The 2026 Gainbridge Super League season is upon us, and DC Power FC will walk out on Saturday at Audi Field to take on the Carolina Ascent in the season opener. With this new season comes a new beginning, with dreams of lifting the trophy in December. There’s also some heightened expectations to finally break through into the playoffs with an eye on fulfilling that dream.

With the Gainbridge Super League moving to a spring-summer schedule in 2027, they are having a sprint season for the fall. Each team will play 14 matches, facing each team in the league home and away. The league saw Spokane Zephyr fold after last season, reducing the league to eight teams. Still, DC Power wants to be the last team standing in this sprint season by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time and hopefully winning the whole thing. They believe they have the team that can get them to the top of the mountain. But, because there are only 14 matches, the margin for error is small and the importance of delivering results quickly is massive.

“I think it’s even more important to start games well to win the first few games…so that way you’re starting top of the table, because it’s short. It’s 14 games,” defender Susanna Fitch said to The District Press. “You can’t wait till the spring to get it together. You need to be ready from the start. And I think having that mindset throughout preseason has helped us. And I feel like we’re hungry and ready to get more wins, especially at home.”

Fitch, who was the captain last season for DC Power, recognizes that the pressure to make the playoffs and win a title is there. This group wants to be the one that brings that title back to Audi Field. “I think that’s something that we really need to improve on, and I think we know that as a club, we haven’t made the playoffs, and so that needs to happen this year and we’re striving to win a championship. That just brings that hunger out. And I think that will help us start better and hopefully get some wins early on.”

DC Power, like almost every team in the Gainbridge Super League, underwent some heavy roster turnover during the offseason. They said goodbye to 12 players and have signed 10 new players to replace them. The word around training camp is that the chemistry is better than it’s ever been because the competition in practice is fierce. Everyone on the team is playing hard daily to prepare for the season, with players competing hard for spots in the rotation but to also have a deep squad where everyone can contribute.

“I feel like we’re bonding well on the field and off the field. It’s been very challenging, which is something that not necessarily we didn’t have last year, but I just feel like every day is competitive,” forward Gianna Gourley said of the team’s bonding and development during the preseason. “We have a great group of girls returning. I think the base is really strong, and I think we added a lot of key players and we have a lot more depth this year. So I really think it’s going to be very good for our team.”

2026 DC Power Roster
Goalkeepers: 1-Katherine Cappelletti, 43-Makenna Gottschalk, 88-Emily Krichbaum (Academy)

Defenders: 22-Paige Almendariz, 25-Sam Angel (on loan from Chicago Stars), 28-Hallie Augustyn, 12-Claire Constant, 6-Sydney Cummings, 3-Susanna Fitch, 4-Sarah McCoy

Midfielders: 2-Anna Bagley, 8-Abby Boyan, 5-Emily Colton, 23-Justina Gaynor, 16-Ellie Gilbert, 18-Emma Jaskaniec, 7-Tatum Thomason, 47-Valentina Perrotta (Academy)

Forwards: 30-Loza Abera, 9-Kayla Colbert, 13-Gianna Gourley, 10-Tyler Lussi, 11-Alyssa Walker, 17-Mak Whitham (on loan from Gotham FC)

Of the 22 players on the senior roster, 12 of them return from the 2025-26 season, plus Valentina Perrotta and Emily Krichbaum returning as academy players. But, the onus was to get better by bringing in some quality at all positions to create more depth and have a roster capable of going the distance in a short season. There are several players with experience from all leagues all around the world. They have more experience to balance with some younger players. From experienced Tyler Lussi to rookie Kayla Colbert, they’ve tried to create a team that can produce goals and control the game from start to finish.

DC Power made waves when they acquired 16-year-old Mak Whitham on loan from Gotham FC. Whitham, who became the youngest player ever to appear in a NWSL match when she made her debut one day before her 14th birthday in 2025, brings with her some experience but the opportunity to earn more minutes on the field to help bolster the DC Power offense as she continues to develop. She won’t be alone in young players making an impact, as academy player Valentina Perrotta was the youngest player in Gainbridge Super League history when she made her debut on April 8, 2025 against the Carolina Ascent.

DC Power is not only hoping to get out to a great start and build towards a playoff run that ends in a title, but they hope to build upon the fan base they’ve created thus far. The players were excited to open at home and have several chances to try and build something special at Audi Field.

“I’m excited to see the fans from last year,” Susanna Fitch exclaimed, visibly joyous at the thought of opening the season at home. “I think we were starting to grow of a fan base and I’m excited for new fans to come and find out about us. I think a message to our fans is we need their support and having them in the stadium makes such a difference. It brings that extra energy and that extra push and we want to play well for our fans.”

“We want to build a community. And so I think having the fans come and being able to interact with them post game…is a huge part of the game and part of the league. And if they can keep supporting us, it’s great for the league and for DC Power.”

Ultimately, to gain some traction in a crowded DC soccer market, DC Power knows they need to win. They’ve long desired to make Audi Field a fortress for them where they consistently get points, and they recognize that means creating scoring chances and putting the ball in the back of the net.

“I think it’s just finishing chances, being hungry, being dominant. I think we have moments where we’re very good, but then it comes and goes in waves,” Gianna Gourley said of what it would take for DC Power to compete for the playoffs and for the league championship. “So, just capitalizing more and being more consistent throughout the match and not having 5-10 minute gaps where we’re maybe just missing the mark or we’re not giving it all, tackling, all those things, they really do make a difference.”

DC Power is confident they can get out of the blocks for this sprint season and gain early momentum over the rest of the league. They open at home on Saturday against Carolina Ascent, and they want to begin the year not just with three points but also by making a statement that they’re the team to beat in the Gainbridge Super League.

2026 Sprint Schedule
Fri August 15 vs. Carolina Ascent – 7:00pm ET
Fri August 21 @ Brooklyn FC – 7:30pm ET
Sat August 29 @ Lexington SC – 1:00pm ET
Fri September 4 vs. Sporting Jax – 7:00pm ET
Sun September 13 @ Dallas Trinity – 7:30pm ET
Fri September 18 vs. Tampa Bay Sun – 7:00pm ET
Tue September 22 vs. Fort Lauderdale United – 11:00am ET
Fri October 9 @ Sporting Jax – 7:00pm ET
Fri October 16 @ Carolina Ascent – 7:30pm ET
Sun October 25 vs. Dallas Trinity – 3:00pm ET
Sun November 1 @ Tampa Bay Sun – 5:00pm ET
Sun November 8 vs. Lexington SC – 3:00pm ET
Wed November 11 vs. Brooklyn FC – 7:00pm ET
Sat November 28 @ Fort Lauderdale United – 6:00pm ET