The owners of the NWSLs KC Current, which includes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, are meeting with WNBA representatives to discuss the possibility of a brand new expansion team.
The news comes after the W’s record-breaking season, which included growth metrics and a plan to feature several new teams in the coming years. The Mahomes duo already has stakes in Kansas City’s professional sports landscape, co-owning the Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.
Last year’s WNBA season broke all-time ratings, attendance, and viewership records, thanks in part to the WNBA Draft’s bringing in of new popular stars, including Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark and first-year All-Star Angel Reese. The WNBAs most recent expansion started with the Golden State Valkyries, who will debut as the No. 13 team in 2025.
The franchise will be coached by Natalie Nakase, the assistant coach of the Las Vegas Aces, during their back-to-back championship seasons in 2022-23.
The Valkyrie’s debut will be followed by more expansion teams in Toronto and Portland in 2026, adding Canada to the pro basketball world akin to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has voiced ambitious plans to bring the league to 16 teams by 2028, which could prove to be a strategic move that shows growth in league interest while providing more roster opportunities for professional womens basketball.
Patrick Mahomes has a growing influence in Kansas City thanks to his multiple Super Bowl wins, which have led to pinnacle celebrity status in the area and nationally. Mahomes has used his fame to push to deepen the city’s footprint in womens professional leagues.
The consensus assumes that the Mahomes family wants to bring the team to Kansas City, which only features the Kansas City Roos on the collegiate level. While The Roos play division I ball in the Summit League, they’ve never reached the NCAA Tournament since 1980, giving the area something new to root for.
Brittany Mahomes is a former soccer player who played for the UT Tyler Patriots from 2013-16. As a forward, she scored 31 goals in 74 appearances with the team before a professional stint with Iceland club Afturelding. Throughout her professional career, she has shown a vested interest in creating new opportunities for women in sports.
“The real reason you should care about womens sports is because theyre incredible. Just Google Aja Wilsons highlights, and youll see what Im talking about.,” said Patrick at the Time 100 Gala. “For the talent, the narratives, the personalities: womens sports has it all. And I think people are finally starting to figure that out.”
“m proud of the part my family has played in this movement. As a co-owner of the Kansas City Current, my wife, Brittany, is working hard to grow womens soccer and broaden the path for the next generation of young athletes like our daughter,” he continued. “Last month, we kicked off the new season in a brand-new stadium, the first in the world to be built specifically for a womens pro team.”
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