WASHINGTON, DC, April 22, 2026  — DC Soccer Club (DCSC) is proud to announce a landmark partnership with the Washington Spirit, marking the first collaboration of its kind between the Spirit and a youth soccer organization. Beginning this fall, the Washington Spirit will be integrated across DC Soccer Club’s programs — representing a visible and meaningful connection between the professional and youth game, and a shared commitment to expanding access and inspiring the next generation of players.

This integration reflects a thoughtful approach to embedding the Spirit’s presence within the club experience, ensuring a consistent connection across every match and moment on the field. <<< WATCH OUR FULL PARTNERSHIP INTERVIEW VIDEO >>>

DC Soccer Club families have long been strong supporters of the Washington Spirit, consistently showing up in large numbers to cheer on DC’s hometown professional women’s team. In 2025, the Spirit recognized DC Soccer Club for outstanding community ticket sales and match-day attendance — a reflection of the club’s strong connection to the Spirit and shared commitment to growing the women’s game.

This partnership brings together two organizations deeply aligned in mission and values — both dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for girls and boys to play, stay in the game, and see themselves reflected in the sport. DC Soccer Club has the largest girls’ participation in soccer in the city, and in the past year alone saw 12% growth in girls’ registration across its programs. The club has made strides in increasing access with free clinics for girls, and this partnership with the Spirit will accelerate those efforts by leveraging the power of a professional women’s soccer team as a source of inspiration and opportunity.

Jane Dawber, Director of Recreational Programs at DC Soccer Club — which serves thousands of young players across the District each season — emphasized the powerful message the partnership sends to young athletes.

“The opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a club like the Washington Spirit — a leading voice in women’s professional soccer — is transformative for our players. Having the Washington Spirit represented within our program is incredibly meaningful. It reminds our young athletes every time they step onto the field that they are part of something bigger. We want every girl to feel like she belongs in this game and has role models who look like her to aspire to.”

The Spirit are not just leaders on the field — they are powerfully engaged in community and youth initiatives that connect the professional game with young players across the region. Through collaborative youth outreach, camps, clinics, and engagement opportunities, this partnership will create pathways for young athletes to experience the sport in deeper, more meaningful ways.

RaShauna Hamilton, Vice President of Fan Growth and Community for the Washington Spirit, said the partnership reflects the Spirit’s commitment to connecting the professional game with youth players across the region.

“DC Soccer Club has been such a vital Spirit partner connecting us to youth soccer players in our community and we’re thrilled to be expanding on that relationship. DCSC's work in the DMV supporting young girls in the sport and keeping them involved is incredibly impressive and we at the Spirit look forward to continuing to maximize our involvement.”

DC Soccer Club Executive Director Greg Andrulis said the collaboration reflects the club’s broader mission to expand opportunity and inspire young players throughout the District. “Our mission at DC Soccer Club centers on access, inclusion, and community. Partnering with the Washington Spirit strengthens that mission through collaboration across a variety of initiatives designed to grow the game in the District and by giving all of our players another reason to dream big, stay involved, and push their game further.”

Matt Arrington, DC Soccer Club’s Director of Soccer, said the partnership reinforces the values and standards the club hopes to instill across its player development pathway. “This partnership highlights our belief that soccer is a place for everyone. The Spirit are world-class athletes and role models. Aligning with them sends a powerful message about the standard of excellence we want every player in our programs to see and pursue.”

As part of the partnership, select collaborative initiatives will support youth outreach, soccer clinics, match-day experiences, coach engagement opportunities, and community events, creating a pipeline of inspiration and development from youth fields to the professional stage. Additional digital and community activations will further amplify the shared goal of growing soccer participation across DC. These efforts will begin to take shape this spring and early summer, with details to be shared in the coming weeks.

Families can get involved right away at DC Soccer Club’s Club Night on April 24 at Audi Field, coming together to support the Washington Spirit and be inspired by the professional women’s game.

This partnership represents a meaningful step toward closing the participation gap between girls and boys in soccer, expanding access to the sport, and inspiring the next generation of players to see themselves in the game.

<<< WATCH OUR FULL PARTNERSHIP INTERVIEW VIDEO >>>

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ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012, and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) , the fastest-growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the club, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

ABOUT DC SOCCER CLUB
DC Soccer Club is the largest independent youth soccer organization in Washington, D.C., serving more than 7,500 players each year. Our mission is to develop character and strengthen community by providing accessible, high-quality soccer experiences for youth of all backgrounds and abilities. Guided by our core values of Intention, Inclusion, Collaboration, and Community, we create opportunities that foster growth both on and off the field.

We champion inclusion by ensuring every child has a place to learn, play, and belong—supported by one of the city’s most comprehensive soccer programs and the leading provider of girls’ participation in DC. Each season, we invest in significant financial assistance, coach and referee education, and sustainable programming that unite players, families, coaches and volunteers in a shared love of the game.