. Luckily for the home crowd, the squad revels in these opportunities.