Honestly, if you'd told someone three years ago that the hottest ticket in sports would be a Tuesday night WNBA game in the Midwest, they probably would’ve laughed. But here we are. The league is currently riding a wave that feels less like a trend and more like a total tectonic shift. Everyone is talking about the WNBA expansion Kansas City bid, and for good reason. Between the massive "Caitlin Clark effect" and the relentless push from Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, the conversation has moved from "maybe one day" to "when is the press conference?"
But let's be real—there’s a lot of noise out there. People see Mahomes' name and Clark’s highlights and assume it’s a done deal. It isn’t. Not yet.
The Reality of the WNBA Expansion Kansas City Bid
Kansas City isn't just "some city" trying to get a team. It’s a city that has spent the last five years building a fortress for women’s sports. You’ve got the Kansas City Current in the NWSL, who literally built the first stadium specifically for a women's professional team. That’s a huge statement. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes aren't just faces on a billboard; they are deeply embedded in the ownership group of the Current, and that same group is the one spearheading the WNBA bid.
Patrick Mahomes has been vocal. He called a Kansas City WNBA team a "no-brainer." He’s looking at this as a legacy move—something to show his daughter, Sterling, that the ceiling for women’s sports doesn't exist.
Why the WNBA hasn't said "Yes" yet
So, why isn't there a team there already? Well, the league is being picky. And they should be. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has a plan.
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- Golden State is coming in 2025.
- Toronto and Portland are set for 2026.
- The goal is 16 teams by 2028.
Kansas City is currently in a dogfight for that 16th spot. They’re up against heavy hitters like Philadelphia, Denver, and Nashville. The league recently noted that while KC "remains in the mix," they fell a bit short in an earlier round of bidding. It’s not about fan passion—KC has that in spades—it’s about the "boring" stuff: practice facilities, long-term player housing, and iron-clad arena dates at the T-Mobile Center.
The Caitlin Clark Factor: More Than Just Highlights
You can’t talk about WNBA expansion Kansas City without talking about Caitlin Clark. Even though she plays for the Indiana Fever, she’s the engine driving the economics of expansion. Her impact—often called the "CC Effect"—is wild. We're talking about 600% increases in merchandise sales and viewership numbers that are beating the NBA and MLB in certain slots.
Clark actually grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa. Kansas City is basically her backyard. She’s been spotted at Chiefs games, has family in the area, and has publicly stated that "KC would be a great place for a team."
When the biggest star in the league says she wants to play in your city, the league listens.
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The proximity play
Think about the logistics. If Kansas City gets a team, the "I-80 corridor" becomes a basketball mecca. You’d have Clark in Indy and a new rival just a few hours away. The ticket sales for a Fever vs. KC matchup would be astronomical. We saw it in 2024; everywhere Clark went, ticket prices spiked by an average of 140%. For a potential KC owner, those aren't just numbers—that's a guaranteed ROI.
What Needs to Happen Next
The bid isn't just about writing a check, though the price tag is soaring. Recent expansion fees for Portland hit $125 million. Rumor has it the 16th team might cost $200 million or more.
Here is what the KC group is likely working on right now:
- Dedicated Training Facility: The WNBA is tired of teams practicing in public gyms or sharing space with college kids. They want pro-level, women-first facilities.
- Arena Guarantees: T-Mobile Center is busy. To get a team, the ownership needs to prove they can get prime dates, not just Monday afternoons in July.
- The "Current" Blueprint: They need to show they can translate the sell-out success of CPKC Stadium (the soccer stadium) to a basketball court.
Kansas City is a blue city in a red state, and it’s a town that lives and breathes sports. If you go to a Chiefs game, you see Mahomes jerseys. If you go to a Current game, you see sell-out crowds. The infrastructure is there. The T-Mobile Center was built for this.
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Final Insights for the KC Fan
The WNBA is in a "dead zone" right now regarding official announcements because of CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) negotiations. Everything is a bit paused. But don't let the silence fool you. The Mahomes group is likely refining their pitch to address the league’s concerns about infrastructure.
If you’re looking to support the WNBA expansion Kansas City movement, the best thing you can do is keep showing up for women’s sports already in the city. The WNBA looks at "proof of concept." Every sold-out KC Current game and every high-rated Fever game watched in the KC market is a data point for Cathy Engelbert.
The momentum is real. It’s no longer a matter of if the WNBA expands further, but rather if Kansas City can out-hustle Philly and Nashville to grab that 16th jersey. With Mahomes' competitive streak and Clark's drawing power, it’s hard to bet against them.
What you can do now:
- Follow the official updates from the Kansas City Sports Commission; they are the lead boots on the ground for this bid.
- Monitor the WNBA's CBA negotiations. Once a new deal is signed, expect the expansion floodgates for the 16th team to open immediately.
- If the Indiana Fever play a preseason or "neutral site" game nearby, buy the tickets. Attendance data is the #1 metric the league uses to choose expansion cities.