Kansas City Current

The Kansas City Current have become the model franchise for what women's professional sports can look like when backed by visionary ownership and world-class infrastructure. Born from the relocation of the Utah Royals FC in 2020, the Current began play in 2021 under Chris and Angie Long and quickly established themselves as one of the NWSL's most ambitious organizations. The club reached the 2022 NWSL Championship game in just their second season, announcing their intentions long before the bricks were laid on what would become their crowning achievement.

CPKC Stadium, which opened in March 2024, changed the conversation around women's sports permanently. The $117 million, 11,500-seat venue on the banks of the Missouri River was the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a professional women's team, and it has been a sold-out destination ever since. Now in its third full season, the stadium has hosted NWSL playoff matches, international friendlies, and concerts, becoming a civic landmark in Kansas City and a blueprint that other clubs across women's sports are studying closely.

Under head coach Vlatko Andonovski - the former USWNT manager - the Current have assembled a roster of international talent and USWNT regulars that keeps them in championship contention year after year. Heading into the 2026 season, the Current's combination of elite facilities, deep pockets, and tactical sophistication makes them one of the favorites in a 16-team NWSL. The only thing missing from the trophy case is the championship itself, and the urgency to close that gap grows with each passing season.