So, we already know of how DCU didn't let the Spirit into an open day at Audi when NWSL told the Spirit that Segra wasn't ready for hosting the Dash. Now, it sounds like DCU will be fielding their own women's team in the reboot of USL's W-League: NEWS: The USL will launch a lower-division women's league in '22. An announcement could come this wk.Among the league's founding clubs: one owned by @dcunited. They'll field a women's team for the first time since '12. W/@jeffrueter & @itsmeglinehan: https://t.co/6Ujq0JgV4z— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) June 7, 2021 Really makes it sound like there's some serious friction between the two pro organizations... =-S
But the women's team will still be part of the second tier and not part of NWSL. Sounds like all bark and no bite.
Well, for one, the W League won't be DII since it's not a pro league. For two, it sure as hell isn't "all bark no bite" since this league is happening and this team will form. Third, you miss the point: DCU is investing in WoSo other than cooperating with the Spirit, on the backdrop of explicitly NOT cooperating with the Spirit when the Spirit needed a favor. Even if the new W League team is an entirely different level, they're already talking about that team also sharing time at Audi field, meaning the Spirit (as an outside renter) will have another in-house team to schedule around.
Reviving this thread a bit since it matches the topic of a new Athletic article on a bit of a deeper history of the relationship between the Spirit and DCU: https://theathletic.com/2872009/202...eds-interest-in-buying-the-washington-spirit/ DCU was apparently offered the Spirit essentially for free when Lynch was initially looking for new owners. They didn't take the offer at the time, which looks somewhat nice considering the Spirit's turmoil right now, but then again the Spirit wouldn't be in turmoil if Baldwin wasn't needed in the first place. The "friction" I was discussing in the first post seems almost entirely on Baldwin's shoulders, too, with Kang instead presenting a rather palatable option for potential future collaboration.
Another wrinkle... https://theathletic.com/2911748/202...id-dispute-with-d-c-united-over-facility-use/
And now, with Baldwin out and Kang taking over, it seems like any "friction" between DCU and the Spirit will likely melt away! https://theathletic.com/3120964/202...chele-kang-ben-olsen-the-soccerplex-and-more/ Some highlights: -Jason Levin (DCU exec) may be one of several people interested in buying a minority stake in the new Spirit ownership group -Likely some vertical structure between the Spirit and DCU's planned USL Super League team -Ben Olson staying on a president, having done a fairly good job expanding operations and acting as de facto GM recently Not to mention that DCU publicly congratulated Kang on the purchase in their social media the other day too - definitely not something I would've expected!
Kang in the past has discussed the possibility of building a Spirit-specific training center somewhere, similar to what other clubs (including in her portfolio) are doing/have done. That's gonna be put on the back-burner, apparently, as Steve Goff is reporting that the Spirit and DCU have agreed to a contract extension for the Spirit to continue training at Inova Performance Complex in Leesburg, Va., for several years by the sound of it.