Ovechkin On The Nats: 'We're DC Family'

WASHINGTON, DC — Perhaps the only person as happy as the Washington Nationals right now is Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin, who has been a big supporter of the Nats throughout the entire playoff run.

Ovechkin told reporters he was happy to see the team sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series on Tuesday night, and that despite the fact that their schedule won't allow them to be at Nationals Park, they will still be cheering hard for the Nats wherever they are.

"It's great, happy for the team, for our boys, and for the city," he said. "They fight hard and [I] hope they're going to win it all."

Ovi on the @Nationals making the World Series #ALLCAPS #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/FmmXTBZvBV
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 16, 2019

Asked whether he appreciated the Nats' support of the Caps in the past, he said that all D.C. teams were supportive of each other.

"I think all the teams in the Washington area support us," he said. "We're D.C. family and we have to support each other. It doesn't matter if it's Nationals, Redskins, Wizards, or Mystics."

The Mystics won the WNBA championship this year, and Ovechkin gave his support throughout their run. His mother was a basketball player for the Soviet national team that won two gold medals.

Unfortunately, the Caps will be on a road trip during the World Series (the Nats will be home for Games 3-5, Oct. 25-27, Friday-Sunday) so they won't get to swing by Nationals Park to see a game.

"I just told Kuzy it sucks we're not going to get to go to the game," he said. "But we're going to watch it on the TV for sure. ... We're going to give our energy to the team and to the boys and hope we're going to do it."

The fond feelings between the Caps and Nats in recent years has certainly been mutual. As you may recall, Nats stars Ryan Zimmerman and Max Scherzer dressed in full Caps gear -- including sticks and helmets -- and led a "Let's Go Caps" cheer from the stands during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals last year.

The @Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and @Max_Scherzer in the building to get Game 4 started right! #ALLCAPS #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/P0SO74M4Kg
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 5, 2018

You were there for us, you know we're here for you.

Now go win a #WorldSeries#ALLCAPS // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/Xjyajtju50
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 16, 2019