
2026 Event Recap
The Kansas City Current hosted its fifth annual Sideline the Stigma event, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) at CPKC Stadium. One hundred high school-aged female student-athletes from the Kansas City metro joined the Current and Blue KC for a full day of programming and workshops centered around empowering young women to prioritize their mental health.
This year’s event featured a variety of interactive sessions for participants, including a brief fitness program, small-group activities, panel discussions and, for the second consecutive year, a keynote speaker. In addition, several all-star female athletes, industry professionals and Kansas City natives helped lead discussions that fostered open, honest conversations about mental health as both panelists and facilitators.
The 2026 Sideline the Stigma session facilitators and panelists included Lindsay Kobolt, Krishna Lee, Betty Lennox, Betsy Maxfield, Angel McGee, Tiffani McReynolds, Merideth Rose and Fabiola Riobé. More information about the group can be found HERE. This year’s theme was “From Pressure to Power,” highlighting strategies and techniques to maintain confidence, resilience and positive wellbeing even in adverse situations.
Tuesday’s event featured 100 female high school-aged athletes from 23 different high schools across the Kansas City metro. It also marked the third time the event was held at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team.
“As the only locally based not-for-profit health insurer serving the Kansas City area for close to 90 years, we are proud to partner with the Kansas City Current to improve the mental health and well-being of female high school athletes in the communities we serve,” said Blue KC Behavioral Health Program Manager Rebekah Adams. “We hope that by having open conversations about mental health, we can help these young athletes be successful not only on the field, but also in the game of life.”
Lee, a Kansas Citian with an extensive background in athletics as both a decorated competitor and seasoned coach, spoke to attendees between sessions as the keynote speaker. She was captain of the gold medal-winning 2022 U.S. Women’s National Tackle Football Team and a decorated track and field athlete at the collegiate level, earning three All-American honors at the University of Missouri. In June 2026, she was named the inaugural women’s flag football head coach at Park University.
Additionally, attendees got to take part in an interactive panel discussion featuring KC Current players Alana Cook and Haley Hopkins. They were joined by McReynolds, a USA Track & Field athlete and Kansas City native and Lennox, the sixth overall pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft, 2000 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2004 WNBA Finals MVP and 2004 WNBA Champion.
Recap Video
Photo Gallery
2026 Sideline The Stigma Session Facilitators and Panelists
Mindful moment
KC Current and Blue KC go all access with the team, taking you inside the huddle, and behind our season's big moments to see and hear how important behavioral health is for professional athletes.
INSPIRING HOPE
The good news: There are many ways to find help if you are someone living with a behavioral health condition. There are different types of treatments available for behavioral health and substance use conditions. Most people who receive treatment for behavioral health conditions can recover fully and live a symptom-free and purposeful life.
We each have a role to play. By educating ourselves about the signs and symptoms of common behavioral health conditions, we can help a friend or loved one who may be experiencing a behavioral health challenge.
People are more likely to seek help if someone close to them suggests it. Helping someone get help early, when symptoms start, can prevent a behavioral health crisis, job loss, school problems, relationship trouble, or other negative consequences.
WHAT EACH OF US CAN DO


WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID®?
Mental Health First Aid® (MHFA) is the initial help offered to a person developing a mental health or substance use challenge or experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves.
Those who complete MHFA training and become MHFA will be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA Action Plan when a person shows early or worsening signs of a mental health challenge, and apply the appropriate steps of the MHFA Action Plan in crisis situations.
There are people living with mental health conditions in every community where you live, work, and play. Knowing how to reach out and provide that initial help and support to someone in need helps to create a happier, healthier, and safer community for all. That's why teachers, supervisors, first responders, caretakers, co-workers, journalists, parents, and even celebrities have joined the Mental Health First Aid® movement.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is also offering Mental Health First Aid® to Blue KC’s school district partners.
Resources
Kansas City Area
Johnson County Mental Health Crisis Line — Johnson County, Kansas
Wyandot Center Mental Health Crisis Line — Wyandotte County, Kansas
Heartland RADAC (alcohol and substance use) — Kansas
CommCare Mental Health Crisis Line — Kansas City, Missouri
First Call (alcohol and substance use) — Missouri
Kansas City Center for Inclusion: Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ Community Center & Resource Hub—KC Metro
National Bahvioral Health Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline

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