Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium isn’t just a venue—it’s a groundbreaking beacon for women’s sports. Opened in 2024 as the first stadium built exclusively for a professional women’s sports team, the NWSL’s KC Current, this 11,500-seat gem on the Missouri River represents a seismic shift in how we value female athletes. With its state-of-the-art facilities and intimate design, it’s a stage where history is made, and on May 2, 2025, it hosted a night that rewrote the record books for women’s rugby in America. But what made this night so special?
Enter Ilona Maher and the USA Women’s Rugby team, who stormed into CPKC Stadium for a Pacific Four Series clash against Canada. The result? A jaw-dropping 10,518 fans packed the stands, obliterating the previous U.S. women’s rugby attendance record of 2,145 set in 2024 at SaberCats Stadium in Houston. The electric atmosphere, fueled by Kansas City’s passion for women’s sports, turned the match into a celebration of progress.
The KC Current’s Instagram post captured the moment perfectly, proclaiming, “#KCBABY making history in women’s sports…again ” alongside a shot of Maher hyping up the crowd. So, how did Maher see this moment coming? Weeks before the match, Ilona Maher, the Olympic bronze medalist and social media juggernaut with nearly 5 million Instagram followers, predicted the historic turnout.
“We’re going to set an attendance record for a women’s rugby game in the USA, and it will be in the first stadium built solely for women’s sport,” she declared. “We can’t wait to play for you, Kansas City!” Her words weren’t just hype—they were a rallying cry that galvanized fans, players, and the city.
Maher’s confidence stemmed from her deep belief in the moment’s significance, both for rugby and women’s sports at large. But if you think she is just there for the records, then you’re mistaken. No, she is single-handedly changing the very basis of rugby.
Ilona Maher is driving significant interest in women’s rugby
Maher, a 28-year-old Vermont native, has become the face of American rugby. Fresh off a bronze medal with the USA Sevens team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she’s leveraged her platform, bolstered by a runner-up finish on Dancing with the Stars, to shine a spotlight on her sport. Her visit to the KC Current earlier that week showcased her allies across women’s sports, as she mingled with NWSL stars at CPKC Stadium.
The Current’s Instagram post echoed her excitement, noting that Maher and USA Rugby were poised to “break the attendance record for a women’s rugby game in the USA.” Yet, what does this record mean for the future of rugby? The 10,518 fans who filled CPKC Stadium weren’t just there for a game; they were part of a movement. Maher’s vision for the sport’s growth is clear: she wants young girls to see rugby as a viable, vibrant path.
Her pre-game quote set the tone, but she can connect with fans who turned anticipation into reality. So, what’s next for Maher and women’s rugby? With Maher back in the USA 15s lineup and Kansas City eyeing a bid for the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup, the momentum is undeniable. Maher’s words and actions have lit a fire, but the challenge now is sustaining that blaze. Will this historic night propel women’s rugby to new heights in the USA?
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