Just because you’re not sports savy doesn’t mean you have to be left out. Jot down some of these facts about the region’s local sports teams and impress your coworkers the next time the big game gets brought up in the office.
Nationals Opening Day
When it is: March 30
How to sound smart: “Hard to believe it’s the 19th opening day for Washington’s baseball team. The Nats are at home against the Atlanta Braves, who won the World Series in 2021. Let’s hope the Nats have a better season than last year, when they lost 107 of 162 games!”
Names to drop: Dave Martinez, manager, and Mike Rizzo, general manager. While the Nationals are rebuilding after three losing seasons, Joey Meneses, 30, was a pleasant surprise playing over 56 games as a rookie.
Washington Spirit
What it is: National Women’s Soccer League team
How to sound smart: “It’s wonderful that all 11 home games during the regular season will be played at Audi Field, and only on weekends this year. We’ll be there Saturday, March 25, for the home opener. The Spirit, with a 3-9-10 record, were in 11th place out of 12 teams last season.”
Names to drop: Mark Parsons returns as the head coach in his second stint with the club. We’ll be rooting for local athletes: Lorton’s Andi Sullivan and Falls Church’s Anna Heilferty.
Old Glory DC
What it is: Major League Rugby team
How to sound smart: “Yes, Northern Virginia has a professional rugby team! Old Glory entered the league in 2020, calling Leesburg’s Segra Field home. Home games in March are the 18th (7 p.m.) and 25th (3 p.m.).”
Names to drop: Josh Syms, a native New Zealander, is the new head coach, and Gonzaga College High School graduate Jack Iscaro is on the team.
D.C. United
What it is: Major League Soccer team
How to sound smart: “Legendary player Wayne Rooney, named head coach in July, now gets his first full season to try to improve what was a league-worst record for D.C. United (7-21-6). There are two home games this month at Audi Field, March 11 and 25.”
Names to drop: Brazilian Ruan Teixeira (known simply as Ruan), a defender, joins the club that also added Irish defender Derrick Williams, Iraqi left back Mohanad Jeahze, and Portuguese midfielder Pedro Santos.
This story originally ran in our March issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
