Washington D.C. Sports Community Mourns Dismantling of Post's Sports Section

Local teams pay tribute to laid-off journalists as Washington Post shutters its sports department

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Washington Commanders left three empty seats at a press conference to honor the recently shuttered Washington Post sports department, as local teams and coaches expressed sadness over the loss of the highly respected sports journalism team.

Why it matters

The Washington Post's sports section had long been regarded as a pillar of sports media, known for its journalistic integrity. Its closure represents a significant blow to the local sports community and sports journalism more broadly.

The details

After the news broke about the shutdown of the Post's sports department, several local teams and coaches paid tribute to the laid-off journalists. The Washington Commanders left three empty seats at a press conference to honor the departed staff. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn expressed being "absolutely bummed" about the decision, while Washington Nationals president Paul Toboni compared it to losing access to the San Francisco Chronicle's sports coverage. Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery recognized reporter Bailey Johnson, confirming she was among those let go, and praised her work.

  • The Washington Post's sports department was recently shut down.
  • The tribute by the Washington Commanders took place at a press conference on Tuesday.

The players

Dan Quinn

Head coach of the Washington Commanders.

Paul Toboni

President of baseball operations for the Washington Nationals.

Spencer Carbery

Head coach of the Washington Capitals.

Bailey Johnson

A journalist who covered the Washington Capitals and was laid off by the Washington Post.

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What they’re saying

“I would be remiss not to say something about Bailey not being here today. Getting to know her over the last 2 1/2 years, yeah, I'm just thinking about her. And also know wherever her next stop is, whether it's in the DC area or somewhere else, know she'll do a fantastic job. She's an incredible person and really, really good at what she does.”

— Spencer Carbery, Head coach, Washington Capitals

“Absolutely bummed to hear about The Washington Post sports section.”

— Dan Quinn, Head coach, Washington Commanders

The takeaway

The closure of the Washington Post's highly respected sports department represents a significant loss for the local sports community and sports journalism as a whole, as teams and coaches express their sadness over the layoffs of talented reporters who covered them for years.