Temwa Chawinga is a Malawian professional footballer and one of the most prolific forwards in women’s football. Born in Rumphi in northern Malawi, she followed her older sister Tabitha into the game, playing with boys as a child before building a professional career across Malawi, Sweden, China and the United States. In 2024, she became the first Malawian to play in the National Women’s Soccer League and produced one of the greatest debut seasons in league history, setting a single-season scoring record and winning both the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player award.
Category: Pioneer
Field: Football · Sport · Women’s Football
The Malawian striker who rewrote the NWSL record book and helped take her country from continental debutants to FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
At a Glance
Chawinga repeated her NWSL Golden Boot and MVP double in 2025, becoming the first player in league history to win MVP in consecutive seasons. In 2026, she helped lead Malawi through an extraordinary debut at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations: the Scorchers reached the final, qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time, and Chawinga won the WAFCON Golden Boot with five goals and two assists. She remains with Kansas City Current under contract through 2029.
| Born | September 20, 1998 |
| Country | Malawi |
| Hometown | Rumphi, Northern Malawi |
| Field | Professional Football |
| Position | Forward |
| Known For | Record-breaking goalscoring for Kansas City Current and Malawi; back-to-back NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards |
| Education | No college listed; developed through the professional club-football pathway |
| Major Roles / Organizations | Kansas City Current; Malawi Women’s National Team; Freshwater Project International |
| First / Record / Milestone | First Malawian to play in the NWSL; first African-born NWSL Golden Boot winner and MVP; first NWSL player to score 20 regular-season goals in one season; first player to win consecutive NWSL MVP awards |
| GDT Category | Pioneer |
Why She’s a Girls Do That Champion
Few stories sit more naturally inside Girls Do That.
Temwa Chawinga grew up in an environment where football was widely understood as something boys did. She has recalled that when she and Tabitha began playing, their mother told them football was not for girls. Temwa kept playing anyway. Years later, she would become the first Malawian woman to play in one of the world’s leading professional leagues—and then become its most valuable player.
Her story is not simply about overcoming somebody telling her no. It is about what happens when talent that existed all along finally gains access to infrastructure, scouting, professional leagues, investment and visibility.
Temwa has played in Malawi, Sweden, China and the United States. At every major stage of that journey, she has scored. Her success forces a larger question: how many girls with world-class ability never get far enough for the world to discover them?
She also understands that her visibility can widen the pathway. She has spoken explicitly about hoping clubs see her success, look toward Malawi and Africa, and begin searching for other players.
That is what makes her a Pioneer.
She did not merely arrive somewhere Malawian women had not been before.
She made it harder for the next Malawian girl to be overlooked.
Her Story
Growing Up in Rumphi
Temwa Chawinga grew up in Rumphi District in northern Malawi in a family of five daughters.
Football entered the family through her older sister, Tabitha. The sisters played with boys because organised opportunities for girls were limited. Temwa has described a childhood where football had to compete with school, household responsibilities and parental expectations about what girls should be doing.
The distance between talent and opportunity was physical as well as social. The sisters travelled hundreds of kilometres from Rumphi to Lilongwe to access girls’ football and the places where national-team selectors were more likely to see them.
Tabitha opened the first doors. When she joined Lilongwe club DD Sunshine, she later recommended Temwa because she believed her younger sister had the ability to succeed too. FIFA records that DD Sunshine signed Temwa in 2013.
The sisters would eventually become one of African football’s most remarkable sporting partnerships.
Playing for Malawi
Chawinga made her senior international debut for Malawi at 18 and scored her first international goal against Zambia in 2016.
For years, however, the Scorchers existed outside the highest-profile stages of international women’s football.
That began to change.
In 2023, Chawinga captained Malawi at the COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa. She scored nine goals, won both the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament award, and helped the Scorchers defeat Zambia 2–1 in the final to claim Malawi’s first COSAFA women’s title.
It was one of the first clear signs that Malawi could become something more than a regional outsider.
Sweden
Chawinga’s international club career began in Sweden with Kvarnsvedens IK.
Her older sister had already played for the club, creating another pathway Temwa could follow. Across her time with Kvarnsvedens, Temwa scored 55 goals in 57 appearances.
Moving to Sweden meant adapting to another country, another style of football and life away from home. It also placed her inside a football system with a much deeper professional tradition in the women’s game.
Her goals travelled with her.
China
In 2020, Chawinga moved to Wuhan Jianghan University in the Chinese Women’s Super League.
She helped Wuhan win four consecutive league championships and became one of the dominant goalscorers in Chinese women’s football. Kansas City Current records 83 goals in 84 matches during her four seasons with the club.
Then came 2023.
Chawinga scored 51 club goals across competitions for Wuhan: 30 in the Chinese Women’s Super League, 15 in the National Cup and six in the FA Cup. Combined with 12 goals for Malawi, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics recorded 63 goals for the calendar year, making her its Women’s World Best Goal Scorer for 2023.
She had become one of the most prolific footballers on Earth.
The next question was what would happen when she entered one of the world’s most competitive leagues.
Kansas City
Kansas City Current signed Chawinga ahead of the 2024 NWSL season.
Her arrival itself made history: she became the first Malawian international to play in the NWSL.
Then she started scoring.
And kept scoring.
In October 2024, Chawinga surpassed Sam Kerr’s previous single-season NWSL record of 18 goals. She finished the regular season with 20 goals in 25 matches, becoming the first player in league history to reach 20 goals in a season.
She also became the first player to score against every opposing team in a single NWSL regular season with at least ten teams and set a league record by scoring in eight consecutive matches.
The league awarded her the 2024 Golden Boot.
Then it named her 2024 NWSL Most Valuable Player, making her the first African-born player to win the award.
Her first season in the United States had gone from historic simply because she arrived to historic because of what she did once she got there.
Doing It Again
One extraordinary season can be dismissed as a moment.
Temwa followed hers with another.
She scored 15 regular-season goals in 2025, winning a second consecutive NWSL Golden Boot and helping Kansas City Current claim the NWSL Shield. She also became the fastest player in league history to reach 30 regular-season goals, reaching the mark in only 40 matches.
At the 2025 NWSL Awards, she was named Most Valuable Player again.
That made Chawinga the first footballer in NWSL history to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons.
She was also selected to the NWSL Best XI First Team in both 2024 and 2025, and in 2025 received her first Ballon d’Or nomination, eventually finishing 17th.
Malawi Arrives in Africa
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations gave Chawinga and Malawi an entirely different stage.
The Scorchers had never previously qualified for WAFCON.
Their first match was against defending champions Nigeria.
Malawi won 3–2.
Temwa scored Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON goal in the 73rd minute and scored again in stoppage time. Tabitha scored Malawi’s other goal.
The result announced that Malawi had not come to Morocco merely to participate.
The Scorchers topped their group and advanced to the quarter-finals against Ghana. Ghana scored first, but Temwa equalised five minutes later. Rose Kadzere eventually scored the winner in Malawi’s 2–1 victory.
That victory meant something much larger than progression to a semi-final.
Malawi had qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
In the semi-final against Algeria, Temwa scored again as Malawi won 3–1, sending the tournament debutants into the WAFCON final.
Cameroon ultimately defeated Malawi 3–0 in the final, leaving the Scorchers with silver on their continental debut.
But Chawinga left Morocco with another Golden Boot.
She finished level on five goals with Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, but Temwa added two assists—giving her a tournament-leading seven direct goal involvements and the Golden Boot.
Malawi had entered its first WAFCON.
Three weeks later, it had a continental silver medal and a ticket to Brazil.
Beyond Football
Chawinga has begun using her platform beyond the pitch as well.
She serves as a Freshwater Project International ambassador, supporting work to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in Malawian schools. The initiative is personal: Chawinga has spoken about growing up where children had to spend time fetching water and where inadequate sanitation could particularly disrupt girls’ education.
In December 2025, the Temwa X Freshwater initiative helped deliver a piped-water system serving Kabwinja Primary and Secondary Schools and the surrounding community in Dowa District. The project included a mechanised pump, 10,000-litre storage tank and 31 water kiosks and was expected to benefit more than 1,200 students and teachers.
Her story therefore continues to expand beyond what happens when she scores.
The girl who once had to navigate limited opportunities to play is increasingly using the visibility created by football to improve the conditions in which other Malawian children grow up.
What Comes Next
In June 2026, Kansas City Current signed Chawinga to a new contract keeping her at the club through 2029.
And in 2027, Malawi will travel to Brazil for its first FIFA Women’s World Cup.
That milestone belongs to an entire team, federation and country.
But Temwa Chawinga will arrive there having already transformed the scale on which Malawian women’s football is imagined.
From Rumphi to Sweden.
From China to Kansas City.
From COSAFA champions to WAFCON finalists.
From being told football was not for girls to becoming one of the most decorated strikers in the world.
The path exists now.
And other girls can see it.
Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Born September 20 in Malawi; hometown Rumphi in the country’s Northern Region. |
| 2013 | Joins DD Sunshine after being recommended by her sister Tabitha. |
| 2016 | Makes her senior Malawi debut and scores her first international goal against Zambia. |
| 2017 | Moves to Sweden to play for Kvarnsvedens IK. |
| 2020 | Joins Wuhan Jianghan University in China and helps begin a run of four consecutive league titles. |
| 2023 | Scores 63 goals for club and country and is recognised by IFFHS as the world’s leading women’s goalscorer. |
| 2023 | Captains Malawi to its first COSAFA Women’s Championship title; wins the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament award with nine goals. |
| 2024 | Signs for Kansas City Current and becomes the first Malawian to play in the NWSL. |
| 2024 | Sets the NWSL single-season scoring record with 20 goals and becomes the first league player to score 20 in a regular season. |
| 2024 | Becomes the first African-born player to win both the NWSL Golden Boot and NWSL MVP. |
| 2024 | Named to the NWSL Best XI First Team. |
| 2025 | Wins a second consecutive NWSL Golden Boot with 15 goals. |
| 2025 | Becomes the first player in NWSL history to win consecutive MVP awards. |
| 2025 | Helps Kansas City Current win the NWSL Shield. |
| 2025 | Receives her first Ballon d’Or nomination and finishes 17th. |
| 2025 | Helps deliver a clean-water project serving more than 1,200 students and teachers in Malawi through Temwa X Freshwater. |
| 2026 | Signs a new Kansas City Current contract through 2029. |
| 2026 | Scores Malawi’s first-ever WAFCON goal as the Scorchers defeat defending champions Nigeria 3–2. |
| 2026 | Scores against Ghana as Malawi qualifies for its first FIFA Women’s World Cup. |
| 2026 | Helps Malawi reach the WAFCON final on its tournament debut. |
| 2026 | Wins the WAFCON Golden Boot with five goals and two assists. |
In Her Own Words
“Parents should accept girls can also play soccer. It’s not just for boys.”
— Temwa Chawinga, SHE Scores Bangers, 2024.
“This contract extension means a lot to me because I call Kansas City home.”
— Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current, 2026.
Read · Watch · Listen
Read
Meet Temwa Chawinga, the Malawian striker breaking records — SHE Scores Bangers
A revealing interview about growing up in Malawi, following Tabitha into football, moving abroad and wanting her success to open doors for more African players.
Read the interview
From dusty pitches to football stardom: the rise of the Chawinga sisters — The Guardian
A long-form look at Temwa and Tabitha’s journey from Rumphi to elite international football.
Read the feature
Temwa Chawinga — Kansas City Current
Her current club profile, records, awards and career statistics.
Explore her KC Current profile
Malawi reaps benefit of grassroots investment with historic qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup — FIFA
The story of Malawi’s first qualification for the global tournament.
Read at FIFA
Watch
Temwa Chawinga on winning MVP, representing Malawi and her journey to Kansas City — The Women’s Game
A long-form conversation with Sam Mewis covering Malawi, Sweden, China, Kansas City, her MVP season and the next generation of Malawian players.
Temwa Chawinga scores against every NWSL team — NWSL
Highlights from the record-breaking 2024 season in which she scored against all 13 opponents.
Listen
Temwa Chawinga’s WAFCON and World Cup dreams — Full Time
Recorded immediately before WAFCON 2026, Chawinga discusses what playing at the continental tournament and qualifying for Malawi’s first World Cup would mean to her.
Calling Your Shot with Temwa Chawinga & Mwanalima Adam Jereko — Good Game with Sarah Spain
A conversation about Chawinga’s beginnings in Malawi, adjusting to Kansas City and breaking the NWSL scoring record.
Temwa Chawinga chats greatness — Full Time
A conversation recorded around the 2025 NWSL Championship after Chawinga became a two-time league MVP.
Go Deeper
Kansas City Current — Temwa Chawinga
https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/team/temwa-chawinga
National Women’s Soccer League
https://www.nwslsoccer.com/
CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/
FIFA — Malawi Women’s World Cup Qualification
https://inside.fifa.com/advancing-football/fifa-forward/news/malawi-womens-world-cup-brazil-2027-fleetwood-haiya
Freshwater Project International — Temwa Chawinga
https://www.freshwaterintl.org/temwa
Chaŵinga Sisters — From Rumphi to the World
https://xn--chainga-dvb.com/rumphi/
Instagram — Temwa Chawinga
https://www.instagram.com/temwa556/
Sources & Further Reading
APA 7th Edition
Confederation of African Football. (2026, July 28). Chawinga sisters stun Nigeria in historic Malawi WAFCON upset. https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/chawinga-sisters-stun-nigeria-in-historic-malawi-wafcon-upset/
Confederation of African Football. (2026, August 9). Malawi stun Ghana to reach historic Women’s AFCON semi-finals and seal first-ever World Cup place. https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/malawi-stun-ghana-to-reach-historic-womens-afcon-semi-finals-and-seal-first-ever-world-cup-place/
Confederation of African Football. (2026, August 12). Chawinga sisters inspire Malawi into historic TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON final. https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/chawinga-sisters-inspire-malawi-into-historic-totalenergies-caf-wafcon-final/
Confederation of African Football. (2026, August 16). Chawinga leads the way as three finish top of TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 scoring charts. https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/chawinga-leads-the-way-as-three-finish-top-of-totalenergies-caf-wafcon-2026-scoring-charts/
Confederation of African Football. (2026, August 16). Ngah brace fires Cameroon to historic first WAFCON crown with dominant Malawi victory. https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-africa-cup-of-nations/news/ngah-brace-fires-cameroon-to-historic-first-wafcon-crown-with-dominant-malawi-victory/
Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. (2023, October 15). Malawi claim maiden regional crown at COSAFA championships. https://cosafa.com/malawi-claim-maiden-regional-crown-at-cosafa-championships/
FIFA. (2020). The Malawian sisters lighting up China. https://inside.fifa.com/news/the-malawian-sisters-lighting-up-china
FIFA. (2026, August 14). Malawi reaps benefit of grassroots investment with historic qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup. https://inside.fifa.com/advancing-football/fifa-forward/news/malawi-womens-world-cup-brazil-2027-fleetwood-haiya
Freshwater Project International. (n.d.). Temwa Chawinga champions clean water in Malawi schools. https://www.freshwaterintl.org/temwa
International Federation of Football History & Statistics. (2024, January 1). IFFHS Women’s World Best Goal Scorer 2023. https://iffhs.com/posts/3287
Kansas City Current. (2024, January 3). Kansas City Current sign Malawi international forward. https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-sign-malawi-international-forward
Kansas City Current. (n.d.). Temwa Chawinga. https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/team/temwa-chawinga
Kansas City Current. (2026, June 22). Kansas City Current, forward Temwa Chawinga agree to new contract through 2029. https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-forward-temwa-chawinga-agree-to-new-cont
Kourabi, M. (2024, July 18). Meet Temwa Chawinga, the Malawian striker breaking records. SHE Scores Bangers. https://www.shescoresbangers.com/p/meet-temwa-chawinga-the-malawian
Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. (2025, December 18). FPI hands over piped water to Kabwinja govt schools. https://mbc.mw/fpi-hands-over-piped-water-to-kabwinja-govt-schools/
National Women’s Soccer League. (2024, November 4). Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga claims 2024 NWSL Golden Boot. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/kansas-city-current-forward-temwa-chawinga-claims-2024-nwsl-golden-boot
National Women’s Soccer League. (2024, November 22). Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga named 2024 NWSL Most Valuable Player. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/kansas-city-current-forward-temwa-chawinga-named-2024-nwsl-most-valuable-player
National Women’s Soccer League. (2025, August 13). Temwa Chawinga becomes fastest player to score 30 regular season goals in NWSL history. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/temwa-chawinga-becomes-fastest-player-to-score-30-regular-season-goals-in-nwsl-history
National Women’s Soccer League. (2025, November 4). Golden Boot, Ironwomen, new records: Looking back at 2025 NWSL season milestones. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/golden-boot-ironwomen-new-records-looking-back-at-2025-nwsl-season-milestones
National Women’s Soccer League. (2025, November 19). NWSL celebrates the best of the 2025 season at the NWSL Awards, presented by AT&T. https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-celebrates-2025-awards
Pensulo, C. (2025, February 19). From dusty pitches to football stardom: The rise of the Chawinga sisters. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/19/womens-football-malawi-tabitha-temwa-chawinga
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