#WeWantToKnow: Kat Stefankiewicz

Kat Stefankiewicz is the lively and energetic in-game host for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, a position that subsequently followed her five years as a dancer for the Toronto Raptors Pak. I’m glad I got to spend time getting to know her because Kat has such a cool, relaxed vibe about her, is friendly and easygoing, and it’s a pleasure for me to introduce you to her!

Kat grew up in a very athletic household with a brother who played rep hockey and a sister who was a dancer. Kat herself was also a competitive dancer and grew up playing rep baseball. Needless to say, there were lots of sports in her house so it’s no wonder she ended up in a career in basketball! But it was actually to Kat’s surprise that she ended up where she did — she attended Sheridan College for musical theatre performance and thought she wanted to be an artist. But dance called her back and she joined the Raptors Dance Pak right after finishing school and fell in love with not just the sport, but the culture that surrounded it. In her fourth year of dancing, Kat did a screen test for Raptors TV and found herself the in-game host the following year.

Kat loves feeding off the energy of the fans at the games and feels right at home in the basketball world. She enjoys hosting and interviewing, and also takes pleasure working behind the scenes writing and producing. In addition to in-game hosting, Kat presents a series on the Toronto Raptors YouTube channel called Raptors Rundown, interviewing players and giving a behind-the-scenes look at the team and the games. In a way, Kat has come full circle, as there is a performance element to what she does that is similar to musical theatre and she gets to enjoy the best of both worlds. Kat is engaging and relatable, someone you just instantly want to be friends with because she’s so cool and laid back…but I think what ultimately makes her so appealing is her desire to leave a positive impact on someone else’s day. Kat is warm, friendly, athletic and fun — the perfect personality for an in-game host! With the NBA Playoffs upon us (and the Raptors opening the first playoff game tomorrow, Saturday April14th) you’ll get to see a lot more of Kat, so tune in!

Want more? Here’s what #WeWantToKnow about Kat:

I can't start my morning without...a coffee and some killer tracks that amp me up for the day ahead. I'm the type to wake up way before I need to because moments alone are precious and it puts me in the right place to attack my day.

I have a weakness for...shopping. From picking out game gear to decorating my condo, it's a creative outlet that I look forward to tapping into more deeply in the future. I've always had a desire to be a stylist and flipping homes is one of many items on my bucket list.

Most people don't know that... my first language was Polish and that my family and close friends call me Kasia (polish for Katherine). I admire that my family has kept up with Polish traditions and I hope to continue them with my own.

Currently reading... Brida by Paolo Coelho. I admit, I have read it four times, but his words often fill in the blanks of the unknown in my mind and are soothing. He is brilliant, I recommend his works often to others.

I want...everyone to find their happy place. That's all! I'd be happy knowing that you have because it's a pretty incredible place to be.

Thanks Kat, for participating in #WeWantToKnow!