Parade For Washington Spirit Will Be At Beginning Of Next Season

WASHINGTON, DC — A parade for the Washington Spirit, the newly-crowned champions of the National Women's Soccer League, will happen — but not until the beginning of next season.

The club said Monday that this decision "allows our staff and players to take a much-deserved break for the holiday, and allows us the time to plan a memorable celebration worthy of this championship team."

This is the first trophy for the Spirit. The club was formed in 2011 as D.C. United Women and rebranded for the formation of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2012.

Washington beat the Chicago Red Stars in extra time on Saturday by a score of 2-1 in front of more than 10,300 people at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville.

Donald Wine II, a Spirit fan, traveled to Kentucky for the match and said the atmosphere was "terrific."

"It was great to see so many fans for both the Spirit, the Red Stars, and neutral fans there to support women’s soccer and the players on the field," Wine said. "Credit goes to Louisville for being terrific hosts."

Wine said he planned to travel for the match before the Spirit made the finals.

"My team making the final made it an even better experience, and winning it all was the icing on the cake," he said.

Spirit captain Andi Sullivan, a native of Norton, VA, scored for Washington after Chicago had already put one on the board. U.S. women's national team standout Kelley O'Hara headed home a cross from rising star Trinity Rodman in the 97th minute of the match. It was O'Hara's first goal of the season.

“I'm really proud of this team," O'Hara is quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "People have no idea what we've all gone through, and the resiliency and the perseverance of every single player on this team is pretty incredible.”

This was a season of challenges for the club, and for the league as a whole. In September, Spirit head coach Richie Burke stepped down, and then was fired. The club originally said Burke had health problems and would be reassigned to the front office once he recovered. Then, after former players reported Burke harassed and verbally abused them in a Washington Post article, he was suspended. The Spirit fired him after the league did an investigation.

A short time later and after much outcry from fans, CEO Steve Baldwin resigned and said he would sell his stake in the club. The Washington Post also reported Spirit executives knew about Burke’s behavior and did nothing.

A major investigation by The Athletic revealed sexual and verbal harassment by coaches at multiple NWSL clubs.

Players have also been fighting for a union contract, the team has dealt with injuries, and two matches were cancelled because of COVID-19.

Wine said he is proud of the team, and credited Spirit supporters for having the players' backs through the turbulent year.

"I think special kudos have to go to the Spirit’s supporters groups - Spirit Squadron, Rose Room Collective, and 202 Unique - for how they’ve continued to push the difficult conversations that needed and still need to be had," he said, "and for providing endless support for the players on the field despite the difficult moments provided by former coaches, the front office, and the league office as a whole."