San Diego Wave return to Snapdragon Stadium and face unbeaten KC Current after a first defeat of the NWSL season last time out.

The Wave, who drew 1-1 away to Angel City on opening day, beat Utah Royals 3-2 after a five goal thriller at Snapdragon and lost 2-1 to Orlando Pride in Florida ten days ago, are in for a tough match against the Current on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.

In general, San Diego sports teams have set the bar mightily high when keeping an unbeaten record at home this season. The San Diego Padres are still yet to lose at Petco Park, whilst MLS franchise side San Diego FC have turned Snapdragon into a fortress and remain four unbeaten in their Mission Valley-based stadium.

If the past few years are anything to go by, then the Wave’s record against the Current makes for sour viewing. One has to go back to June 2022 for the last time they took points from the Midwestern outfit. At the last game Wave’s goalscorer Chiamaka Okwuchukwu was just 16 years old.

Three points from nine, when considering the calibre of opposition, however, will please most Wave fans.

The departures of U.S. national team captain and forward Alex Morgan, alongside striker Jaedyn Shaw and center-half Abby Dahlkember, were significant blows to Jonas Eidevall’s newly inherited squad. Yet, the Wave took a point from their derby in LA, led throughout against the Royals and out-possessed Orlando 55.6% to 44.4% in Florida.

The overall theme from the Wave’s opening three NWSL games is that Eidevall, like San Diego FC Head Coach Mikey Varas, instructs his side to start strong.

The Wave have not once trailed at the interval and have consistently netted early on. League leaders Orlando were unable to register a shot on target – the first time at their Inter&Co Stadium home since September 2022.

On their return to the uneven Snapdragon turf, watch out for new signing Gia Corley. The former 1899 Hoffenheim attacking midfielder enjoys life in the fast lane.

Scoring in the Wave’s opening two games, the 22-year-old has a striker’s eye for goal and knows when to lift her head and find a pass. Using the wide channels as an outlet to play balls into the midriff of her attacking colleagues, Corley’s combination of instinct and unselfishness earned her a place in March’s NWSL Best XI.

Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan said: “We want [Corley] in front of the goal. She’s going to be lethal, so we need her up there.”

Corey herself added that playing at Snapdragon for the first time was: “A dream come true.”

Also gunning to prove his worth to his new employers is former Arsenal Women’s Head Coach, Eidevall.

The Swede’s desire to win a league title outside of his home country is crystal clear and evident from the high-paced possession soccer we have seen so far this season. All eyes will be on the Wave’s second-half play and if they have the fight within them to come back from behind, especially if Current’s Temwa Chawinga decides to continue her run of scoring in every game this season.

Former U.S. Women’s Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski has the Current playing like a well oiled machine.

Eight goals from their first three games, conceding just once, is no mean feat. The presence of five Current players in March’s NWSL Best XI of the Month is the second most in league history for any given month, only behind Chicago’s six from September 2019. That gives a valuable insight into the strength of the Wave’s upcoming opposition.

With league positions nail-bitingly close at this early stage of the season, a win for the Wave could be rewarded by a top four spot, or even the chance to claim bragging rights and leapfrog California rivals Angel City.

The Current have eyes only for the top and will keep their foot on the gas as they challenge Orlando Pride for the NWSL’s most coveted league position.