Raven Jemison Leads Kansas City Current As New Team President

The club appointed Jemison as new team president ahead of its inaugural stadium season.

The Kansas City Current soccer club tapped sports business leader Raven Jemison as its next team president.

In Jemison’s new position, she will oversee operations as the franchise prepares to open an inaugural stadium season.

“The Current owners have a vision to become the world’s best women’s club and are willing to invest towards that goal. I’m excited to utilize my background to build this rising club and league at a pivotal time,” Jemison shared about her appointment, according to a press release. The club’s leadership shift comes just ahead of the Current occupying its own dedicated CPKC Stadium, which is expected to be completed in 2024.

Kansas City co-owner Angie Long praised the new president as “a strategic executive with best-in-class training…extremely intelligent, driven and someone that people want to follow.” Fellow owner Chris Long also lauded Jemison for her “incredible experience” with multiple sports leagues.

Jemison’s appointment comes as former team president Allison Howard transitions into an advisor role for the club founded in December 2020 under the ownership of Angie, Chris, Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes.

She brings executive experience from several major sports leagues, most recently the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. During her three-year Bucks tenure as executive vice president of Business Operations, the club won division titles and the 2021 championship while achieving impressive growth across marketing, partnerships, and more. Jemison spearheaded league-wide initiatives with the NBA to provide “valuable insight to specific teams” on optimizing business operations from ticketing to marketing.

The Black, queer sports executive whose diverse sports background spans the NHL, MLB, NFL, and NBA, recently addressed representation in the sports arena. As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Jemison shared the release of her new book, “More than Representation: The Cheat Codes to Own Your Seat at the Table.” The book discusses the importance of removing barriers and providing inclusive environments for people in the workplace.

The Kansas City Current, an American professional women’s team based in Kansas City, Kansas, competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).