FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Griffin Schaetzle
KANSAS CITY, MO (April 21, 2026) – Today, the KC Sports Commission was named Sports Commission of the Year at the 2026 Sports ETA Symposium. The award recognizes the commission’s efforts and accomplishments throughout 2025 and marked the first time in the organization’s 60-year history it has received the honor. The award came in the large market category, which includes cities with populations of more than 500,000.
“We are incredibly proud and honored to receive this recognition from Sports ETA, the only non-profit trade association for sports and event tourism industry in the United States. This award is a reflection of the hard work of our staff, Board of Directors, partners, volunteers, and the entire Kansas City community. We take great pride in showcasing our city on a national stage and creating memorable experiences for our fans, athletes and visitors.”
– Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the KC Sports Commission
Last year was a historic year for the KC Sports Commission creating a powerful blend of local, regional, national, and global events for our city. These events drove Kansas City’s overall sports strategy, enriched the quality of life, created economic impact and raised visibility for the region.
In addition to being named Commission of the Year, one of the KC Sports Commission’s events also received prestigious recognition. WIN for KC’s 2025 Women’s Sports Awards, presented by Burns & McDonnell, was honored as Sports ETA’s Event Impact of the Year. The record-breaking event featured basketball superstar Caitlin Clark as its keynote guest. Clark spoke on the importance of physical and mental health to a crowd of more than 4,000 attendees, making it the largest celebration of Girls and Women in Sports Day.
“The Women’s Sports Awards is an incredibly special event to Kansas City. It allows WIN for KC to honor those making a difference in our community, inspire and educate young athletes, and helps fund our initiatives throughout the year. It’s an honor for the event to be in a national spotlight and continues to show that Kansas City is a premiere women’s sports destination.”
- Taylor Banks, Director of WIN for KC.
Other events that the KC Sports Commission hosted or supported included:
2025 Phillips 66 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament
TKO Takeover featuring PBR, UFC and WWE events
WIN Wellness Corporate Retreat
U.S Women’s Rugby v Canada
Hospital Hill Run
Camp WIN
Kansas City Sports Awards
College Football at Arrowhead Stadium: University of Cincinnati v University of Nebraska
PBR Outlaw Days
Garmin Kansas City Marathon
USWNT v New Zealand at CPKC Stadium
The Evelyn Gates Award Show
NABC Hall of Fame Classic
Thanksgiving Day 5K Run and Family Stroll
NCAA College Cup
FIFA World Cup Draw
Border Showdown between University of Kansas and University of Missouri
NCAA D1 Women’s Volleyball Championship
The KC Sports Commission has already carried momentum from 2025 into this year. So far, the commission has hosted several major events, including the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, the Reading and Fitness Challenge, and the Pacific Four Rugby Series. The year continues with a WNBA preseason game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Nigerian Women’s National Team, as well as the Hospital Hill Run. Kansas City will also welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup beginning in June.
About The Kansas City Sports Commission
The mission of the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation is to drive Kansas City’s overall sports strategy, to enrich the quality of life, create economic impact and raise visibility for our region. As a privately-funded nonprofit, we are entirely dependent on your support. For the latest on Kansas City Sports Commission news, follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About WIN for KC
The Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City (WIN for KC), was established in 1994 under the umbrella of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, with the mission to ignite girls and women through advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports and fitness, while providing opportunities for participation and leadership development. WIN is a volunteer, membership-driven organization that operates as a program of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. For more information, visit WINforKC.org. For the latest on WIN for KC news, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram.