Across State Lines: Groom Helps Dash to Challenge Cup Title

The NWSL Challenge Cup came to a close this past weekend outside Salt Lake City in what was a success on the field and off for the league with competitive games, the highest TV ratings the league has ever achieved, and maintaining a bubble for the tournament that saw the league report zero cases over the course of the tournament. For Shea Groom it was also a success on the field as she capped off an impressive tournament by sealing the championship for the Houston Dash with a goal in second half stoppage time to give the Dash a 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars. Groom finished the tournament with three goals and an assist for the Dash and was named to the tournament’s Best XI. Groom was also named the MVP of the championship game for her performance in the game. Three other Kansas City women were on the Dash team that won the championship with Haley Hanson starting the game on the Dash back line, CeCe Kizer coming on in the first half for an injured Kristie Mewis, and Maegan Kelly being an unused substitute in the final. Congratulations to the four of them and the rest of the Dash for winning the tournament. Here’s the rest of this week’s update.

Key

SKC - former Sporting KC players

ACA - former Sporting KC academy players

KC - Kansas City area players

Note: Players under contract to Sporting Kansas City at this time are not included on this list, the exception being players loaned outside of Kansas City.

MLS

Saad Abdul-Salaam (SKC) - Cincinnati - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Cincinnati’s 2-0 win over New York. Dressed but did not play in Cincinnati’s 1-1 (4-2) shootout loss to Portland.

Jalil Anibaba (SKC) - Nashville - Not competing in the MLS is Back Tournament.

Nick Besler (KC) - Salt Lake - Dressed but did not play in either of RSL’s games.

Latif Blessing (SKC) - LAFC - Started and played 90 minutes, recording an assist in LAFC’s 2-2 draw with Portland. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in LAFC’s 4-1 win over Seatte.

Teal Bunbury (SKC) - New England - Came off the bench and played 23 minutes in New England’s 1-0 loss to Philadelphia.

Aurelien Collin (SKC) - Philadelphia - Dressed but did not play in Philadelphia’s 1-0 win over New England.

Dom Dwyer (SKC) - Orlando - Did not dress in Orlando’s 1-0 win over Montreal.

Kortne Ford (KC) - Colorado - Did not dress in Colorado’s 2-2 draw with Minnesota.

Kei Kamara (SKC) - Colorado - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Colorado’s 2-2 draw with Minnesota.

Alec Kann (SKC) - Atlanta - No game this week.

Jon Kempin (SKC) - Columbus - Loaned to San Diego.

Charlie Lyon (SKC) - Pool Goalkeeper - Did not dress for a team.

Jimmy Medranda (SKC) - Nashville - Not competing in the MLS is Back tournament.

James Musa (SKC) - Minnesota - Dressed but did not play in either of Minnesota’s games.

Ike Opara (SKC) - Minnesota - Not competing in the MLS is Back tournament.

Tony Rocha (SKC) - New York City - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC’s 3-1 win over Toronto.

Oriol Rosell (SKC) - Orlando - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando’s 1-0 win over Montreal.

Kelyn Rowe (SKC) - New England - Started and played 90 minutes in New England’s 1-0 loss to Philadelphia.

Diego Rubio (SKC) - Colorado - Started and played 82 minutes in Colorado’s 2-2 draw with Minnesota.

Abdul Rwatubyaye (SKC) - Colorado - Loaned to Colorado Springs.

CJ Sapong (SKC) - Chicago - Came off the bench and played 31 minutes in Chicago’s 2-0 loss to Vancouver.

Seth Sinovic (SKC) - New England - Dressed but did not play in New England’s 1-0 loss to Philadelphia.

Gedion Zelalem (SKC) - New York City - Did not dress in NYCFC’s 3-1 win over Toronto.

Adrian Zendejas (SKC) - Nashville - Not competing in the MLS is Back tournament.

USL Championship

Joe Amico (ACA) - Oklahoma City - Did not dress in OKC’s 1-1 draw with Rio Grande Valley.

Kharlton Belmar (SKC) - Sacramento - Came off the bench and played 33 minutes in Sacramento’s 1-0 loss to LA.

Jake Davis (ACA) - Kansas City - Started and played 90 mintues in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Eric Dick (SKC) - Phoenix (Loan) - Dressed but did not play in Phoenix’s 1-0 loss to Orange County.

Christian Duke (SKC) - Kansas City - Started and played 85 minutes in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Tomas Granitto (SKC) - Miami - No game this week.

Kyle Greig (KC) - Saint Louis - Did not dress in Saint Louis’ 1-0 loss to Indy.

Wilson Harris (ACA) - Kansas City - Started and played 90 minutes in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Cyprian Hedrick (SKC) - Tulsa - No game this week.

Cameron Iwasa (SKC) - Sacramento - Came off the bench and played 33 minutes in Sacramento’s 1-0 loss to LA.

Ryan James (SKC) - Pittsburgh - Started and played 90 minutes in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 loss to Indy. Started and played 90 minutes in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 loss to New York.

Mechack Jerome (SKC) - El Paso - Started and played 90 minutes in El Paso’s 2-1 loss to New Mexico.

Jon Kempin (SKC) - San Diego (Columbus) - Started and played 90 minutes in San Diego’s 2-1 win over Las Vegas.

Will Little (ACA) - Kansas City - Did not dress in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Mikey Lopez (SKC) - Birmingham - Started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham’s 1-1 draw with Tampa Bay.

Amobi Okugo (SKC) - Austin - No game this week.

Lawrence Olum (SKC) - Miami - No game this week.

Tyler Pasher (SKC) - Indy - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Indy’s 1-0 win over Pittsburgh. Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Indy’s 1-0 loss to Saint Louis.

Camden Riley (SKC) - Kansas City - Started and played 81 minutes in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Abdul Rwatubyaye (SKC) - Colorado Springs (Colorado) - No game this week.

Ray Saari (KC) - Oklahoma City - Dressed but did not play in OKC’s 1-1 draw with Rio Grande Valley.

Tucker Stephenson (ACA) - Oklahoma City - Did not dress in OKC’s 1-1 draw with Rio Grande Valley.

Alex Tambakis (SKC) - North Carolina - No game this week.

Brooks Thompson (ACA) - Kansas City - Started and played 90 minutes in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Jaret Townsend (SKC) - Kansas City - Came off the benchand played 34 minutes in KC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville.

Kris Tyrpak (SKC) - Austin - Not participating in USL this season.

Ciaran Winters (ACA) - Tulsa - No game this week.

Christian Volesky (SKC) - Colorado Springs - No game this week.

Sal Zizzo (SKC) - San Diego - Started and played 90 minutes in San Diego’s 2-1 win over Las Vegas.

USL1

Servando Carrasco (SKC) - Fort Lauderdale - Started and played 90 minutes in Fort Lauderdale’s 2-1 loss to Tucson.

Brandon Fricke (ACA) - Greenville - Started and played 76 minuets before being red carded in Greenville’s 3-2 loss to Richmond.

Elvir Ibisevic (ACA) - Omaha - Came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Omaha’s 0-0 draw with New England.

Ualefi (SKC) - Chattanooga - Came off the bench and played 30 minutes in Chattanooga’s 2-2 draw with South Georgia.

International

Korede Aiyegbusi (SKC) - Amical Saint-Prex - Switzerland - No game until 8/22.

Ever Alvarado (SKC) - Olimpia - Honduras - Out injured.

Emiliano Amor (SKC) - San Martin Tucuman - Argentina - Offseason.

Bernardo Anor (SKC) - Caracas - Venezuela - Offseason.

Stefan Antonijevic (SKC) - Oygarden - Norway - Did not dress in Oygarden’s 1-0 loss to Tromso.

Emmanuel Appiah (SKC) - AC Kajaani - Finland - Started and played 90 minutes in Kajaani’s 2-0 loss to EIF.

Sagir Arce (KC) - Mazatlan FC - Mexico - Did not dress in Mazatlan’s 4-1 loss to Puebla.

Botond Barath (SKC) - Honved - Hungary - No game until 8/14.

Federico Bessone (SKC) - FC Andorra - Spain - Offseason.

Sunil Chhetri (SKC) - Bengaluru - India - Offseason.

Jorge Claros (SKC) - Real Espana - Honduras - Offseason.

Yohan Croizet (SKC) - OH Leuven - Belgium - No game until 8/2.

Daneil Cyrus (SKC) - Mohun Bagan - India - Season postponed.

Marcel de Jong (SKC) - Pacific FC - Canada - Season postponed.

Amer Didic (SKC) - Edmonton - Canada - Season postponed.

Toni Dovale (SKC) - Navy FC - Thailand - Season postponed.

Steven Enna (ACA) - FC Fredericia - Denmark - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Fredericia’s 2-2 draw with Nykobing.

Pablo Escobar (SKC) - Real Cartagena FC - Colombia - Season postponed.

Luis Gil (SKC) - FK Viktorie Zizkov - Czech Republic - Offseason.

Nicholas Gioacchini (KC) - Caen - France - No game until 8/21.

Nicolas Hasler (SKC) - Thun - Switzerland - Started and played 90 minutes in Thun’s 5-1 win over Servette. Started and played 83 minutes in Thun’s 1-1 draw with Sion.

Peterson Joseph (SKC) - Hang Yuen - Taiwan - Defeated Tatung 1-0.

Igor Juliao (SKC) - Fluminense - Brazil - No game this week.

Igor Kostrov (SKC) - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Came off the bench and played 36 minutes in Slavia’s 3-3 draw with Ruh Brest.

Cristian Lobato (SKC) - UE Cornella - Spain - Dressed but did not play in either of Cornella’s games.

Kyle McLagan (KC) - FC Roskilde - Denmark - Started and played 53 minutes in Roskilde’s 0-0 draw with Hvidovre.

Michal Mravec (SKC) - TJ Jednota Banova - Slovakia - Offseason.

Soni Mustivar (SKC) - Neftchi Baku - Azerbaijan - Offseason.

Krisztian Nemeth (SKC) - DAC 1904 - Slovakia - Offseason.

Pablo Punyed (SKC) - KR - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in KR’s 2-2 draw with Fjolnir. Started and played 72 minutes in KR’s 0-0 draw with KA.

Erik Palmer-Brown (SKC) - Manchester City - England - Offseason.

Jordi Quintilla (SKC) - FC St. Gallen - Switzerland - Started and played 74 minutes in St. Gallen’s 5-0 loss to Basel. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in St. Gallen’s 3-1 win over Zurich.

Soony Saad (SKC) - Ansan Greeners - South Korea - Did not dress in Ansan’s 0-0 draw with Bucheon 1995.

Peter Schmetz (SKC) - SSVg Velbert 02 - Germany - Offseason.

Nansel Selbol (SKC) - NK BSK Bijelo Brdo - Croatia - Offseason.

Yann Songo’o (SKC) - Scunthorpe United - England - Offseason.

Martin Steuble (SKC) - Port - Thailand - Season postponed.

Milos Stojcev (SKC) - FK Vozdovac - Serbia - No game until 7/31.

NWSL

Dorian Bailey (KC) - Washington - Challenge Cup over.

Shea Groom (KC) - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston’s 1-0 win over Portland. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Houston’s 2-0 win over Chicago.

Haley Hanson (KC) - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston’s 1-0 win over Portland. Started and played 90 minutes in Houston’s 2-0 win over Chicago.

Maegan Kelly (KC) - Houston - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Houston’s 1-0 win over Portland. Dressed but did not play in Houston’s 2-0 win over Chicago.

CeCe Kizer (KC) - Houston - Came off the bench and played 3 minutes in Houston’s 1-0 win over Portland. Came off the bench and played 61 minutes in Houston’s 2-0 win over Chicago.

Addisyn Merrick (KC) - North Carolina - Challenge Cup over.

Sinclaire Miramontez (KC) - North Carolina - Challenge Cup over.

NISA

Michael Kafari (SKC) - New York - No game this week.

Ray Lee (ACA) - Chattanooga - No game this week.

Matt Lewis (SKC) - New York - No game this week.

Wilfred Williams (SKC) - Oakland - Season postponed.

Indoor

Mitchell Cardenas (SKC) - Mesquite - Offseason.

Kevin Ellis (SKC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Adam James (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Mike Jones (SKC) - Mesquite - Offseason.

Robert Kelly (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Nick McDonald (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Lou Misner (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Alex Molano (SKC) - Dallas - Offseason.

Boris Pardo (SKC) - San Diego - Offseason.

Lucas Rodriguez (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Mark Saxby (KC) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Hector Solorio (ACA) - Kansas City - Offseason.

Active without a club or unknown

Ezra Armstrong (ACA)

Will Bagrou (SKC)

Camilo Benitez (ACA)

Claudio Bieler (SKC)

Nuno Coelho (SKC)

Hakim Diaw (ACA)

David Greczek (SKC)

Will John (SKC)

Benji Joya (SKC)

James Kasak (SKC)

Patrick Kelly (KC)

Seo-In Kim (ACA)

Chris Konopka (SKC)

Blake Levine (ACA)

James Marcelin (SKC)

Kamar Marriott (SKC)

Alex Martinez (SKC)

Franky Martinez (SKC)

Yura Movsisyan (SKC)

Kevin Oliveira (SKC)

Max Rugova (ACA)

Alberto Sanchez (ACA)

Colton Storm (SKC)

Zach Wright (SKC)