NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga to miss start of season for Current

Kansas City star recovering from adductor injury, return timeline uncertain

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:25pm

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Temwa Chawinga, the 2025 MVP of the National Women's Soccer League and top goal scorer for the Kansas City Current, will miss the beginning of the 2026 season as she continues to recover from an adductor injury suffered last October. Current head coach Chris Armas confirmed the news, stating that Chawinga is "not available yet, but she's getting closer" without providing a specific timeline for her return.

Why it matters

Chawinga's absence is a significant blow for the Current, who were the No. 1 seed in the 2025 NWSL playoffs but lost in the first round. As the league's reigning MVP and Golden Boot winner, Chawinga is a key player for the Current, and her recovery timeline will be closely watched as the team aims to bounce back in 2026.

The details

Chawinga suffered the adductor injury on Oct. 18, 2025 in a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dash, causing her to miss the playoffs. Current head coach Chris Armas, who is making his NWSL debut this season, said the team is "managing it the right way" and seeing Chawinga "out on the training pitch these days," but declined to provide a specific timeline for her return.

  • Chawinga suffered the adductor injury on October 18, 2025.
  • Chawinga missed the 2025 NWSL playoffs due to the injury.

The players

Temwa Chawinga

The 2025 MVP of the National Women's Soccer League and top goal scorer for the Kansas City Current, who is recovering from an adductor injury.

Chris Armas

The head coach of the Kansas City Current, who is making his NWSL debut this season after previously coaching in Major League Soccer and at the collegiate level.

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What they’re saying

“She's not available yet, but she's getting closer.”

— Chris Armas, Head Coach, Kansas City Current (statenews.net)

“We're seeing her out on the training pitch these days, but it's such a demanding season for these athletes, especially the demands that she puts into games. She's getting close. We still are managing it the right way.”

— Chris Armas, Head Coach, Kansas City Current (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Current will open their 2026 season at home on Saturday against the Utah Royals, with Chawinga's status for that match and the early part of the season still uncertain.

The takeaway

Chawinga's recovery from injury is crucial for the Current, who were the top seed in the 2025 NWSL playoffs but were upset in the first round. Her absence to start the 2026 season is a significant setback, but the team is taking a cautious approach to ensure she returns at full strength and can help the Current bounce back this year.