Current’s DiBernardo on KC support and the club’s first ever home game

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It’s winter time! KC Current will play their first-ever home playoff game tomorrow, one of eight teams in a quarterfinal matchup against the North Carolina Courage.

I had the chance to sit down with NWSL veteran and Kansas City current midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo to get her perspective on the playoffs, Kansas City fans and the history this team has already made.

With what started as a historic season, the KC Current continues to score first. Now the team is preparing for their first home game in the play-offs, not only in stadium history, but also in club history. The playoffs are nothing new for DiBernardo. She played for several seasons with the Chicago Red Stars before joining the KC Current in 2023. I asked her how many times she has been to the play-offs.

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“Actually, I don’t know, but a lot,” she laughed. “You just have to look at it as a regular season game,” she said. Adding that there is definitely a different intensity as the team prepares and details start to matter even more. She and other veteran players share some of the support and message with their younger teammates.

While she has plenty of playoff experience, she still enjoys the firsts, like the team’s home opener in March at CPKC Stadium, which was also the very first game in what the team calls the first stadium built for a professional women’s sports team.

“It was surreal. I think it’s very difficult. Everyone asks ‘how does it feel?’, it’s really hard to explain,” said DiBernardo.

DiBernardo had another first to celebrate: she scored the very first goal at CPKC Stadium during that March match.

KC current

“It was special. I think we were all relieved on the pitch to get that goal. I think there was so much hype in that game and so much excitement that I think we wanted to give the fans a bit of a show in front of the stadium.

I asked her about the change in fandom she has seen in women’s soccer since her first season in the NWSL.

KC current

“So much!” she laughed. “Where this league started, where we started this league, and where it is now, it’s unprecedented. It’s amazing to see that growth and be a part of it.”

And she loves seeing fans in Kansas City.

“It’s great. I mean, part of the reason I came to this city and played for this club is the support that the city gives us.”