‘I feel like I’m home’: Temwa Chawinga is lighting up the NWSL & smiling along the way

This spring, the National Women’s Soccer League broke records for transfer fees — not just at the league level but globally in women’s soccer after a series of high-profile signings.

Several of those signings shared a common thread: African players coming from high-profile European teams to test their mettle in the NWSL. Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji and Asisat Oshoala each made their way to the league to begin the season.

But there was another name that nobody really had heard of before she arrived stateside — and she’s at the top of the goal-scoring charts 15 games into the season.

She’s taking the league by storm.

Meet Temwa Chawinga, a burgeoning star in the heartland of America who is universally becoming loved by fans ... and respected and feared by all opponents.

Her bright smile, brimming ear to ear, lights up CPKC Stadium. Whether it’s the ball hitting the back of the net, a missed chance or even a foul that goes against her because she’s simply stronger than her opponent, it doesn’t matter. There’s always a smile.

Why does she smile so much?

“I feel like I’m home,” Chawinga told The Star in an exclusive interview.

“I’m so happy to be here,” Chawinga continued. “The people treat me well. The whole technical staff, my teammates, they treat me well. I didn’t expect it to be this way here in Kansas City. I was so scared to come here, But (when I got here) I see things are so different.”

That’s just a glimpse at the personality of a player whose game could not be any louder on the field.

Yet off the field, she has a different vibe.

“I’m a quiet person,” Chawinga said. “I don’t like to speak so much.”

So she lets her game do the talking. And her teammates will do it for her, too.

When the Kansas City Current kicked off its inaugural match at CPKC Stadium on March 16, there was plenty of talk about the greater meaning of the occasion. But on that afternoon, in the second half, the Current extended its lead with the help of a new face.

Previously playing in China, Chawinga had outrageous and record-setting goal-scoring numbers. But it was reasonable to wonder how those stats might translate to a tougher and faster league.

Captain Lo LaBonta warned the rest of the league about her teammate after that first game.

“You haven’t even seen Temwa yet,” LaBonta said. “You guys got a glimpse. It’s scary. That was probably 75% of what she can truly do, and I’m beyond excited for the league, the world, to see what she can do.”

At the time, it felt like lofty praise for an individual who was still a relative unknown, maybe even to her own team. In hindsight, LaBonta’s praise was an understatement of how impactful Chawinga has been.

The league has simply had to adjust to her. She’s required opponents to make complete system changes to try and cope with her speed, skill and nose for goal, while surrounded by a cast of teammates who are equally good at setting her up.

She’s tied atop the goal-scoring chart with Banda and has the most goal contributions (goals and assists) of anyone in the league with 17.

When she’s on the field, you can’t miss her. Every pass into space that looks like a 50/50 ball turns into a chance she wins nine times out of 10. The threat of her speed on the counter attack forces defenders into panicked decisions, often leading to an eventual turnover and chance.

The CPKC crowd chanted her name after Friday’s winning outburst of goals. Fans have quickly adopted Chawinga as their favorite player, with her name on jerseys around the stadium. Yes, she’s making a name for herself, but she insists she’s not doing it alone.

“If I don’t have players that help me, I cannot make my name,” Chawinga said, “because the league is so hard.”

She’s not surprised by her success for almost the same reason.

“If you have a good coach and squad,” Chawinga said, “you cannot be surprised.”

Saturday’s match against Orlando is one of the biggest regular-season matchups in NWSL history. Rather than No. 1 vs. No. 2, it’s essentially 1A vs. 1B.

Both teams are 10-0-5 and have a goal differential of +19. The Kansas City Current rides a 17-game unbeaten streak into the match, dating back to the end of the 2023 season. Orlando has a 16-game unbeaten streak going into Saturday, dating back to the end of 2023 as well.

Both teams have a star with 11 goals this season, tied for first in the NWSL. Banda hails from Zambia, and Chawinga from Malawi — neither traditional soccer powerhouses in Africa. But both Banda and Chawinga are setting the NWSL alight.

“I’m so proud (that) a lot of African players (have) come here in the USA to play,” Chawinga said. “We are making a name for people to know their country, like Zambia and Malawi. Maybe people didn’t know, but now a lot of people will know because of us players and the way we perform here in the USA.”

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.