The 1997 D.C. United season was the clubs' third year of existence, as well as their second season in Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

. The United successfully defending their MLS Cup

MLS Cup

The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...

 title, becoming the first and only club to consecutively win the MLS Cup, until Houston Dynamo in 2007. Additionally, United won their first ever MLS Supporters' Shield

MLS Supporters' Shield

The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...

in 1997, earning their first league "double" by winning the regular season and the playoffs.