KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – On June 21, 1997, the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBA) held its first official game with the New York Liberty facing off against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Basketball legends such as Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Dawn Staley, and Sheryl Swoopes were among the many who ushered in a new era of women’s basketball.
The WNBA began with only eight teams and has since grown to 12. Kansas City intends to make it 13.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City leaders express interest in bringing WNBA team to Kansas City as league eyes expansion
(Charles Rex Arbogast | AP)
Kansas City Current owner Chris Long spoke with KCTV5 and confirmed that efforts are being made to bring a WNBA team to the sports town.
“Its no secret Kansas City’s a sports town. Its no secret that what we’ve done here, the community’s embraced it in a massive way, so we don’t want to stop here.” Long shared.
Long went on to share that they are working hard to bring a WNBA team here.
“We really want to get a WNBA franchise and we’re working so hard on it.”
Even the Mahomes family has expressed interest in expanding the City of Fountains’ sports franchises.
(Ian Maule | AP)
ALSO READ: Mahomes family interested in helping bring WNBA to Kansas City
In October, it was confirmed that Patrick and Britney Mahomes met with the league.
The league plans to expand to 16 by 2028.
(Jessica Hill | AP)
Here’s a fun fact: The movie ‘Love & Basketball’, starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps, shot its final scene at the first LA Sparks game in 1997. Lisa Leslie and Magic Johnson made cameos in the scene and it was shot in one take.
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