In a city struggling with division, see how the Spirit are tackling hometown tensions by creating a welcoming space for fans — and how that’s translating to success on and off the pitch.
The Washington Spirit are proving themselves to be one of the best sides in the NWSL this season. Sitting second in the league table with a 9‑4‑4 record, the club has shown consistency, grit, and the kind of resilience that separates contenders from pretenders. Their recent victories might arrive in demanding, high‑pressure moments, but they demonstrate depth across the roster, tactical flexibility, and an unwavering belief from kickoff to the final whistle. Whether we’re talking big road matches or tight home contests at Audi Field, they keep delivering. It’s clear this isn’t just a team riding momentum season after season; they’ve built something more sustainable and fitting of a legacy franchise.
But what makes the Spirit’s impact felt much harder than just their results is what’s happening away from the pitch. This club has turned the game day experience into more than a sporting event — they’re creating an inclusive space for all, especially for marginalized communities. From their Pride night to the forthcoming Hispanic Heritage celebrations, the Spirit are building community in the name of sportsmanship. In a city currently wrestling with its own divisions, tensions, and calls for belonging, the Spirit offering a safe, welcoming environment feels not just refreshing but essential.
Standing up for residents of a city being used as a tester for more police presence is not a responsibility usually bestowed on a professional team. However, the Spirit took swift action speaking to fellow Washingtonians, releasing a statement detailing pride in our nation’s capital and pledging to stand by those who could be personally affected by the current actions of lawmakers.
It was a decision team execs said was made out of consciousness for its diverse and resolute base, which has supported the club through many of its own tribulations. This consciousness of diversity feels like a microcosm of Washington, D.C., right now. Being at Audi Field during their 1-1 draw against the Chicago Stars felt like an escape from the realities of the capital’s ongoing conflict. There, surrounded by over 16,600 fans chanting “Free D.C.” in between building momentum off a breakaway or rupturing eardrums when Sofia Cantore opened the scoring, there were zero fears of the current surroundings that still burden the 702,250 people who inhabit D.C. This is by design. A culture of inclusion all but means an organization will prosper outside of its performance.
Numbers Speak for Themselves
Your eyes aren’t deceiving you if you notice a significant uptick of fans on game day this season. According to the Sports Business Journal, the team increased its season ticket base by 71% for this year, a figure team president Kim Stone confirmed as the biggest year-over-year jump in all of the NWSL. Not to mention, that’s on top of the team’s 30% jump in attendance in 2024, Stone’s first year as president under the ownership of powerhouse entrepreneur Michele Kang, to 13,952 per game.
Stone added the club boosted sponsorship revenue by 18% for the 2025 season after taking sales in-house in fall 2024. New sponsors for 2025 include Audi, iHeartMedia, and James Creek Marina. While Octagon previously served as the team’s agency of record for sponsorship sales, it continues to maintain a relationship with the club.
Although numbers for this year haven’t been revealed, the 2024 season saw Washington experience record growth for its home games. Nearly this time last September, they eclipsed the 150,000-mark in this year’s total regular season home attendance, taking 11 games to do so. Not only are they just the fourth club in league history to do so, but the Spirit are the first non-West Coast club. Its largest turnout this season came in their home opener against the league-leading Kansas City Current, attracting 19,254 fans in the 2-0 defeat.
The team travels to Kansas City this weekend for an epic rematch with the Current, which boasts a commanding lead at the top points-wise. While the Spirit faithful won’t be in the majority at CPKC Stadium, there’s still plenty to laud about the club as they push toward another postseason run. There’s also no telling how testy things will get in D.C. in the months ahead, but a reassuring message can be promised: The Washington Spirit are leaders in sportsmanship, inclusion, and protection.
Read More
How On Holding Is Thriving By Targeting Ambitious, Affluent Consumers
Edgar Wright Brings Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’ Back to Its Novel Roots
Breaking Down Project B’s Bold Vision to Disrupt Women’s Basketball
Cadillac F1 Names TikTok’s Ahmed Iqbal as CMO, Racing Toward a Digital-First Future
The Horsemen Are Back, Reimagining the Power of Illusion in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
