Sunflower State

Sunflower State FC arrived in Kansas City with a different rhythm. Joey Lipoff, a former Rockhurst University midfielder, and his peers sought a higher ceiling, creating a semi-professional structure in 2020.

The men’s side moved quickly, joining the United Premier Soccer League before merging with Ozark FC to enter the National Premier Soccer League. The merger shifted the club’s trajectory, allowing it to compete against established regional names. While the men’s team scraped through the NPSL ranks—finishing third in both 2022 and 2023 without reaching the playoffs—they found a new path in 2025 by joining USL League Two. The women’s team, launched in 2022, won the UWS League 2 Central Conference title in their debut season.

Coaching stability helped anchor this rapid evolution. Nick McDonald, a former professional with the Kansas City Comets, took charge of the men’s squad and the youth club, bringing a layer of experience to players who were still finding their footing. The club also produced notable talent: Akolade Gbadebo, drafted third overall by the Dallas Sidekicks in 2024, and Cali Schechinger, who signed with Birkirkara FC in Malta.

The club remains rooted in its venue. Mill Valley Football Field, also known as Mill Valley Soccer Field, hosts the matches without a specified seating capacity, keeping the focus on the game rather than the infrastructure.