Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs supports the WNBA’s efforts to expand the WNBA in Kansas City
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has backed ongoing efforts to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to the city where he spent his entire NFL career.
Mahomes and wife Brittany are also co-owners of the Kansas City Current, a National Women’s Soccer League franchise. Members of the current ownership group have been in discussions with the WNBA about establishing an expansion franchise in Kansas City.
Late last month, the three-time Super Bowl champion described the idea of bringing a professional women’s basketball franchise to Kansas City as “absurd.”
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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during Chiefs minicamp June 15, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Kyle Rivas/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Obviously, we want to get basketball in Kansas City in general,” said Mahomes, who also owns part of the Royals and MLS club Sporting Kansas City. “You talk about University of Kansas basketball, the Chiefs, whatever it is, the city will come out to the stadium. It’s cool that we were able to get a women’s soccer team here, and you can see the support they have.”
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The Current, which plays in a stadium near Kansas City, regularly sells out its home games this season.
Patrick and Brittany attended a few of the current performances. They have also appeared in matches played by this city’s Major League Soccer team, Sporting KC. Brittany was a soccer player.
The Chiefs defender recently attended the Royals finals series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Royals play their home games at Kauffman Stadium, which is adjacent to Arrowhead Stadium.
Basketball during warmups before the game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Climate Pledge Arena on June 20, 2023, in Seattle. (Photos by Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
“I think, more than anything, I know how much the games have given me,” he said. “Whenever I’m done with football – whenever – and I have to get into the soccer life, and chase the kids, I want to be a part of it. Hopefully, we can get this WNBA team here, for life. after football, so I can make an impact in sports and show my daughter My message is that you can chase your dream, whatever that dream is.”
The WNBA is expanding by three teams over the next two seasons with Golden State, Portland and Toronto pushing the total number of franchises to 15. And while league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said the WNBA would like to add a 16-team team for the 2028 season, Kansas City is expected to have competition from St. Louis. Louis, Philadelphia and several other cities.
The league, fueled by young stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, drew its best attendance numbers in 22 years this past season.
Angel Reese, left, and Caitlin Clark, right, of Team WNBA during the 2024 WNBA All Star Game, July 20, 2024, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Kansas City has long had the infrastructure for a professional basketball franchise, building the T-Mobile Center in 2007 in hopes of luring an NBA or NHL club to the city.
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Mahomes believes the WNBA franchise would be a perfect fit for the city’s arena.
“They want to expand. Like any other business, you have to pick and choose how,” he said. “Obviously, you’ve seen the last few years the WNBA has grown. We feel like Kansas City is a great place to continue that growth, but we have to fight other cities to show them that this is the right place.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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