D.C. United Women were announced on March 29, 2011, as part of a partnership with some of the owners of the Northern Virginia Majestics, through a newly founded group named Washington Soccer Properties.

During the off-season between 2011 and 2012, Washington Soccer Properties ownership group severed ties with like owners involved with Northern Virginia Majestics, and operate entirely independently from that team as a result.

They finished the regular season with eleven wins, no losses, and one draw, good enough for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference and for a tie as W-League regular-season champions with the Pali Blues.

[6] That status gave them hosting rights for the Eastern Conference playoffs,[7] where they defeated the Virginia Beach Piranhas, 3–0, in the semifinals,[8] and the Charlotte Lady Eagles, 3–0, in the final.

[9] They went on to the W-League Final Four, where they lost to the host Ottawa Fury, 1–0,[10] then finished third by downing the Quebec City Amiral on penalty kicks, 1–1 (7–6).