Johnson will become one of the few Black women to achieve a prominent front-office role in DC pro sportsgetty images
DC United is "planning to appoint" Danita Johnson as President of Business Operations, making her the first Black man or woman to serve as an MLS team president and one of the highest-ranking female club execs in league history, according to sources cited by Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. Johnson for the past two years has served as WNBA L.A. Sparks President & COO. Johnson "will become one of the few Black women to achieve a prominent front-office role in DC pro sports." Johnson will be "responsible for growing the fan base and sponsorships, arranging non-MLS events at Audi Field and overseeing the business" of USL club Loudoun United, which is based in Leesburg, Va., and owned by DC United. She will "fill a job vacated 2½ years ago by Tom Hunt," who left to join the NBA Kings as an Exec VP. Former DC United Chief Business Officer Andy Bush "left the club in May." Meanwhile, DC United's business and soccer sectors "will continue to operate separately," with Dave Kasper serving as GM & VP/Soccer Operations. Like Kasper, Johnson "will report" to co-Chair & CEO Jason Levien and co-Chair Stephen Kaplan (WASHINGTON POST, 12/22).
