Ben Olsen doesn’t want to involve himself with the ongoing ownership dispute within the Washington Spirit.

The new Spirit President sat down with The Athletic to discuss his new position and what he hopes to bring to the table. He admitted that while he is new to the women’s game, he hopes that coming in with fresh eyes and with experience leading a similar organization (D.C. United), he’ll adjust to an admittedly steep learning curve.

“We are a pro sports organization and that has to be one of the major projects that we’re pushing,” he said. “The other is continuing to support the D.C. community. We have to do more in the D.C. community. We have to be better with our fans. We have to understand them better, we have to listen to them and then we have to fill some voids in this organization with smart hires.”

He asked that in that process, Spirit fans be patient with him.

“Judge me on the next couple of months, or a year. Judge me on how we go about implementing this next phase of the Washington Spirit.”

There is no agenda with the hire, according to Olsen, who asked for the benefit of the doubt when pressed about being another hire from the “boy’s club.”

“I understand anybody that says ‘here’s another man coming in here, he’s part of the ‘good ol boy’ network’,” he said. “I get it. I do. But my track record as a community member in this city for 20 years and the cultures that I’ve built within D.C. United, the interactions I’ve had within the soccer community here.

“I think I’m coming in with a fairly clean slate and new eyes looking at this project.”

Part of that project will be hiring a new head coach. According to Olsen, interim coach Kris Ward will be part of the discussion, as he “seems to have a good handle on the team.”

In the article, Olsen confirmed that he was hired by co-owner and CEO Steve Baldwin. It seems to have been a quick hire, as soon after Olsen sat down with Baldwin to talk about the job, he was offered the position.

Olsen revealed that has not talked to Y. Michele Kang, the Spirit’s other co-owner who is currently in a power struggle with Baldwin. Olsen added that he doesn’t want to get caught up in the ownership dispute. Rather, his focus will be on winning championships, serving the community and building a more modern organization.

“This is ownership’s world and they will come to some agreement — or not,” he said. “They’ll continue — or not. I will, as best I can, navigate that with more energy and focus on not getting caught up in it.

“I will get caught up in this organization and supporting the team and front office so that we can win championships.”

When asked about concerns regarding the framing of Kang’s involvement in the club’s recent COVID outbreak, Olsen called it “noise.”

“I’m not getting into it,” he said. “I have to address some of that stuff. That’s the responsibility I have as president. But I don’t have a perfect answer on which things I need to get involved in right now. That’s going to be a feeling out process.”

The WNBA is back in action on Tuesday night, as the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm headline a series of games that could make or break the current trajectories of several 2025 title contenders.

Seeking an especially strong Tuesday performance is the Fever, as Indiana tries to snap a two-game losing streak against the increasingly confident Storm.

"There are going to be stretches that are really good and there's going to be stretches that aren't as good," Fever guard Caitlin Clark said on Sunday, addressing her recent shooting slump.

While the Indiana and Seattle clash will lead the Tuesday charge, the night will also see young squads sizing up WNBA juggernauts as bottom-table teams look for a leg up:

• No. 8 Indiana Fever vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Fever need a win against a Storm side that can't seem to lose, as both teams eye the postseason.

• No. 1 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 9 Washington Mystics, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The up-and-coming Mystics will attempt to hand the Lynx a second season loss, as Minnesota star Napheesa Collier remains day-to-day with lower back stiffness.

• No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Dream are on a tear, surging up the standings as the struggling Wings attempt to take flight.

• No. 10 LA Sparks vs. No. 11 Chicago Sky, 8 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks have cooled after a hot start while the Sky has yet to rev up, with both teams aiming to end a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

Teams across the league are hoping to make the most of every minute while also managing injury concerns and absences as the WNBA All-Star break looms.

The WNBA Class of 2025 is already making its mark on the league, with first-year players stepping up and showing out while the Rookie of the Year race — and betting odds — heat up.

No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has been just as good as advertised, with the Dallas Wings guard leading her class in both minutes played and points per game while also charting league-wide in assists per game, steals per game, and mid-range shots made.

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DraftKings currently has Bueckers as the clear WNBA Rookie of the Year race frontrunner at -1,000, though the dynamic DC duo of guard Sonia Citron (+1,500) and forward Kiki Iriafen (+1,000) are quickly gaining traction.

Iriafen won May's WNBA Rookie of the Month award after a series of career-opening double-doubles, while her Washington Mystics teammate Citron has continued to execute in the clutch — most recently posting a career-high double-double performance of 27 points and 11 rebounds in last Sunday's 91-88 overtime win over Dallas.

"Not only is [Iriafen] holding her own, she's excelling," Citron told JWS earlier this month. "And seeing that is just incredible."

"Soni just does all the little things," Iriafen added. "She doesn't shortcut anything, she's doing the fundamentals, she doesn't cheat the game at all."

Though the NWSL hit the pause button this week, players worldwide are still on the move, as both European and US soccer teams use the midseason break to sharpen their lineups with international signings.

The NWSL has already seen one major departure, with the San Diego Wave announcing Monday that forward María Sánchez will return to her former Liga MX club UANL Tigres after nearly five years in the NWSL, with the Wave set to receive an undisclosed transfer fee in return.

"When the opportunity came to return to Tigres, I had to do a lot of inner searching, and I ultimately decided that returning to Liga MX Femenil and Tigres specifically was the best course of action for my career," the 29-year-old dual citizen and Mexico international player said in the Wave's release.

NWSL clubs are also setting their sights on European free agents, with the Washington Spirit bringing in Juventus forward Sofia Cantore last week — the first Italian signing in league history.

Also hopping aboard the player transaction carousel is new WSL side London City, with the top-flight debutantes inking OL Lyonnes midfielder and Dutch international Daniëlle van de Donk on Friday.

Meanwhile, van de Donk's wife and club teammate Ellie Carpenter is also potentially WSL-bound, with the defender reportedly nearing a deal that would see the Australian join Chelsea FC in return for the Blues sending Canadian international Ashley Lawrence to OL Lyonnes.

For their part, OL Lyonnes picked up defender Ingrid Engen from Barcelona as a free agent last week, adding the Norwegian international after snagging French forward and PSG's all-time leading scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto earlier this month.

With the most recent NWSL CBA abolishing traditional trade windows, expect even more international signings and roster reshufflings before the league resumes play on August 1st.

San Diego is paying tribute to one of their own, with the Wave announcing plans to retire the No. 13 jersey of NWSL and USWNT legend Alex Morgan on September 7th.

Still topping the team's all-time scoring leaderboard with 23 goals in just over two seasons with San Diego, the retired club captain will be the first-ever Wave player to receive the prestigious honor.

Morgan also led San Diego to the 2023 NWSL Shield as well as postseason appearances in the 2022 expansion club's first two seasons.

"Alex's legacy goes far beyond goals and accolades. She helped lay the foundation for this club and elevated the standard for what women's soccer is today," said Wave FC governor Lauren Leichtman in the team's Tuesday announcement.

"She made this city her home, inspired our fans and community, and helped define who we are," Leichtman continued. "Her impact will be felt for generations, and it's only fitting that her number becomes a permanent part of Wave FC history." 

Morgan joined the Southern California squad's ownership group just last month, saying "San Diego is where I've built my home, where I am raising my children, and found a purpose beyond my playing career."

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How to attend the San Diego jersey retirement of Alex Morgan

San Diego will officially retire Morgan's No. 13 jersey during their home match against the Houston Dash at 8 PM ET on September 7th.

Tickets to the game will go on sale to the general public online at 6 PM ET on Tuesday.