Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone has been named to Sports Business Journal’s inaugural “Impact CEO” list, recognizing 50 executives across the sports industry for their leadership, innovative strategies, dealmaking and influence over the past year.
Stone is the only National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) CEO included on the list, which was selected by Sports Business Journal’s editorial team following extensive industry research. The honorees represent professional teams, leagues, media organizations, agencies, facilities, technology companies and other areas of the sports industry.
Stone, who became CEO of the Washington Spirit in 2024, has overseen significant growth in attendance, sponsorships, franchise valuation and the club’s national profile.
The Spirit welcomed more than 263,000 fans to Audi Field in 2026, setting a club record with seven sellouts and averaging more than 17,000 fans at weekend matches. Attendance has increased 87.5% since Stone took over, and the club has sold out Audi Field 13 times during her tenure.
The team’s growing popularity has helped establish Audi Field as one of the NWSL’s premier home environments, earning the nickname “Rowdy Audi.” Washington was also selected to host the 2026 NWSL Championship, bringing the league’s biggest match to the nation’s capital later this month.
Under Stone’s leadership, the Spirit added six new corporate partners in 2026, including beauty brand Sol de Janeiro, which entered the sports sponsorship market for the first time. The club also reported a 99% year-over-year partner renewal rate and sold every available uniform sponsorship position for the first time.
One of the organization’s most significant moves came during the offseason when the Spirit re-signed star forward Trinity Rodman to the largest contract in NWSL history, keeping one of women’s soccer’s biggest names in Washington.
The club also became the NWSL’s top-selling team for jerseys in 2026, with six Spirit players ranking among the league’s top eight in individual jersey sales following the team’s kit reveal.
The organization’s business growth has attracted additional recognition. Earlier this year, the Spirit became just the second NWSL club to be named a finalist for Sports Business Journal’s Team of the Year award. The franchise’s valuation has climbed to $196 million, representing a 107% increase over the past 18 months.
Stone and the other 49 honorees will be featured in Sports Business Journal’s December 21 print edition, as well as across the publication’s digital and social media platforms.
On the field, the Spirit will host Utah Royals FC in the NWSL semifinals on Saturday, November 14, at noon at Audi Field. Washington is seeking a spot in the NWSL Championship, which will also be played at Audi Field the following week.
