The Kansas City Current entered the 2025 NWSL season as the gold standard of women's professional soccer in the United States. They claimed the NWSL Shield — awarded to the team with the best regular-season record — cementing their status as the league's top side. But something has shifted, and the soccer world is starting to take notice.
CBS Sports' Attacking Third podcast recently raised the alarm bells, putting the Current under what they're calling a Panic Meter — a measuring stick for just how concerned fans and analysts should be about a team's recent form and direction. When a Shield-winning club finds itself on that list, it's worth paying attention.
So what exactly is going wrong in Kansas City? While the Current built their reputation on a foundation of tactical discipline, cohesive team chemistry, and some of the sharpest attacking play in the NWSL, the questions being raised suggest that foundation may be showing some cracks. Whether it's a dip in form, injuries, roster transitions, or the inevitable pressure that comes with being the hunted rather than the hunter, the Current are navigating a difficult stretch.
This matters enormously to American soccer fans for several reasons:
- The Current are a model franchise. Their investment in facilities, player development, and community has set the bar for the entire league. A stumble from them sends ripples across the NWSL.
- NWSL competition is fiercer than ever. With clubs across the league raising their level, no team — not even Shield winners — can afford a prolonged rough patch.
- Playoff implications are real. In a league where margins are razor-thin, even a brief loss of form can reshape the entire postseason picture.
It's also a reminder of just how demanding excellence is at the top level of women's soccer in America. The NWSL has grown into one of the premier women's leagues in the world, and that means the pressure on clubs like Kansas City doesn't let up — even when they're holding the Shield.
For now, the Attacking Third crew's Panic Meter serves as a useful gut-check. Kansas City has the talent, the infrastructure, and the organizational backbone to course correct. But the fact that the conversation is even happening signals that the rest of the NWSL is closing the gap — and that's genuinely exciting for the sport in the United States.
American soccer fans will be watching closely to see how the Current respond. In a league this competitive, character and adaptability matter just as much as talent. The Shield winners have proven they can reach the summit — the real test is staying there.