Kim Stone
Washington Spirit
Kim Stone is the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Spirit, bringing nearly 30 years of leadership in professional sports and arena management. Since joining the Spirit in January 2024 as the club’s first CEO, Stone has overseen a period of remarkable growth, working alongside Owner Michele Kang to ambitiously rewrite the playbook for women’s sports and position the Spirit as one of the most forward-looking organizations in the NWSL.
Under Stone’s leadership, the Washington Spirit have entered a new era of growth and momentum. From record-setting home openers to rising fan engagement and expanded corporate partnerships, the club is redefining what’s possible in women’s sports. Stone has helped unify the Spirit’s business, brand, and community efforts under a bold, values-driven vision. In recognition of her impact, she was named a 2025 Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Award recipient.
Stone’s career has been defined by her ability to lead through complexity and deliver results at scale, consistently guiding organizations through periods of growth and transformation. Prior to the Spirit, she served as President of UBS Arena and Executive Vice President of Oak View Group East, overseeing business operations including corporate partnerships and premium ticketing. She previously led the launch of Chase Center in San Francisco as its first General Manager, where she guided the venue to earn Sports Business Journal’s 2019 Venue of the Year and GBAC Star facility accreditation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stone spent 23 years with the NBA’s Miami HEAT, rising through the ranks to become Executive Vice President and General Manager of American Airlines Arena (now Kaseya Center). She directed major events including four consecutive NBA Finals and two championship celebrations and led the arena to become the world’s first LEED Gold-certified sports and entertainment facility. Her leadership during the 2006 championship parade, coordinating dozens of agencies in just three days, cemented her reputation as a decisive and visionary operator.