KANSAS CITY, MO (February 18, 2026) – The Minnesota Lynx announced today they will play the Nigerian Women’s National Team in a WNBA preseason game at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO on Monday, April 27. Hosted by ProHoops Sports & Events, this will be the first WNBA game played in the City of Fountains since 2005.
Tickets for the game, which tips at 7pm CT at T-Mobile Center, will go on sale at 10am on Friday, February 20 at www.t-mobilecenter.com.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA to Kansas City,” said Linda Hargrove, President of ProHoops Sports & Events. “Kansas City is an amazing sports town and has always been extremely supportive of Women’s Sports.”
The Minnesota Lynx were founded before the 1999 season and have been one of the most successful WNBA franchises. They have won four WNBA Championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and ended the 2025 season with the best record in the league at 34-10.
“We are looking forward to bringing one of the WNBA’s winningest franchises to Kansas City to prepare for the 2026 season by playing in one of the most supportive cities in the country for women’s sports and specifically, women’s basketball,” said Cheryl Reeve, Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Lynx.
The Nigeria Women’s National Basketball Team, also known as D’Tigress, are currently ranked #8 in the FIBA World Rankings. They defeated Australia and Canada in the 2024 Olympics advancing to the quarterfinals. They became the first African basketball team, male or female, to qualify for the quarterfinals of the basketball competition at the Olympics.
“Kansas City is a top destination for women’s sports, and we’re ready to prove that once again this spring,” said Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC. “We know this will be another incredible opportunity to elevate Kansas City, the league and the power of women’s athletics.”
The 2026 WNBA season will be the 30th season of the Women’s National Basketball Association. The league will expand from 13 to 15 teams with the addition of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. This followed the addition of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025.
About ProHoops Sports and Events
ProHoops Sports & Events has over 60 years of combined experience in putting on the highest level of Sporting Events.
They are led by President Linda Hargrove, who has over 36 years of experience coaching at the college, university, Olympic and professional levels. She spent 11 years as a Head Coach and/or General Manager in the WNBA.
Her professional experiences include Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel for the Colorado Xplosion in the ABL, Head Coach/GM for the Portland Fire, General Manager for the Washington Mystics and Consultant for the Orlando Miracle and the Tulsa Shock. She was also on the 1992 Olympic staff in Barcelona, Spain.
COO Brian Hargrove has more than 25 years of experience working in the sports industry. He has worked two Olympic Games (Sydney & Athens), along with hosting or working many large sporting events including NBA, WNBA, NHL, USA Volleyball, USA Basketball and the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
ProHoops Sports & Events hosted the Las Vegas Aces vs Puerto Rico National Team in Columbia, SC in 2024. Last year, they hosted the Chicago Sky vs Brazil National Team in Baton Rouge, LA and the Indiana Fever vs Brazil National Team in Iowa City, IA.
About The Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation
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.