Thursday night is all about the Washington Commanders in the nation's capital, who are slated to select at No. 29 overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Wednesday was all about the Washington Capitals, who hosted the Montreal Canadiens downtown in Capital One Arena for Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It turns out, they had some special fans in attendance for their 3-1 victory.
Star quarterback Jayden Daniels, backups Marcus Mariota and Sam Hartman, and upwards of a dozen members of the Commanders were seated together at the game, many were sporting throwback Alex Ovechkin jerseys.
Afterwards, Daniels met and posed with the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer, who is widely considered the greatest athlete in the history of Washington pro sports.
Commanders and Capitals are spearheading sporting renaissance in D.C.
The bond between the Commanders and Capitals, as well as the Wizards, Nationals, and additional local franchises, has always been there. But for perhaps the first time since the Nats partied on the ice at a regular-season Caps game after winning the 2019 World Series, something feels meaningful about the greater D.C. sports connection.
This isn't some losing team trying to capitalize on a more successful one's moment. These players aren't just there for the cameras or to show off their cool retro gear. Right now, both Washington's NFL and NHL franchises contain a shared experience of bringing joy and passion to their region, and there's no doubt that has been felt among the players.
That's a feeling that has been lacking in D.C. throughout the first half of the 2020s. The Nationals have been in the cellar since blowing up their World Series-winning core. Ditto for the Wizards following the end of the John Wall and Bradley Beal era. Even the normally hyper-consistent Caps had a rough couple of seasons before this year, which has been among the most memorable in franchise history due to Ovechkin's record-setting goal chase.
That historic accolade has almost overshadowed the fact that, with the development of some fresh blood in the lineup and strong goaltending, the Capitals have returned to their place among the league's short list of title contenders. Simultaneously, the Commanders are riding high off of their best season in more than 30 years, and have found their long-term face of the franchise in Daniels.
That image of Daniels and Ovechkin represents more than just a crossover between two athletes who happen to play in the same city. It's a reflection of the power of the D.C. sports family.
It's been a while since Washington has had world-class superstars in multiple sports who can take pride in the accomplishments of each other's teams. Now, nature is healing.