What 'Ted Lasso' featuring Kansas City Current meant to NWSL team: 'So emotional'

Apple TV's hit series Ted Lasso has unexpectedly intersected with the Kansas City Current, a professional women's soccer team. This connection stems from co-creator Jason Sudeikis, who grew up in the Kansas City suburbs and later moved to Overland, Kansas. Season 4 of Ted Lasso features the coach leading the AFC Richmond women's team, offering Kansas City unprecedented exposure.

At the season premiere, the Kansas City Current were prominently featured, along with their home CPKC Stadium, the first privately-funded stadium built exclusively for professional women's soccer. The team, co-owned by Chris and Angie Long, along with Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany from the Kansas City Chiefs, has been a consistent presence at games and in promotional efforts.

Jason Sudeikis is often seen at games or representing their merchandise. The Longs expressed their emotional response, stating, "From the very beginning, we've believed the Kansas City Current could help change the way the world sees women's sports. To now see our club and CPKC Stadium become part of the story of Ted Lasso, a show that has inspired millions, is incredibly meaningful."

The Current are now part of the Ted Lasso narrative, with the team's star forward Temwa Chaŵinga appearing in the first episode of Season 4. They celebrate the stadium's unique features, such as Title IX written on a wall, and Temwa's goal. Missy Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Commercial for the Current, emphasized that Ted Lasso is a show about belief and community, and the club exemplifies these values.

Sudeikis, along with co-creator and co-star Brendan Hunt, has consistently championed women's sports. For the Kansas City Current, this opportunity to showcase their story on a global platform is highly significant. They expressed their emotional reaction, saying, "We're all really excited to see the Current showcased on a stage as big as an award-winning television program watched by millions...

We were so emotional about the fact that what we all spend our days working on and working towards got to be highlighted and showcased in such a unique and cool way." The first episode of Ted Lasso Season 4 is now streaming on Apple TV.