Best of KC 2025: Uneven seasons keep top athletes on their toes
Photo by Tarik Sykes
Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we thought clearly won 2025. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.
Let’s be honest. For the last few years, Kansas City has been absolutely spoiled when it comes to our professional sports teams. The Chiefs claimed back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in 2022 and 2023, the Royals scraped up enough wins last season to make a postseason push, even winning the wildcard round against the Baltimore Orioles, and the Current placed fourth in the NWSL 2024 Season, playing their first games on CPKC Stadium grass. I mean, you can’t ask for much more from your three core sporting groups.
But that changed this past year. Yes, the Chiefs continued their dominant run throughout the regular season and most of the playoffs, but they didn’t get it done. Their chances at being the first team to ever win three consecutive Super Bowls came to a devastating ending when the Philadelphia Eagles got revenge for their 2022 championship loss to the team, pummelling Andy Reid and the crew 40-22 in Vegas.
Our standards may be high, but regardless of any accomplishments made throughout this past season, if we don’t win the Super Bowl, all of the work put in feels like a waste. And this 2025 season hasn’t quite kicked off on the best note, either, as the team is 4-3 at the time of this writing, with our three victories sparking the reemergence of the ‘ref conspiracy theories’ that have long haunted the team.
As far as the Royals go, disappointment is the standard. But after a successful 2024 season, attitudes toward the team around the city had shifted from awaiting an inevitable letdown to a slight sense of faith, especially considering the contract extension of star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. And as the team remained in the wildcard hunt as August approached, that faith was worthy. However, once September rolled around, the ‘Yals dropped 14 of the 25 games played, diminishing any chances at a blue October.
But there is one team that continues to put on for KC, baby. Our friends by the riverfront are no strangers to winning, currently leading the NWSL with a record of 20-3-2—eight wins ahead of the current second-place team at the time of this writing. By the time this magazine hits stands, the regular season will be completed and the team will be gearing up for the playoffs. Given the success that the soccer stars have had, led by most recent league MVP Temwa Chawinga, a long playoff run and hoisting of the trophy seem to be right around the corner.
At a time when we are unsure if the Chiefs are the Chiefs and we now know that the Royals are still the Royals, it is nice to take a stroll to the only women’s soccer stadium in the world and watch our players absolutely dismantle opponents. Head up to CPKC Stadium to cheer on the team in teal as they push for the 2025 NWSL Championship.
Click below to read the November Best Of 2025 Issue of The Pitch Magazine:
