Esther Gonzalez, Trinity Rodman and KC Current headline NWSL season
The second half of the NWSL season begins as Esther Gonzalez leads the Golden Boot race, Trinity Rodman returns, and KC Current dominate standings.
Katie Scott’s seat will be empty when her family carves its Thanksgiving turkey.
Fortunately, there’s no rift between the 2024 Fairview graduate and her parents.
Nick and Karen Scott will handle with their daughter’s absence given her soccer-related business in Spain.
Katie Scott will be there with the United States under-20 Women’s National Team. The Americans will face England on Nov. 29 and China on Dec. 2 in exhibition matches at the Mediterranean coastal town of San Pedro del Pinatar.
“I am super excited for this opportunity,” Scott said.
The matches are part of training for the team’s appearance in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Poland will host the 24-nation tournament next September.
‘Loved it so far’
The Spanish matches will be Scott’s first action on the pitch since the conclusion of her first year in the National Women’s Soccer League. She signed a one-year contract to play as a defender for the Kansas City Current.
Scott opted to turn professional after one season with the women’s soccer team at Penn State University. She helped the Nittany Lions reach the quarterfinals for the 2024 NCAA Division I tournament.
The Current, with the NWSL’s permission, loaned Scott to the Racing Louisville FC for most of the summer. However, she was recalled near the end of their regular season and made her official league debut with them on Sept. 26.
Scott was a starter for Kansas City’s 4-1 victory vs. the visiting Chicago Stars FC at CPKC Stadium.
Gotham FC upset the Current 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the league’s postseason tournament. Kansas City was seeded first as its regular season champion.
That outcome, nor Scott’s scant playing time, did little to question her decision to turn pro.
“The whole community, the staff and the facilities, I’ve loved it so far,” she said. “I’m super grateful for being in that environment and training with those girls every day.”
“Learning from coach Vlatko (Andonovski) and his assistants, it’s cool to see how much they care about us.”
Prominent boss
If there was a bummer to Scott’s summer, it’s that she didn’t meet the Current’s most notable fan.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, are co-owners of the NWSL franchise. CPKC Stadium is located less than 10 miles away from the likely Hall of Famer’s normal place of employment, Arrowhead Stadium.
“I know he’s come to a lot of our matches,” Scott said.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.