The preview
Kansas City Current host Bay FC with the belt on the line
Kansas City Current put the NWSL belt on the line for the 1st time this reign. Kansas City Current lead the all-time series 5–0, and Bay FC have never held the belt.
Up next: Kansas City Current vs. Bay FC, October 3, 2026. The NWSL belt is on the line
Holder · 4th reign · 0 defenses
KC
KC Current
3–1 in the last 5 · Last: def. Denver Summit FC 4–1
Belt on the line
SAT
October 3, 2026
6:30 PM ET
Challenger · never held it
BF
Bay FC
1–3 in the last 5 · Last: lost to Orlando Pride 1–3
If KC Current win
1st defense · reign reaches 7 days
If Bay FC win
Belt changes hands · first reign in franchise history
Head to head, belt games
First belt game between these two
2026 records
KC Current 12–9–5 · Bay FC 7–14–5
77% to defend, per our Elo estimate · 15% to hold the belt through the regular season (outlook)
Beat the lean
Pick before tipoff. We grade it after the game.
Recent form
Last 5 games
Kansas City Current
- W4–1vs Denver Summit FCSep 26, 2026
- L0–2at San Diego Wave FCSep 18, 2026
- T2–2vs Orlando PrideSep 11, 2026
- W2–1at Bay FCSep 4, 2026
- W3–2vs North Carolina CourageAug 29, 2026
Bay FC
- L1–3vs Orlando PrideSep 27, 2026
- W2–0vs Racing Louisville FCSep 20, 2026
- T2–2at Denver Summit FCSep 16, 2026
- L0–2at Seattle Reign FCSep 12, 2026
- L1–2vs Kansas City CurrentSep 4, 2026
Head to head
All-time series
Kansas City Current lead the series 5–0, going back to April 20, 2024.
| Date | Matchup | Score (away–home) |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2026 | Kansas City Current at Bay FC | 2–1 |
| Sep 6, 2025 | Kansas City Current at Bay FC | 2–0 |
| May 11, 2025 | Bay FC at Kansas City Current | 1–4 |
| Oct 12, 2024 | Kansas City Current at Bay FC | 1–0 |
| Apr 20, 2024 | Bay FC at Kansas City Current | 2–5 |
The belt tree
State of the belt →Kansas City Current have a 77% chance to defend, by our Elo ratings. Here's every way the next four belt games can go: win, and the holder plays its next game; lose, and the challenger carries the belt into theirs.
Next belt game
Oct 3
KC Current vs. Bay FC
KC Current 77% · Bay FC 23%
Belt game 2
Oct 17 · 77% to happen
KC Current at Utah
KC Current 51% · Utah 49%
Oct 18 · 23% to happen
Bay FC vs. Thorns
Bay FC 39% · Thorns 61%
Belt game 3
Oct 25 · 39% to happen
KC Current vs. Spirit
KC Current 59% · Spirit 41%
Oct 23 · 38% to happen
Utah vs. Reign
Utah 56% · Reign 44%
Oct 23 · 14% to happen
Thorns vs. Courage
Thorns 62% · Courage 38%
Oct 24 · 9% to happen
Bay FC at Angel City
Bay FC 28% · Angel City 72%
Belt game 4
Nov 1 · 23% to happen
KC Current at Louisville
KC Current 64% · Louisville 36%
Nov 1 · 21% to happen
Utah at Gotham
Utah 29% · Gotham 71%
Nov 1 · 16% to happen
Reign vs. Orlando
Reign 61% · Orlando 39%
Nov 1 · 16% to happen
Spirit vs. Chicago
Spirit 80% · Chicago 20%
Nov 1 · 9% to happen
Thorns at Houston
Thorns 55% · Houston 45%
Nov 1 · 7% to happen
Angel City vs. Boston
Angel City 68% · Boston 32%
Nov 1 · 5% to happen
Courage vs. Denver
Courage 57% · Denver 43%
Nov 1 · 3% to happen
Bay FC vs. Wave
Bay FC 38% · Wave 62%
Who holds it after each game
| Team | After game 1 | After game 2 | After game 3 | After game 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gotham FC | — | — | — | 15% |
| Kansas City Current | 77% | 39% | 23% | 15% |
| Washington Spirit | — | — | 16% | 13% |
| Seattle Reign FC | — | — | 16% | 10% |
| Racing Louisville FC | — | — | — | 8% |
| Orlando Pride | — | — | — | 6% |
| Utah Royals | — | 38% | 21% | 6% |
| Portland Thorns FC | — | 14% | 9% | 5% |
| Angel City FC | — | — | 7% | 4% |
| Houston Dash | — | — | — | 4% |
| Chicago Stars FC | — | — | — | 3% |
| North Carolina Courage | — | — | 5% | 3% |
| Denver Summit FC | — | — | — | 2% |
| Boston Legacy FC | — | — | — | 2% |
| San Diego Wave FC | — | — | — | 2% |
| Bay FC | 23% | 9% | 3% | <1% |