Danita Johnson, the current president of business operations for D.C. United and Audi Field, has always considered sport a “connective tissue” to every piece of her life. Growing up, Johnson’s father was in the Army, causing her family to move around a lot.
No matter where she called “home” at the time, Johnson always felt connected to a community through sports. She’s carried that love for sports throughout her career working in multiple leagues, leading her to Major League Soccer. But, her first love was basketball.
She played in middle and high school, and then her first sports job was in the NBA G League. After years working in the G League, Johnson was hired by the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock. These experiences eventually led her to being named the president and chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Sparks.
It was the perfect opportunity for Johnson to blend her love of sports and business together. She wanted the league to get more of a spotlight, and her contributions helped attract the attention it has now. Through that, it taught me about patience.” Her biggest takeaway from working in the WNBA is acknowledging how significant loyalty amongst fans and the league is.
Fans need to want to come back and support the team financially and socially. It was a time where everybody wasn’t watching, you understood the importance of camaraderie to keep it alive and keep it going so you can see what you’re seeing today.” When the opportunity at D.C. United opened up, it seemed like the perfect time for Johnson to explore another role, even though her heart lay with women’s sports and basketball.
She even called the move “one of the hardest career decisions I’ve ever made.” But, Johnson saw a lot of similarities between the WNBA and MLS. She wanted to expand upon her own professional abilities while being able to bring in her experiences from the WNBA. Joining the business side of the MLS appeared to be a perfect spot for her.
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