The Washington Spirit lost three of the partner clubs for its Virginia-based U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy program. Braddock Road Youth Club (BRYC), Loudoun Soccer, and Arlington Soccer Association will not partner with the Washington Spirit’s Development Academy in 2017. The planned partnership with Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) is uncertain.
Last July, the Spirit named those four clubs as partners when they announced the creation of a Virginia-based Girls Development Academy team. According to Washington Spirit President Chris Hummer, the partnerships were at that point a handshake deal, with all parties approving the press release announcing the partnership.