As the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) finals commenced in San Jose, Calif., supporters of the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC contributed to the event's atmosphere through organized singing and chanting.
Washington Spirit Fan Traditions
The Washington Spirit's fan group, the Spirit Squadron, prepared a repertoire of chants for the finals. According to Squadron president Meredith Bartley, chants included one for scoring, adapted from the nursery song "The Animals Went in Two by Two." Another chant expressed general enjoyment. Additionally, a chant initiated in the 51st minute, "Free D.C.," referenced the movement for Washington D.C. statehood and home rule. This chant developed following heightened tensions earlier in the year involving federal control over the district's police force and the deployment of National Guard troops.
Spirit supporters also integrated chants from global soccer traditions, such as a playful chant from English Premier League crowds used to re-energize the stadium atmosphere.
Gotham FC Fan Traditions
Gotham FC supporters, representing New York and New Jersey, similarly adopted chants from U.K. soccer culture. Marge Liguori, who leads the Gotham FC supporters group Cloud 9, stated that she introduced an adaptation of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." This song, commonly sung by Manchester United fans, was rewritten by Gotham FC fans into "Gotham Roads" to honor their team and region.
Liguori noted the song's resonance with a sense of community. Max Jack, an ethnomusicologist and anthropologist at Indiana University, observed that singing and chanting in sports events facilitate a shared emotional experience among fans. He described this as creating "stranger intimacy" and fulfilling a need for collective experience.
This fan interaction also extends to players. Following Gotham FC's 2023 NWSL championship, fans sang to defender Mandy Freeman, who responded emotionally. Jeff Greer, Gotham FC's vice president of communications, indicated that fan chants contribute to player motivation. Ben Kessler, Spirit director of communications, similarly noted that the team's home matches at Audi Field are recognized for their energetic environment, with players often attributing fan support to their performance.