SPOKANE – The Spokane community has rallied behind the Velocity and Zephyr players at ONE Spokane Stadium, and now a third professional team is joining the mix with the same passion but a transformative mission.
The Spokane Impact represents an unprecedented opportunity in professional sports, designed specifically for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The team addresses a significant gap that has prevented these athletes from experiencing the joy of playing competitive sports in a stadium before a crowd.
“Right now, they don’t have this opportunity. So, with that question, with that idea, that vision is how we developed the project,” said Nil Vinyals, founder of Project Inspire.
Vinyals, who may be familiar to local soccer fans for his skill on the pitch, has been developing Project Inspire, a new nationwide league that aims to transform professional sports inclusion. The Spokane Impact is one of four inaugural teams in this pioneering league.
“We really saw the gap that there was, in this market in regards[sic] to providing a professional, competitive and nationwide opportunity for athletes to be treated as athletes,” Vinyals explained.
The concept originated from a direct question posed to Vinyals during his time with the Richmond Kickers. When a player with disabilities asked, “Can I play for the Richmond Kickers with you guys?” It sparked the vision that would become Project Inspire and the Spokane Impact.
The Spokane Impact will operate as a true third professional soccer team in Spokane, joining the same club structure as the Velocity and Zephyr. This integration represents more than symbolic inclusion – it ensures equal treatment and resources.
“And they are really treating the team as a, as a third team, which is what our vision was from the start,” Vinyals said. “Spokane Impact will be and will have the same resources as Spokane Velocity and Spokane Zephyr.”
The team’s name reflects its intended lasting impact on the club, city, and broader soccer community.
For Vinyals, the Spokane Impact demonstrates that competitive professional sports are accessible to anyone, regardless of intellectual or developmental differences.
“The idea is that they have funds, and that they really feel as professionals, which is the whole goal of this,” Vinyals said.
Community members will have their first opportunity to see potential team members in action during tryouts, which will be held at the HUB Sports Center from July 15-17.
The team will then compete in September, giving Spokane fans their first chance to support this significant addition to the city’s professional sports landscape.
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