Spirit's Record Season Earns CEO Kim Stone Honor
Sports Business Journal names Stone to its inaugural Impact CEO list before the Spirit host Utah Royals on November 14.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Soccer
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Washington Spirit fans and season-ticket holders have a club-record year to point to: Sports Business Journal has named Spirit CEO Kim Stone to its inaugural Impact CEO list. Stone is the only NWSL executive among the 50 honorees.
Why it matters
For people who live here, the recognition is a measure of how far the Spirit have come as a District team, with more fans in the stands at Audi Field and more sponsors on the jersey. The honor is an outside endorsement of the front office's work, and it arrives as the club prepares for a home NWSL semifinal.
The Spirit drew more than 263,000 fans to Audi Field in 2026, with average weekend crowds above 17,000 and attendance up 87.5% since Stone took over in 2024. The club-reported figures show seven sellouts this season and a franchise valuation of $196 million, up 107% over 18 months, though the source does not explain the valuation method.
The players
Kim Stone
Chief executive of the Washington Spirit since 2024, named to Sports Business Journal's inaugural Impact CEO list.
Sports Business Journal
Sports industry publication whose editorial team selected the 50 Impact CEO honorees.
Washington Spirit
NWSL club playing its home matches at Audi Field in the District.
Utah Royals FC
NWSL club scheduled to face the Washington Spirit in the November 14, 2026 semifinal.
The details
Sports Business Journal's editorial team selected the 50 Impact CEO honorees after extensive industry research, and Stone is the only NWSL CEO on the list. The club cites a season of records, including selling every available uniform sponsorship position for the first time and becoming the NWSL's top-selling team for jerseys in 2026. The Spirit also re-signed Trinity Rodman to the largest contract in league history, and honorees will appear in the SBJ print edition on December 21, 2026.
Timeline
2024: Kim Stone becomes CEO of the Washington Spirit.
2026: The Spirit set attendance and sponsorship records at Audi Field.
November 14, 2026: The Spirit host Utah Royals FC in the NWSL semifinals.
December 21, 2026: Honorees are featured in the Sports Business Journal print edition.
The District View
The Spirit's climb tracks the wider NWSL push for bigger crowds and fuller sponsorship books, and the club's 87.5% attendance rise since 2024 is the kind of jump local soccer fans have been waiting for at Audi Field. Stone's recognition puts the District's women's soccer front office alongside sports executives from across the country.
If you are planning to go to Audi Field, the November 14 semifinal is the next chance to see the record-setting crowds up close, so check your ticket plans early. Fans who want to stay on top of the club's season can follow the Spirit's announcements for ticket and match-day details.
The takeaway
The Spirit's record 2026 season is the clearest sign yet that the District has a women's soccer club built to last. Watch the November 14 semifinal at Audi Field to see how the crowd and the team respond on the biggest stage of the year.
What happens next
The Spirit host Utah Royals FC in the NWSL semifinals on November 14, 2026, at Audi Field. Honorees also appear in the Sports Business Journal print edition on December 21, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the club's season, see Soccer coverage across the District.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.
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