All Caps All Her: How Jessie Thompson is Growing Women’s Hockey with the Washington Capitals

When girls feel seen, supported, and celebrated in hockey, the entire game wins.

That’s the heart of the All Caps All Her initiative — a powerful, community-focused program launched by the Washington Capitals to uplift girls and women across the hockey spectrum. On this episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Jessie Thompson, one of the leaders behind this inspiring movement, joined Lee Elias and Olympian Hayley Scamurra to share how the program began, what makes it thrive, and how any community can follow its lead.

Start Small, Dream Big: How All Caps All Her Got Rolling

It all started with a simple question: “Do you have a program for my daughter?”

Emails like that started piling up in Jessie’s inbox while working on youth development for the Capitals. Eventually, they turned those questions into a bold answer — and launched All Caps All Her in December 2021.

What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a multi-pillar platform:

• 🏒 Youth and Adult Programming: Learn-to-play hockey for girls ages 7–14 and adult women (including moms skating in their kids’ old gear!)

• 👩‍🏫 Coach and Referee Development: Focused on growing female leadership and improving the girls’ game at every level.

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Families of Hockey: Uplifting community stories and giving visibility to those shaping the game behind the scenes.

• 💼 Business Development & Networking: Empowering women in sports careers through events and mentorship.

Why It Works: Joy, Inclusivity, and Representation

Jessie and her team have built their program around three core values:

1. It’s never too late to start.
   Whether you're 7 or 63, hockey should be accessible. All Caps All Her invites newcomers into a welcoming environment — no experience necessary.

2. Every player deserves a positive first experience.
   Whether a child skates for 90 minutes or 90 seconds, trying something new is the real win. It’s about courage, not comparison.

3. Representation matters.
   From girls coaching younger girls, to NHL players supporting the programs, to visible women in leadership — every moment reinforces that you belong here.

“Hockey is now a family sport in a way it hasn’t always been,” Jessie shared. “It’s incredible to see daughters cheering on moms and entire families embracing the game together.”

Overcoming Barriers, One Skate at a Time

Like many parts of the game, girls’ hockey still faces big challenges — cost, ice time, and access. But Jessie and her team are tackling these head-on:

• Partnering with organizations like Leveling the Playing Field to provide free, gently used equipment.

• Creating safe, inclusive spaces where all girls and gender-diverse players feel welcome.

• Building retention through tiered learn-to-play programs that grow with the player’s skills.

Their efforts are working: Over 75% of girls in their programs continue playing hockey, many joining house or rec leagues after completing Learn to Play 1, 2, and 3.

Advice for Other Communities: Do It Together

Jessie’s message for anyone hoping to launch something similar?
Start small. Be intentional. Do it with heart.

“We made sure the first 15 girls in our program had the time of their life,” she said. “Word of mouth did the rest.”

You don’t need to do everything all at once. You just need to listen to your community, focus on what matters, and build from there.

Key Takeaways for Parents, Coaches & Leaders

• 👧 Girls need safe, fun places to try hockey — and to fail and try again.

• 🛠️ Positive early experiences create lifelong fans and players.

• 🫱 Inclusivity isn’t a buzzword — it’s foundational to community growth.

• 🧠 Encourage a growth mindset: it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

The All Caps All Her initiative is proving that when hockey grows together, it grows stronger. Whether you're in D.C. or elsewhere, their model is a beacon for what’s possible when we lead with joy, inclusion, and community.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now and get inspired to build the future of hockey in your hometown.

And remember: Our girls play hockey. They always have. Now more than ever, they deserve to thrive.