Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time AFC titleholder, is no stranger to success on the gridiron. As he gears up for his ninth NFL season, Mahomes continues to dominate as one of the league’s premier talents. However, this Monday brought a rare setback for the football icon, not on the field, but in his ambitious off-field ventures.
Beyond his mastery within the white lines, Mahomes has built an impressive business portfolio, with a keen interest in elevating women’s sports in Kansas City. Alongside his wife, Brittany Mahomes, he’s a co-owner of the Kansas City Current, the city’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, which has thrived under their investment, earning a playoff berth and strong community support. Riding this wave of success, Mahomes set his sights on bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City, partnering with the same ownership group behind the Current, led by Chris and Angie Long of Palmer Square Capital Management LLC.
In October 2024, Mahomes shared his vision with ESPN, expressing enthusiasm for expanding Kansas City’s women’s sports scene. “It was cool that we were able to get this soccer team, this women’s soccer team here in the Current, and they’re going into the playoffs now, and you see the support that they have,” Mahomes said. “So let’s try to get a WNBA team in here as well [with] that same ownership group. They’ve done the Current the right way, and I want to continue to work with them to take that next step and get a WNBA team here.”
WELCOME TO THE W CLEVELAND, DETROIT & PHILLY 🤩🤩
🏀 Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after, assuming they get approval from the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors. Toronto and Portland will enter the league next year.
🏀 All three new… pic.twitter.com/TTvIMVMMS5
— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) June 30, 2025
However, the WNBA dealt a crushing blow to Mahomes’ aspirations on Monday. The league announced three new expansion teams set to join in the coming years, with Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia securing the coveted franchises. Despite a strong bid from Kansas City, Mahomes and his investment group were left empty-handed. Vanshay Murdock, a prominent WNBA videographer and social media figure, noted on X that other cities, including St. Louis, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte, also missed out on the expansion opportunity.
This rejection marks a rare misstep for Mahomes, whose business acumen has mirrored his on-field brilliance. While the Chiefs’ quarterback remains a titan in the NFL, this setback underscores the challenges of breaking into the competitive world of sports franchise ownership. Still, with his track record of resilience and determination, it’s unlikely Mahomes will let this defeat dim his ambitions. Kansas City fans, already energized by the Current’s success, will no doubt rally behind Mahomes as he continues to champion women’s sports and explore new opportunities to leave his mark beyond the football field.