Gotham FC
No results can be found
Showing results for:
-
Athletes
-
Pages
-
News
Athletes
Pages
News
Hocken will continue to oversee player scouting and acquisitions
Washington, D.C. (10/14/2026) – The Washington Spirit has signed Sporting Director James Hocken to a new two-year contract with a 2029 option, the club announced today. Hocken will remain in his executive role over the club’s sporting department, overseeing player acquisitions and roster management while heading the team’s scouting and analytics department across the next several seasons.
“I’m incredibly excited to continue my journey with the Washington Spirit,” said Hocken. “This is a club with enormous stature and ambition, and I’m grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me. We have a talented group of players and staff, united by a strong commitment to continuous development. I look forward to building on the progress we’ve made, continuing to raise the standards of our environment and helping establish the Spirit as one of the leading clubs in world football.”
With Hocken at the helm, the club has developed a world-class roster with notable international talent, identifying and signing many fan-favorite players including Leicy Santos, Esme Morgan, Sandy MacIver, Sofia Cantore and more. This year, Hocken was instrumental in the club’s successful re-signing of global star Trinity Rodman as he played a key role in negotiations for the market-setting contract.
“James is one of the sharpest minds in the game, and we’re glad to have him with us through 2029,” said President of Soccer Operations Haley Carter. “He understands how a team should play and what it takes to get there, from the game model to the analytics behind every decision to the players who bring it to life. That breadth is rare. The partnership between our offices has been a real strength for this club, and we’re excited to keep it going.”
Originally from Colchester in the East of England, Hocken joined the Spirit as an analyst prior to the 2023 season, taking the lead on evolving the club’s tactical approach to roster-building before being promoted to Sporting Director ahead of the 2025 season. Over the past four seasons, Hocken has been a primary contributor to the Spirit’s success. The club has acquired a host of talent during Hocken’s tenure, helping lead it to back-to-back NWSL Championship appearances, a Challenge Cup title, a Concacaf W Champions Cup final appearance and club records in wins, goals, year-end awards and more.
The Spirit will take the pitch at Audi Field next on Saturday, October 17 when the side hosts rival Gotham FC. Kicking off at 12:30 p.m. EDT, the match will be Washington’s penultimate home match of the regular season. Tickets are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
About the Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for bot club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Never miss a post. Sign up to get Spirit news, alerts, offers, and discounts:
Drag & View 360°
