Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Leads Efforts for WNBA Team in 2028 Expansion
by: D’Joumbarey A. Moreau
Chiefs quarterback and arguably the greatest quarterback to play the game Patrick Mahomes and the ownership group of the Kansas City Current are actively pursuing bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City by 2028.
In a recent discussions with WNBA officials, Mahomes emphasized the reasoning behind expanding basketball in Kansas City, stating, “It’s a no-brainer.” He spoke about the city’s rich sports culture, mentioning the support for local teams, including the University of Kansas basketball program and the Chiefs. “The city is going to come out to the stadium. It’s cool we were able to get the women’s soccer team here, and you see the support they have,” Mahomes said.
The Current, who currently play in a state-of-the-art $117 million stadium near downtown Kansas City, have seen tremendous fan engagement, regularly selling out their games this season. As they gear up for the NWSL playoffs as the No. 4 seed, Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, a former soccer player, are frequent attendees at Current and Sporting KC games.
“I know how much sports has given to me,” Mahomes said. “Whenever I’m done with football and have to venture into life after football, I want to still be a part of it. Hopefully, we can get this WNBA team here, so I can make an impact in sports and show my daughter that you can chase your dream, whatever that is.”
The WNBA is going to expand their league by adding in three additional franchises in the next two seasons, with franchises in Golden State, Portland, and Toronto bringing the total to 15. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated interest in adding a 16th team by the 2028 season, but Kansas City faces competition from cities like Miami, Orlando, Houston, St. Louis and Philadelphia.
The league’s momentum has been gaining popularity by rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which has led to record attendance this past season. Notably, Game 5 of the championship peaked at 3.3 million TV viewers, the highest in 25 years, with numerous regular-season broadcasts exceeding a million viewers.
Kansas City has long been equipped for a professional basketball franchise, with the T-Mobile Center constructed in 2007 in anticipation of luring an NBA or NHL team. Though those ambitions did not materialize, the arena has consistently hosted concerts and sports events, including the Big 12 basketball tournaments.
Mahomes believes a WNBA team would thrive in the downtown arena. “They want to expand, and just like any business, you have to pick and choose how,” he stated. “You’ve seen the growth of the WNBA over the last few years. We feel like Kansas City is a great place to continue that growth, but we have to battle other cities to show them that this is the right place.”
