Kansas City Explorers Merch | WTT Tennis Team
The Kansas City Explorers were a highly successful and deeply rooted franchise in the modern era of World Team Tennis (WTT), bringing high-energy co-ed professional tennis to Missouri from 1993 to 2012. Originally playing their home matches at the iconic Kemper Arena before moving to the cozy, custom-built Barney Allis Plaza, the Explorers quickly became a beloved fixture in the local sports landscape. Over their two-decade run, the team attracted stellar tennis royalty, featuring legends and Grand Slam champions such as Bob and Mike Bryan, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, and player-coach Tom Gullikson. The franchise reached its competitive pinnacle in 2010, capturing its sole King Trophy by defeating the New York Buzz in the WTT Finals. Financial shifts and a desire for a fresh start ultimately led the franchise to relocate to Texas to become the Texas Wild after the 2012 season.
