Nats, NWSL's Spirit celebrate Women's Night at Nationals Park

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals and Washington Spirit play in each other’s backyards. After years of showing support at one another’s games, the organizations linked up on Friday for Women’s Night at Nationals Park.

The evening was designed to celebrate the athletes, fans and team staff. It was a first-of-its-kind ticket partnership between Major League Baseball and National Women’s Soccer League teams.

Here’s how it worked. The Nationals and Spirit offered three ticket options: the Nationals' game on Friday, the Spirit’s match on Sunday – or both. Each purchase included an exclusive Nationals x Spirit co-branded sweatshirt, embroidered with Washington D.C., icons.

The special game tickets for Women’s Night at Nationals Park on Friday sold out.

Beyond the sweatshirt (which was very cool, if I might say), the Nationals offered mural making, a mini-wellness workshop and a DIY craft station to decorate claw clips and clear bags. Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, based in Merrifield, Va., also had adoptable puppies and kittens at the ballpark.

To start off the game, Lacey Eden – an Annapolis, Md., native and forward on PWHL Las Vegas – threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Eden is a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, and she was the fifth overall pick in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft.

Then, the Nationals recognized the 2026 MEAC Champion Howard softball team. A special video call to “Play ball!” was delivered by 100-year-old Mae Krier, who is one of the last living iconic Rosie the Riveters.

During the game, the Nationals gave a scoreboard video shoutout to those attending Women’s Night from D.C. professional sports teams.

The Nationals’ Favorite Things Fundraiser also was launched as part of Women’s Night. Fans still can purchase raffle tickets that benefit the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy to win baskets of the Nationals’ favorite things, put together by the players, coaches, staff and their families.