Caitlin Clark Names Travis Kelce Top Chief
The WNBA star picked the Kansas City tight end as her favorite Chiefs player of all time on a podcast appearance.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Caitlin Clark named Travis Kelce her favorite Kansas City Chiefs player of all time during an appearance on the Tuesday episode of "Not Gonna Lie." Clark said Patrick Mahomes is a close second.
Why it matters
Clark's comments highlight the crossover appeal of the Chiefs' stars beyond football and the growing profile of women's basketball figures in mainstream sports conversation. Her remarks came as the WNBA continues to expand, with new teams approved for Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit.
Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and Jason Kelce played 13 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The WNBA will reach 18 teams by 2030, though the name of the Philadelphia team remains unannounced.
The players
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is a prominent WNBA guard who has become one of the most recognizable players in women's basketball.
Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce is a Kansas City Chiefs tight end and a standout NFL player known for his long tenure with the franchise.
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and a three-time Super Bowl MVP widely regarded as one of the league's top players.
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment is the sports ownership group behind the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers, and owner of the approved WNBA expansion team.
The details
Clark named Tony Gonzalez as a Chiefs player she followed growing up and said she has been a Chiefs fan since before Kelce or Mahomes joined the team. Clark, who grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, about a three-hour drive from Kansas City, stated her ranking in response to a question from Kylie Kelce, wife of Jason Kelce.
Timeline
January 2025: Clark said on New Heights that she grew up in Des Moines.
April: The WNBA approved a Philadelphia expansion team owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
2028: A Cleveland WNBA expansion team is scheduled to debut.
2029: A Detroit WNBA expansion team is scheduled to debut.
2030: The Philadelphia WNBA expansion team is set to debut.
Season Trajectory
The WNBA is adding Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030, bringing the league to 18 teams. Clark's cross-sport fandom reflects how the league's rising stars are reaching audiences well beyond women's basketball.
The Philadelphia expansion team is set to debut in 2030 and will share a new arena being built in South Philadelphia. Fans following the WNBA can track the Cleveland and Detroit debuts in 2028 and 2029 as the league expands.
The takeaway
Clark's pick shows how the WNBA's biggest names are building fan bases across professional sports. As the league grows toward 18 teams, its stars will likely draw attention from football and other fan communities.
Further reading
For more on the league's growth, see the Basketball section.
