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Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw his assist behind the continuing efforts to carry a WNBA growth franchise to the town the place he has spent his complete NFL profession.
Mahomes and spouse Brittany are already co-owners of the Kansas Metropolis Present, a Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League franchise. Members of the Present’s possession group have been in talks with the WNBA about establishing an growth franchise in Kansas Metropolis.
Late final month, the three-time Tremendous Bowl champion described the thought of bringing an expert girls’s basketball franchise to Kansas Metropolis as a “no-brainer.”
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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs speaks to the press throughout Chiefs minicamp June 15, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. (Kyle Rivas/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
“Clearly, we need to get basketball in Kansas Metropolis usually,” stated Mahomes, who additionally has possession stakes within the Royals and the MLS membership Sporting Kansas Metropolis. “You speak in regards to the College of Kansas basketball, the Chiefs, no matter it’s, the town goes to return out to the stadium. It’s cool we have been in a position to get the ladies’s soccer staff right here, and also you see the assist they’ve.”
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The Present, who play in a stadium close to downtown Kansas Metropolis, have often bought out their residence video games this season.
Patrick and Brittany have attended a number of Present video games. They’ve additionally appeared at video games performed by the town’s Main League Soccer staff, Sporting KC. Brittany is a former soccer participant.
The Chiefs quarterback lately attended the Royals’ playoff collection in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians. The Royals play residence video games at Kauffman Stadium, which is positioned subsequent door to Arrowhead Stadium.
A basketball throughout warmups earlier than a recreation between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Solar at Local weather Pledge Area June 20, 2023, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
“I feel, greater than something, I understand how a lot sports activities has given to me,” he stated. “Every time I’m completed with soccer — at any time when that’s — and I’ve to enterprise into life after soccer, and chase children round, I need to nonetheless be part of it. Hopefully, we are able to get this WNBA staff right here, for all times after soccer, so I could make an influence in sports activities and present my daughter you can chase your dream, no matter dream that’s.”
The WNBA is increasing by three groups over the subsequent two seasons with Golden State, Portland and Toronto pushing the overall variety of franchises to fifteen. And whereas league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stated the WNBA want to add a sixteenth staff by the 2028 season, Kansas Metropolis is predicted to have competitors from St. Louis, Philadelphia and several other different cities.
The league has been buoyed by younger stars akin to Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, drawing its greatest attendance numbers in 22 years this previous season.
Angel Reese, left, and Caitlin Clark, proper, of Group WNBA through the 2024 WNBA All Star Sport, July 20, 2024, at Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Ariz. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
Kansas Metropolis has lengthy had the infrastructure for an expert basketball franchise, constructing the T-Cell Heart in 2007 in hopes of luring an NBA or NHL membership to city.
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Mahomes believes a WNBA franchise could be the right match for the downtown enviornment.
“They need to increase. Identical to every other enterprise, you need to decide and select how,” he stated. “Clearly, you’ve seen the previous few years the WNBA has grown. We really feel like Kansas Metropolis is a good place to proceed that development, however we’ve got to battle different cities to point out them that that is the suitable place.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.