Supporting our hometown team has never looked so chic. This season, we are thrilled to collaborate with the Kansas City Current on a collection that blends elevated Helen Jon swimwear with unmistakable Current pride.
We spoke with co-founder and co-owner Angie Long, a long-time friend, about the vision behind the team, the rise of women’s professional soccer, the importance of investing in female athletes, and the “why” behind this meaningful women-led collaboration.
The Vision Behind the Team
What first sparked the idea for the team, and what did you hope it could become?
The idea to bring women’s soccer to Kansas City came in 2019 during the Women’s World Cup while we were in France. We witnessed the global power of women’s soccer while watching the matches and live cut-ins of KC’s Power and Light District on the broadcast.
Inspired by that passion, the crowds, the fans, and the support, we knew that KC deserved a women’s soccer team and could absolutely support it. So after getting advice from a multitude of trusted friends and colleagues, we launched the team in 2020.
But it was about more than launching a team; it was about creating something meaningful and lasting. I knew that women athletes deserved the same level of investment, respect, and visibility as anyone else in professional sports. Kansas City felt like the right place to build that vision because of its heart, its community, and its willingness to believe in something bold.
My hope was that the Current would become a model for how women’s sports could be built with intention, care, and ambition. In 2024, we witnessed the impact of having the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional team in CPKC Stadium—and now our goal is to become the best women’s football club in the world, while continuing to set the bar for women’s sports along the way.
What have been some of your favorite moments with the team so far?
There have been so many, but the moments that stick with me most are the ones that feel deeply human.
Watching world-class players step onto the pitch at CPKC Stadium knowing they’re supported in front of a sell-out crowd. Seeing young girls and boys in the stands wearing Current jerseys and realizing this team already means something to them.
And of course, opening day at CPKC Stadium; that was a moment of collective pride, not just for our club, but for women’s sports everywhere.
Empowering Women On & Off the Field
The Current has become a powerful platform for elevating women athletes. Why was it important to you to build something that supports women on and off the field?
Because women deserve more than just an opportunity; they deserve visibility, investment, and a platform that truly amplifies their impact.
From our players on the pitch to the artists we collaborate with, the women leading our front office or maintaining our pitches, those who led our construction projects, and the chefs shaping our culinary experience, women are driving excellence across every part of our organization. It was important to me that the Kansas City Current reflect that reality and celebrate it.
This club was built to elevate women, not just locally, but on a national and international stage. When you give women the resources, respect, and space to lead, the result is something powerful. That’s what women, and female athletes in particular, have always deserved, and it should be the standard.
What advice would you give to women who want to invest in, build, or champion women-led spaces, whether in sports, business, or beyond?
Trust your instincts and don’t wait for permission. Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, and stay rooted in your values. Building something meaningful takes intent, belief, and courage, but when women invest in women, the return is exponential, not just financially but also within your community.
Helen Jon x Kansas City Current Collection
What drew you to Helen Jon, and what made this collaboration feel like a natural fit?
Helen Jon shares so many of the values that matter to us, including craftsmanship, confidence, and empowering women. As a women-founded swimwear brand, Helen Jon’s designs celebrate strength and individuality, which felt perfectly aligned with the spirit of the Current.
The partnership with Helen Jon to create pieces that bring that confidence to the poolside or at the beach is another way we leverage the unique power of the Current brand.
What do you hope women feel when they put on a piece from this collection for the first time?
Our goal is to always design or make merchandise available that, when a fan puts it on, makes them feel proud, seen, and incredibly stylish. The design of the Helen Jon pieces does just that.
From the map of our city that aligns with our kit design to the coordinating sarong and accessories, the collection will immediately connect fans to the pride we feel in our city and our team. And they are definitely going to be on the “best dressed on the beach” list in the suit.
Most importantly, the quality of every item means that these pieces can be a part of our fans’ beachwear for many summers to come.
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The Helen Jon x Kansas City Current collaboration is a celebration of strength, style, and the power of women showing up boldly, and we couldn’t be more proud. Rooted in hometown spirit and designed with intention, each piece reflects the heart of a team and a city that continues to raise the bar.
Explore the Helen Jon x Kansas City Current swimwear collection to discover swimwear and accessories, and be sure to tag us on Instagram wearing your gear—we can’t wait to see how you style it!
Xo,
Missy & Gwyn