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Alejandra Martin
Washingtonspirit.com
Boyds, MD., (11/29/2020) — For the Washington Spirit, supporters are more than just fans. They are an integral part of the club. This month, we highlight Angie Kanellopulos, the President of the Spirit Squadron, the club’s supporters group.
“I joke sometimes that I was a fan of the Spirit before the Spirit was officially a team,” said Kanellopulos. “I decided that I was going to support the club the moment they were officially announced in late 2012.”
Kanellopulos believes that supporting your home team is important, making it extremely easy for her to be a fan. As she said, “Once I heard the news of a new professional women’s soccer team playing in my backyard, the question became less ‘would I be a fan’ and more ‘how deep would it run.’” The dedication from supporters like Kanellopulos is what makes playing and working for the club worth it for the players, coaches and staff.
Throughout the years, Kanellopulos has experienced all of the highs and lows that come with being a fan. All are memories she wouldn’t trade for anything. The Spirit has seen many memorable moments since 2013. What are Kanellopulos’s three favorites? Her first is the Spirit’s first home win in history in 2013 – “the strange weather-delayed, and ultimately shortened game against the Red Stars on a Wednesday night,” she said. Her other two most memorable moments? “The 2016 home semifinal win and partying at Audi Field with 20,000 other fans in 2019,” she said.
Being a Spirit fan has been more than just supporting a soccer team for Kanellopulos. As a Spirit Squadron member, she has built relationships and shared unforgettable memories with the other members. When asked what it meant to be a Squadron Member, she replied, “Being a member of the Squadron means everything to me.”
She went on to explain why it means so much, as she recalls how it all started, “There was a time when we unofficially called ourselves the island of misfit toys because our members come from a number of varied backgrounds and experiences. Despite the different expectations we all have, we’ve come together for this common cause of supporting the Spirit and now also each other. The lifelong friendships I’ve made in my time with the Squadron have enriched and changed me and my life for the better and I will forever be grateful for the part the Spirit played in making that possible.”
