Kansas City NWSL, a professional women’s soccer team, will play its first home match of the season tonight at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
KC plays Houston Dash in the match, will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 26.
After two weeks on the road, the team will get its first chance to play in front of a Kansas City crowd.
“We are so excited to get out in front of the home crowd,” head coach Huw Williams said. “Fans here have embraced this team and these players. Hopefully we can put together a performance worthy of them.”
Between the two teams, there are five players who hail from the Greater Kansas City area. Kansas City NWSL’s defender Sydney Miramontez hails from Lenexa, Kansas, and forward Jaycie Johnson is from Lake Winnebago, Missouri. Houston midfielder Haley Hanson is from Overland Park. Dash forwards Shea Groom and Maegan Rosa (Kelly) are from Liberty, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri, and both also played for FC Kansas City. In addition, Dash Midfielder Katie Mewis was the first draft pick for FC Kansas City in 2013.
Mariana Larroquette, Kansas City’s first international signing, could get her first start in the NWSL on Monday. The Argentine national entered the game late in last week’s draw against Chicago. She has a reputation for being creative on the ball with a nose for the goal.
Houston Dash forward Shea Groom is making her first return to Kansas City since 2017. A star at Liberty High School, Groom has a deep history in the Greater Kansas City market, and with Kansas City head coach Huw Williams. Williams coached her in youth soccer and drafted her when he was general manager of FC Kansas City.
The first 3,000 fans inside Children’s Mercy Park will receive a free teal-colored towel.