Danita Johnson

Danita Johnson is a seasoned sports and entertainment executive and member of Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 and ESSENCE Power 40 Class of 2023.

Currently, Johnson serves as the President of Business Operations for Major League Soccer’s most decorated club, D.C. United, a role she has held since January 2021. Notably, she is the first Black President of an MLS Club and only the third woman in league history to serve in this role.

Johnson’s mission for D.C. United is clear, Unite Sport. Build Community. Win Championships. Her focus on delivering Audi Field as a premier destination for sports in the United States has led to the venue hosting the National Women’s Soccer League Championship in 2022, which saw record attendance, and the hosting rights for the 2023 MLS All-Star Game where the league’s best played English Premier League powerhouse, Arsenal FC.

Prior to joining D.C. United, Johnson had 15 years of experience in the sports industry, including several roles in the WNBA, NBA, and NBA G League, specializing in revenue generation, community programs, and digital media and marketing.

A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina and a graduate of Western Carolina University, Johnson sits on the board of DC SCORES, Destination DC, the Share Winter Foundation, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and previously served as a WISE Within Mentor.