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NWSL championship will be held in Kansas City, but Pride must get there first

Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, center, vies for the ball against Kansas City defender Izzy Rodriguez. The Current are tied with Orlando for NWSL's best record at 10-0-5. (Raul Romero Jr./SCNG)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, center, vies for the ball against Kansas City defender Izzy Rodriguez. The Current are tied with Orlando for NWSL’s best record at 10-0-5. (Raul Romero Jr./SCNG)
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If the NWSL standings hold up, the Orlando Pride could be on a collision course with the Kansas City Current.

But they’d be disadvantaged if that were to happen.

Wednesday, the NWSL announced the championship game would be played at CPKC Stadium on Nov. 23 — the Current’s home field.

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In a statement, commissioner Jessica Berman said the historic significance in women’s professional soccer factored into the decision.

“It was a natural choice to stage the league’s marquee event in a venue that exemplifies the profound impact of infrastructure, investment and community support on the continued development and success of our sport,” Berman said.

The Pride (10-0-5, 35 points) are among the favorites to advance to the championship game. The Current own the same record. They meet for the first time Saturday in Kansas City and in Orlando on Sept. 13.

The Washington Spirit (10-1-4, 31) lurk closely in third place. The Pride knocked them off on the road 3-2 in April.

Pride star Barbra Banda, who leads the league with 11 goals, scored the winner in the 51st minute to take down Washington.

The Current’s Temwa Chawinga is tied for the lead with 11 goals, but Banda, who’s debut was delayed because of visa issues, has played four fewer matches (and 434 fewer minutes).

Eight teams will qualify for the NWSL Playoffs in the expansion of the postseason format. The playoffs begins with the quarterfinals on Nov. 9.