The District’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise is ready for spring. The Washington Spirit unveiled a fresh jersey for the upcoming soccer season on Thursday that features the city’s iconic cherry blossoms.
The design blends the pink of an assortment of cherry blossoms with a dark green backing. The arrangement of the branches on the jersey is designed to mirror the outlines of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.
Cherry blossom jerseys have become a running trend for the District’s teams, with the Wizards, Capitals and Nationals all sporting pink alternates on occasion the past five years.
Ben Berczek, the Spirit’s director of operations, said the idea came “while brainstorming ways to create a cherry blossom uniform unique to the Spirit, the way sakura branches break away from one another reminded me of how the Potomac and Anacostia rivers split to form the shape of D.C. around Audi Field.”
Berczek started his career with the Spirit as an equipment manager before working his way up the organization. He’s heard fans clamoring for a cherry blossom look for years.
“It has been an honor to work with Nike since presenting the initial concept and see it bloom into our new primary kit,” he said, referring to the uniform. “I’m very excited to see the finished product on the pitch and give players and fans alike a cherry blossom kit that they have been requesting for years.”
The cherry blossom look will be one of two uniform options for the Spirit this season. The “Shockwave” yellow jerseys will also return to the pitch.
“Cherry blossoms are woven into the identity of this city, and our ’Spirit in Bloom’ kit is our way of celebrating that connection,” Spirit CEO Kim Stone said. “This isn’t just a jersey. It’s a statement about who we are and where we belong in D.C.”
The fresh jersey is available on the team’s online store. The Spirit open the season at home against the Portland Thorns on March 13.
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