The Washington Spirit American professional soccer team plays in National Women's Soccer League. It is based within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. It is the continuation and expansion of the D.C. Spirit and is owned by Tim Kang. It currently has 15 wins, and one loss.
In 2021 Tim Kang became majority shareholder of Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit's controlling stake has changed hands, with the Washington-based businesswoman Tim Kang now the team's majority owner. Steve Baldwin, the former team owner, initially opposed the deal. But the billionaire finally agreed to sell his stake. During the ownership struggle, the Seattle Spirit were suspended from league governance, but a spokesperson for the NWSL said the team was reinstated. Kang has expressed a desire to modernize the Spirit's business practices and secure a permanent professional training facility.
Kang has a long history of working with equity issues. He hopes to translate that message into the sports world. He wants to emphasize the talent of female employees and athletes. Spirit's supporters have been an integral part of the revitalization and he hopes to attract soccer fans back to the stadium in 2022.
Steve Baldwin was accused by nepotism as well as retaliation
The Washington spirit's players have made it clear they do not trust Baldwin. A group representing the Spirit's players have demanded that Baldwin give up his ownership stake and sell it to "Michele", the equity partner. They state that the current team leadership has been toxic and Baldwin must be removed.
Baldwin was asked by Spirit players for permission to sell the team. He also resigned as managing partner, CEO, and chairman. Many players also demanded that the team be sold to a woman owner. This has prompted the National Women's Soccer League to launch a probe into the Washington spirit. Although some players were harassed, the league found that no one was taking any action to stop it. Baldwin was also being investigated for hiring friends to fill unqualified positions.
After a 15-game losing streak, Kris Ward was fired by the Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit have fired Kris Ward, the head coach. The decision came after a lengthy 15-game winless streak and a deteriorating relationship between Ward and the team's players. According to an unnamed source, the team's player were forced to attend a retreat with staff members without Ward this weekend. The Spirit's governing council was notified about the alleged misconduct, and it said that it would investigate.
The Spirit had a record of 1-6-9 before the streak. However, a winless streak could help balance the books. Ward, after all, helped the Spirit win the first national championship since 2012 when they joined the league. After a 15-game losing streak the Spirit will need to find a new coach.
Ward's assistant coach Tom Torres was appointed to replace him
Torres has a varied and extensive background, including being the head coach at Barcelona Northern Virginia Academy and as the assistant coach for Washington Spirit in the NWSL. He is a highly skilled and experienced coach, with over 25 years' of experience in the field. He will be working closely with technical staff, club leadership, and report directly to Christian Cziommer, Technical Director.
The Washington Spirit will be competing in their fifth season in the National Women's Soccer League as well as the inaugural season of the U.S. Soccer Girls' Development Academy, with four teams in Maryland and Virginia.