D.C. United Women was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competed in the W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States. The team was an affiliate of Major League Soccer club, D.C. United but operated independently by Washington Soccer Properties, LLC. In order to participate in the new National Women's Soccer League for the 2013 season, the team re-branded as the Washington Spirit in December 2012.