BOYDS, Md. — If 2015 was a banner year for women’s soccer in America and around the world, 2016 is set up to be a pivotal one in defining the future of the game. But before the world tunes in en masse for three weeks this August in Rio, there is business to be attended to on the club level, where the Washington Spirit embark on their fourth National Women’s Soccer League campaign.
Four is a significant number for the league. Its predecessor, Women’s Professional Soccer, lasted just three seasons before ceasing operations in early 2012 and never exceeded seven teams. Before that, Women’s United Soccer Association also played three seasons, from 2001-03, with eight teams. The NWSL has grown to 10 with designs on future growth entering.
The league reaped immediate benefits from last year’s World Cup victory, with attendance spiking across the country as stars returned to their club teams. The Spirit filled the Maryland SoccerPlex for many of their late games, drawing an overflow crowd of 5,708 (capacity is 5,200) for their finale against Seattle Reign FC last September.
While the Spirit may eventually outgrow the SoccerPlex, new head coach and general manager Jim Gabarra, who spent 10 years in Washington as the head coach of the Washington Freedom, appreciates the home and community the club has built for itself just outside of Germantown.
“I think at some point, the end of the season, we outgrow this place,” Gabarra said before the team’s opening game this Saturday against the Boston Breakers at 7 p.m. “But I don’t think it should be, ‘well, let’s move to our fans.’ We’ve got to make this a destination, and people have to make the commitment to buy tickets.”
Just as the number of fans coming through the turnstiles has risen, so has the NWSL’s media exposure. The league announced a new television deal with Fox Sports 1 Thursday, through which the network will televise a trio of regular season games, as well as the two semifinals and championship game. There may be other televised games in the works as well, as the deal is nonexclusive, opening up the possibility of ESPN or another network jumping in for select games.
For Crystal Dunn, she hopes the return of the focus to the club game before the craziness of the Olympics takes hold will help people turn the page on the events of last year and start looking forward.
“We kind of lose sight of the fact that it’s a new year,” she said. “I was really happy with what has happened with me personally in 2015, but it’s about new goals, new team, new coaching staff, and I’m excited for this year.”
The Spirit’s roster is full of familiar faces, including U.S. Women’s National Team members Ali Krieger and Crystal Dunn, both of whom are expected to compete at the Rio Olympics. Diana Matheson — who scored eight goals and pitched in six assists in 2014 before an injury-derailed 2015 campaign — is back in the midfield, with the talented youngster Megan Oyster returning for her second year along the back line.
While losing Ashlynn Harris (backup to Hope Solo on the USWNT in goal) will hurt, the Spirit have reason to believe they can return to the playoffs for a third straight season. But just being back in uniform together after six months apart — for that historic fourth season — is reason enough for excitement.
“That’s why we’re here. We love the game, we want to play,” Krieger said. “I think having that intensity, having that great atmosphere, playing in front of all the fans, playing for this club, this is where we want to be.”
