When the WNBA expansion is up for discussion, there are more than a few reasons to look at Kansas City. Sports culture? Yes. Patrick Mahomes leading the charge? You got that. A perfect basketball arena? You have got Caitlin Clark’s nod. The stars are in, the city’s in. But could the things aligning make for a huge sports-pop culture moment? There are a lot of connections there. So don’t count it out!

The WNBA’s growth was fire powered when the Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark burst onto the scene alongside the 2024 rookie class. With 12 teams currently in the league and the Golden State Valkyries set to become the 13th franchise next season, the league is aiming for 16 teams by 2028. While Toronto and Portland are set to join the league in 2026, all eyes are now on the battle for that last franchise. A consortium led by Bill Haslam, chairman of the Nashville Predators, has already thrown its hat in the ring which is also backed by WNBA legend Candace Parker.

Could Taylor Swift and her superstar boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, be gearing up for a game-changing bid of their own? According to national reporter Elle Duncan, we shouldn’t rule it out just yet! And if that wasn’t enough, Caitlin Clark might have just added fuel to the fire regarding this as well!

Elle Duncan on her podcast, the Elle Duncan Show, gave her thoughts on this matter. She said, ” What Caitlin did that was so brilliant as she’s sitting in Kansas City, great sports town, she was asked about potentially a WNBA team coming there because Patrick Mahomes said and expressed a little interest in bringing a w team there, he obviously has a NWSL team, the Kansas City Current which he’s the majority owner of and she (Clark) said it would be great to expand to the city.”

When Caitlin Clark was in WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards at the T-Mobile Center, she doubled down on her idea of W in Kansas. “A great sports town,” she had expressed. Now that’s a momentum Mahomes would need. The 3x champion has one massive portfolio: Alpine F1, Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City, and KC Current, and a WNBA team, he is more than eager to add. But what gets Duncan excited is the possibility of the quarterback partnering up with Taylor Swift and his teammate Travis Kelce!

The two Chiefs’ stars already co-own Alpine and KC Current, which are better performing than others on the list. Kelce is aware of the city’s hunt for a W team. He has discussed the possibility with Clark on his podcast. And Duncan believes if the Lover singer were to have roots in the city in the future, this could be a good opportunity. To keep the idea floating in their heads, CC, ever the Swiftie, has vouched for the city too.

“What do we think about Kansas City? What do we think about Patrick Mahomes and maybe Taylor Swift, investing in a WNBA team since, of course, at least for all intents and purposes it looks like she’s going to have some roots in Kansas City. Now I don’t think they are gonna live there after Kelce retires, but she’ll have some roots there after Travis Kelce moves on.” 

As Gary Striewski wisely pointed out, the game has changed, these days, if you have superstar power leading your bid, your chances of winning skyrockets. And let’s be real, who brings more star power than Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, and Taylor Swift?

Patrick and Brittany have already proven their ownership credentials with the Kansas City Current. They know how to run a franchise! Now, imagine adding the global icon that is Taylor Swift to the mix. With her influence, a Kansas City WNBA team wouldn’t just attract basketball fans, it would instantly become a cultural phenomenon. From packed arenas to sky-high merchandise sales, this team would have a built-in fanbase before even stepping on the court.

If Mahomes, Swift, and Kelce get behind this bid, Kansas City wouldn’t just be in the race for a WNBA franchise, they’d be the heavy favorites from day one.

But let’s look at what Patrick Mahomes really has to say about owning a WNBA franchise!

Mahomes to fulfill Clark’s wish by bringing the WNBA to Kansas?

“Kansas City would be a good spot for it. Obviously, it’s a great sports town that supports women’s sports,” said an enthusiastic Caitlin Clark when asked about the possibility of a WNBA team landing in KC. To make matters easy for the boyhood Chiefs fan, Mahomes has already expressed a desire to be an owner of a WNBA franchise. It won’t be cheap, however!

The Valkyries and Toronto franchises were sold for $50m while the Portland franchise was sold for $125m! The Chiefs quarterback has already said that he wants to be a minority stake owner just like he is of the Kansas City Current!

“They’re going into the playoffs now, and you see the support that they have,” Mahomes said, highlighting the city’s passion for women’s sports. “So let’s try to get a WNBA team in here as well and kind of that same-type ownership group,” he said confirming his intentions to bid for a franchise in the near future.

With Mahomes pushing for a WNBA team in Kansas City and Swift’s growing connection to the city, thanks to her superstar boyfriend, this could be more than just an expansion bid. If it all comes together, it might just set up the perfect post-retirement power move for Travis Kelce and make Caitlin’s wish come true!