Temwa Chawinga, the dominant force in women's football, has been on an unstoppable mission, doubling up as the NWSL's top scorer and MVP for the second year in a row. Despite facing challenges without her elder sister and mentor, Tabitha, who set a high bar with numerous Golden Boot and MVP awards in Swedish, Chinese, and Italian leagues.
As Temwa recalls, Tabitha always believed she would surpass her younger sister, saying "she has supported me in every single move that I have made … we have never argued about soccer. I have always listened to her when she tells me things to do [in games], especially when I first came to Europe from Malawi, because she is my big sister and had more experience than me." However, Tabitha's departure for Inter left Temwa with a difficult decision to make.
The 29-year-old striker recounts that she was initially forced to confront her own mental resilience after Tabitha left their Swedish side Kvarnsvedens. "When she left and went to China, I felt lonely and didn't want to stay there," Temwa admits. However, with the support of her family and a few familiar faces from Malawi who had followed her to China, she slowly regained her footing.
Tabitha's parting advice to her sister was both poignant and reassuring: "she told me that we would not always be together and that I would have to take my decisions, that she would go to one team and I would go to another team or country. She told me I had to focus on making a future for myself because there would be nothing for me to go back to in Malawi." These words of wisdom proved invaluable as Temwa moved on to the US, signing with Kansas City Current in January 2024.
The current NWSL season has seen Temwa cement her status as one of the most lethal strikers in women's football. With a record-breaking 20 goals, she not only won the Golden Boot but also secured the MVP award for the second year running. Her performance has left fans and pundits alike in awe, with many speculating that she might be on course to break records yet again.
As Temwa prepares to represent Malawi at next year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), her sights are firmly set on glory. While acknowledging the strength of other African nations, she remains confident that Malawi can make a significant impact, driven by their growing talent pool and determination to succeed.
With Tabitha cheering from afar, Temwa is undeniably living up to her big sister's expectations while forging her own path in the beautiful game.
As Temwa recalls, Tabitha always believed she would surpass her younger sister, saying "she has supported me in every single move that I have made … we have never argued about soccer. I have always listened to her when she tells me things to do [in games], especially when I first came to Europe from Malawi, because she is my big sister and had more experience than me." However, Tabitha's departure for Inter left Temwa with a difficult decision to make.
The 29-year-old striker recounts that she was initially forced to confront her own mental resilience after Tabitha left their Swedish side Kvarnsvedens. "When she left and went to China, I felt lonely and didn't want to stay there," Temwa admits. However, with the support of her family and a few familiar faces from Malawi who had followed her to China, she slowly regained her footing.
Tabitha's parting advice to her sister was both poignant and reassuring: "she told me that we would not always be together and that I would have to take my decisions, that she would go to one team and I would go to another team or country. She told me I had to focus on making a future for myself because there would be nothing for me to go back to in Malawi." These words of wisdom proved invaluable as Temwa moved on to the US, signing with Kansas City Current in January 2024.
The current NWSL season has seen Temwa cement her status as one of the most lethal strikers in women's football. With a record-breaking 20 goals, she not only won the Golden Boot but also secured the MVP award for the second year running. Her performance has left fans and pundits alike in awe, with many speculating that she might be on course to break records yet again.
As Temwa prepares to represent Malawi at next year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), her sights are firmly set on glory. While acknowledging the strength of other African nations, she remains confident that Malawi can make a significant impact, driven by their growing talent pool and determination to succeed.
With Tabitha cheering from afar, Temwa is undeniably living up to her big sister's expectations while forging her own path in the beautiful game.
I'm literally in awe of this woman Temwa, she's like a force of nature on the pitch!!! 
She's got this raw talent and confidence that's just so inspiring, and to see her rising above all these challenges without losing her cool is truly remarkable 
. And can we talk about how much I love the bond between her and Tabitha? Their relationship is like a beautiful poem - it's all about support and trust, and now it seems like Temwa's taking the lessons from her big sis to new heights 
. The way she talks about Tabitha's words of wisdom giving her the strength to move on is just so heartwarming 
, and now she's out there crushing it in NWSL and making us all proud 
!
right now! I mean, 20 goals in one season? That's just insane. She's breaking records left and right, and it's not even like she's trying to. It's just so inspiring to watch her play. And you know what's even more amazing? The fact that she's carrying on her sister Tabitha's legacy like that. I mean, Tabitha was basically a legend in her own right with all those awards and accolades under her belt. But Temwa is more than just living up to her big sister's expectations - she's exceeding them. And I have no doubt that she'll continue to dominate the pitch next year at Wafcon. Malawi better be ready! 
and i gotta say, it's amazing 2 c her grow into a leader on & off the pitch 
especially w/ tabitha cheering from afar 
she's got that fire in her belly 2 take on any opponent 
i mean, w/o her big sis by her side, temwa would prob hv struggled to find her footing again, but thankfully she had her fam & a few familiar faces 2 lean on 
so yeah, lets give it up 4 temwa! 
, considering she had to navigate the void left by her mentor Tabitha after she departed for Inter in China 
️. It's heartening to see Temwa not only find solace but also channel her emotions into an unstoppable force of nature on the pitch 
she got a free pass to be good because of her big sis Tabitha, and now she's reaping all the benefits 
. Don't get me wrong, the girl's skills are on point and all that, but let's not forget she's only as successful as her sister was before her 
. And what happens when Tabitha's gone? Will Temwa still be able to perform under pressure? Not sure about this one 
