The Washington Spirit have partnered with Reston Soccer Association for their Virginia-based U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy program. After losing three of the planned partners for the Virginia Development Academy, the Spirit have secured the first partner club for their Virginia program. In addition, the Spirit recently announced that their Maryland-based program will partner with Baltimore Armour.
The Spirit’s Virginia program will be based in Reston and start play this fall. Previous planned partnerships broke down due to disagreements over the extent partner clubs would dictate curriculum and staff and an ongoing tug-of-war between the ECNL, the top flight girls’ league, and the newly formed Girls’ Development Academy, which is backed by U.