The Washington Spirit announced on October 24 that it will continue and expand the Coaching Mentorship Program in the new year. The club will accept 10 new members, seven more than the inaugural class of 2024. The 2025 class will consist of youth, high school and college coaches. 

Mentees will attend training sessions, matches and a sports performance seminar, shadow a coach for a day, and meet with Spirit President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Mark Krikorian. 

The Mentorship Program launched in 2023, aiming to increase the number of female soccer coaches in the DMV area. 

Despite the increasing number of female players in America and worldwide, the number of female coaches is still disproportionately low. Factors including gender bias, unequal pay and low support for mother coaches are perpetuating a gap in coaching roles. 

According to an article from Sportsology Group, 12 out of 23 coaches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup were female, which hasn’t changed since the 2019 World Cup.

Washington Spirit’s Coaching Mentorship Program tackles the issue by providing pathways and resources to promote the development of female coaches. 

Participants who are interested in the 2025 Coaching Mentorship Program can apply here. The deadline is January 10, 2025. Applicants selected for interviews will be notified in February. 

Yaba Ahounou

Yaba Ahounou is a VCU graduate with a degree in broadcast journalism and international studies.