The Washington Spirit and ESPN 630 will team up to broadcast 13 regular season matches in the Spirit’s first-ever radio partnership, the club announced today. The partnership will begin on Saturday, May 18 when the Washington Spirit faces Angel City FC and will extend throughout the 2024 season. Match audiocasts will stream live directly to WashingtonSpirit.com, as well as the ESPN 630 app and website.
“There is a demand for Washington Spirit matches and partnering with a renowned brand such as ESPN 630 was a great partnership decision to ensure the Spirit is as accessible as possible for our fans,” said Kim Stone, Washington Spirit CEO. “Like our brand, this partnership is inclusive, providing matches for fans who are on-the-go to those with vision impairments. We want to make tuning into Spirit matches the best possible experience for everyone outside of attending a match in person.”
Helming the broadcast in the play-by-play role is Bram Weinstein, while former Spirit player Gaby Vincent will act as the color commentator. Michael Minnich will provide additional commentary during broadcasts and serve as an alternate for both Weinstein and Vincent (the three are pictured above in that order). Weinstein, lauded in his role as the radio Voice of the Washington Commanders since 2020, is a native of the DMV with decades of experience as a trusted sports media personality. As the host of the Bram Weinstein Show, airing weekdays on ESPN 630, Weinstein is leading voice on all things sports in the Washington area. Previously, he worked at ESPN from 2008 to 2015, where he was an anchor for SportsCenter. His other experience includes time at CNN’s Washington Bureau and WTEM.
Vincent, who played in the NWSL for four seasons, retired after playing for the Washington Spirit in 2022. In four years at the University of Louisville, she started in every match that she appeared in, earning honors such as All-ACC Third Team and ACC Honor Roll. Following her professional soccer career, Vincent served as an intern in the Spirit’s Community Impact department where her work in the advocacy realm earned her a position at the DC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
As one of the world’s foremost authorities on Washington Spirit and NWSL history, Minnich brings a wealth of experience and intimate knowledge of the team to the broadcast. Minnich broadcasted Washington Freedom (WPS) matches in 2010 and acted as the first-ever television broadcaster for the Washington Spirit in 2013. He has experience in both play-by-play and color commentary roles at the collegiate and professional level.
“We are incredibly excited to join forces with the Washington Spirit and bring the excitement of women’s soccer to our listeners,” said Bill Hess, Program Director at ESPN 630 AM. “At ESPN 630 AM, we are dedicated to showcasing the best in sports, and partnering with the Spirit aligns perfectly with our values. We look forward to providing comprehensive coverage of the Washington Spirit and amplifying their impact both on and off the field.”
Along with match audiocasts, this historic partnership will offer fans a dedicated podcast channel, “Spirit Spotlight,” available on WashingtonSpirit.com and coming soon wherever you get your podcasts. The show, paying homage to the Spirit’s “Spotlight” kits, will be fans’ go-to spot for exclusive Spirit content, including postgame analysis, as well as weekly interviews with special Spirit guests.
Dropping every Friday night, fans can hear an exclusive interview with Bram Weinstein and a surprise Spirit guest. This interview will also air live every Friday at 3:40 p.m. ET on ESPN 630 AM during a weekly and dedicated Washington Spirit segment on The Bram Weinstein Show. Following every match, fans can listen to Spirit Spotlight for a Spirit postgame show, recapping each match with postgame press conference availability from a Spirit coach and two players, as well as analysis and commentary.
In conjunction with this announcement, the podcast channel will feature archived interviews from throughout the 2024 season ahead of the first official Spirit Spotlight episode airing on Friday, May 17 with an exclusive guest, as well as an interview with the Washington Spirit Radio Network team – Bram, Gaby and Mike. Additionally, ESPN 630 will feature prominently on the concourse at select Washington Spirit home matches throughout the season, offering unique activations and hosting a can’t-miss custom Spirit jersey giveaway.
Throughout the season, fans can hear the radio broadcast throughout the concourse and in select spaces at Audi Field, so you don’t miss a moment of the action. Fans are also encouraged to bring a headset while following the action on the pitch or on television. Any additional Spirit matches added to the ESPN 630 AM broadcast schedule, including potential 2024 NWSL Playoffs contests, will be announced at a later date. To learn more about the Washington Spirit radio audiocasts and for a comprehensive list of ways to tune, visit washingtonspirit.com/matchdayguide/how-to-listen/. Schedule below:
Saturday, May 18th
Washington Spirit v. Angel City FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
Friday, May 24th
Washington Spirit v. Seattle Reign FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 8th
Washington Spirit at Utah Royals FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 15th
Washington Spirit v. San Diego Wave FC
7:30 p.m. EDT
Sunday, June 23rd
Washington Spirit at NJ/NY Gotham FC
12:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 29th
Washington Spirit v. North Carolina Courage
7:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, July 6th
Washington Spirit at Bay FC
10:00 p.m. EDT
Sunday, August 25th
Washington Spirit v. KC Current
12:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, September 7th
Washington Spirit v. Portland Thorns FC
12:30 p.m. EDT
Friday, September 20th
Washington Spirit at KC Current
8:00 p.m. EDT
Sunday, October 13th
Washington Spirit v. Racing Louisville FC
5:00 p.m. EDT
Sunday, October 20th
Washington Spirit v. Chicago Red Stars
5:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, November 2nd
Washington Spirit at North Carolina Courage
7:30 p.m. EDT
*Fans can expect Spirit broadcasts with ESPN 630 to begin at the listed times above. Tune-in information will be made public on Washington Spirit channels prior to these games as well.