{{Short description|Defunct professional indoor soccer team}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Washington Warthogs | image = Warthogs logo.JPG | image_size = | upright = | alt = | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | short name = Warthogs | founded = 1994 | dissolved = 1997 | stadium = USAir Arena<br />Landover, Maryland | capacity = | coordinates = | owner = Abe Pollin | chairman = | manager = | coach = | league = Continental Indoor Soccer League | season = 1997 | position = Eastern Division: 5th | website = | kit_alt1 = | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = | body1 = | rightarm1 = | shorts1 = | socks1 = | pattern_name1 = | American = yes }}
The '''Washington Warthogs''' were a professional indoor soccer team in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) from 1994 to 1997.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 24, 1997 |title=Farewell, Warthogs: CISL Ceases Operations |page=E2 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> They played their home games in the USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland, an arena they shared with the Washington Bullets, Washington Capitals, and the Georgetown Hoyas. Team owner Abe Pollin also operated the Bullets and Capitals.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Heath A. |date=June 12, 1994 |title=Warthogs Off to Races; Fast Indoor Game Opens Friday at USAir |page=D10 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/12/warthogs-off-to-races/0ffd561e-e3c9-4576-a2a6-c318dcebfea7/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref>
The Warthogs featured the league's only female player, first with Colette Cunningham and then Kristine Lilly replaced her the next year.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 17, 2004 |title=Female striker to play with the big boys |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/female-striker-to-play-with-the-big-boys-20041217-gdkc2u.html |work=The Age |accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Fitzhenry |first=Mark |date=May 17, 1994 |title=Woman Seeks Place Among the Hogs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/05/17/woman-seeks-place-among-the-hogs/28958d71-1cfb-40cc-a24a-3130370a858b/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref> Jim Gabarra was the team's coach from 1994 to 1997 and also played as a player–coach for his first three seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Josh |date=June 14, 1997 |title=Hunjak's Back, Warthogs Kick Off Fourth Season |page=H7 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/06/14/hunjaks-back-warthogs-kick-off-fourth-season/f49ce4eb-0608-44cc-a9db-3c483889309a/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref> The four seasons that the Warthogs played in Washington they average attendance was 6,489 per game. Some games were televised on HTS.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
The two top players of the team over its history were Denison Cabral and Dante Washington. Both went on to strong outdoor careers with Washington playing in MLS, and both later played for the Baltimore Blast of the MISL. Kyle Glasgow was the only fan elected to the Warthog hall of fame.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} The team employed teenage cheerleaders, named the "Warthog Girls", crowd entertainers, and a soccer clinic to draw families and younger fans to attend games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wisnia |first=Saul |date=August 25, 1994 |title=Young Fans Getting Kick Out of Warthogs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/08/25/young-fans-getting-kick-out-of-warthogs/f0216baa-e200-4f77-990b-a73591a0b0c5/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=January 4, 2023}}</ref>
==Notable players==
*{{flagicon|USA}} Colette Cunningham *{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bozhidar Iskrenov *{{flagicon|USA}} Kristine Lilly *{{flagicon|Israel}}{{flagicon|USA}} Irad Young *{{flagicon|USA}} Matt Weber
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Continental Indoor Soccer League}}
Category:Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States Category:Continental Indoor Soccer League teams Category:Soccer clubs in Washington, D.C. Category:Soccer clubs in Maryland Category:1994 establishments in Maryland Category:1997 disestablishments in Maryland Category:Association football clubs established in 1994 Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1997