CELEBRITY
Chiefs Star Patrick Mahomes raised a glass to women’s sports in a recently posted video at the Time100 Gala in April.
In April, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named to TIME Magazine’s 2024 TIME100, which recognizes the 100 most influential people of the year. This is Mahomes’ third participation on the yearly list. This year, Mahomes spoke at the TIME100 Gala and gave a toast to the rise and future of women’s sports.
Tonight, I’d like to raise a glass to a new era in sports,” Mahomes said. “An era in which the women’s game is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. For a long time, there was this well-meaning but dismissive notion that you should care about women’s sports because they reflect your ideals. And yes, there is some merit to that. But the true reason you should care about women’s sports is that they are amazing.”
And just Google A’ja Wilson’s highlights and you’ll see what I’m talking about,” Mahomes continued, as the video stream cut to Wilson, another TIME100 2024 member. “Talent, tales, and personalities. Women’s sports provide it all. And I believe people are finally figuring it out. The women’s NCAA basketball championship was ESPN’s highest-rated college basketball game ever. A million more people watched Coco Gauff win the US Open than the men’s final. And leagues including as the WNBA and NWSL are signing massive new rights deals and anticipating major expansions.