KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The momentum for professional women’s basketball in Kansas City, Missouri, has been growing for longer than previously thought.
Angie and Chris Long — the co-owners of the Kansas City Current, who brought the NWSL back to Kansas City four years ago — confirmed Thursday to KSHB 41 News in an exclusive interview that they have been in discussions with the WNBA regarding expanding to Kansas City.
“Kansas City is undeniably an incredible sports town,” Chris Long stated. “The enthusiasm surrounding the Kansas City Current is evident. The blueprint we have created with facilities, our approach to the game, and the business of sports makes it a natural progression for us to bid for a WNBA franchise in this city.”
The Longs reported that they have been in talks with the WNBA, which plans to expand to 16 teams, for the past three years.
“We have been holding conversations with the WNBA for some time,” Angie Long added. “It has always been something that would be appealing to us and our city.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who, along with his wife Brittany, is also a co-owner of the Current, had previously confirmed discussions about expansion with the WNBA.
Mahomes described bringing the WNBA to Kansas City as a “no-brainer.”
“Obviously, we want basketball in Kansas City in general,” Mahomes expressed in October. “Considering the success the WNBA has had in the last season and the previous ones, it’s a no-brainer to bring a WNBA team to Kansas City.”
Chris Long acknowledged the support from Mahomes on Thursday.
“We will give it our all and work as hard as we can on it,” he stated. “We have amazing partners in Patrick and Brittany. We’ll see how things unfold, but I have full confidence in Kansas City.”
Kathy Nelson, the president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC, has also shown support for WNBA expansion.
She mentioned that the KC Sports Commission is assisting in identifying potential members of an ownership group and has been in talks with the T-Mobile Center about the potential of WNBA basketball being played there.
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