Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club is a National Women's Soccer League expansion team that began play in 2022. The team is based in Los Angeles, California, and was announced on July 21, 2020. The team has many high-profile owners, including Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, and Serena Williams.[1]

Angel City FC
Full nameAngel City Football Club
FoundedJuly 21, 2020 (2020-07-21)
StadiumBMO Stadium
Capacity22,000
PresidentJulie Uhrman
Head coachFreya Coombe
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
20228th of 12
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

The team is the Los Angeles area's first women's professional soccer team since the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer folded in 2010.[2] Angel City FC plays their home matches at BMO Stadium, which it shares with Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.

History

On July 21, 2020, the National Women's Soccer League announced that Los Angeles would be awarded an expansion franchise for the 2022 season.[3] The team was announced with a majority female ownership group led by actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian.[3] Ohanian also represents the club on the league's board of governors.[4] Other founding members of the team included professional tennis player Serena Williams, actors Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner, and Eva Longoria, late night talk show host and YouTuber Lilly Singh, YouTuber Casey Neistat, Broadway Producer Jenna Segal, and former members of the United States national team including Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Rachel Van Hollebeke, Shannon Boxx, Amanda Cromwell, Lorrie Fair, Ronnie Fair, Joy Fawcett, Angela Hucles, Shannon MacMillan, Tisha Venturini, Saskia Webber, Lauren Holiday, and Abby Wambach.[3][2][5][6]

It was also announced during the team's launch that they would be announcing their official name before the end of the year but were going to use 'Angel City' as a tentative nickname.[3] The team was also in discussions with various groups for a stadium agreement, including the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer.[3]

In the time since the club's name was confirmed as Angel City FC on October 21, 2020, additional members of the ownership group were announced, among them tennis great Billie Jean King, former tennis player and current tennis administrator Ilana Kloss, WNBA star Candace Parker, NHL star P. K. Subban, actress and activist Sophia Bush, Latin pop star Becky G, actor and TV host James Corden, former U.S. men's international soccer star Cobi Jones, NFL offensive lineman Ryan Kalil, and "The Vlog Squad" member Natalina Mariduena.[7]

Angel City FC hosted Mexican club Tigres UANL Femenil in the club’s first-ever International Friendly match in August 2022, which Angel City FC won 1-0.[8] The first edition of the Copa Angelina on September 5, 2022 saw Angel City FC fall 2-0 to the Mexico women's national team off a goal by Scarlett Camberos and an own goal.[9]

Naming controversy

The announcement of the Angel City ownership group's franchise agreement caused backlash on social media among women's sports fans and particularly roller derby fans[10] due to the long-standing existence of the popular Angel City Derby. The groundbreaking WFTDA team was established in 2005 by female skaters and consistently ranks among the top derby teams in the world.[11] On October 21, 2020, the club officially confirmed that it would keep the name "Angel City Football Club".[7]

Colors and crest

Angel City FC's official colors are "asphalt" and "armor" with "sol rosa" as an accent color, a pink-tinted hue unique to the club.[12]

On June 30, 2021, the club revealed its crest featuring an angel with wings inspired by the Southern California red-tailed hawk and shaped to mimic the area’s palm trees, with the top of the crest sloping at a 22-degree angle to represent their 2022 entry into the league. The crest was designed by Amedea Tassinari.[13]

The club collaborated with supporters in the design of the colors, crest, and kit to ensure the club represented Los Angeles.[14]

Sponsorship

On November 17, 2021 the club unveiled its primary kit which is made from recycled materials. The all-black primary look features hints of sol rosa and an art deco pattern. The kit will also feature an ‘empowering phrase’ above player names.

The club's eight-figure deal with DoorDash as the main kit sponsor is the largest in the NWSL.[15]

Period Kit manufacturer Front sponsor Back sponsor Sleeve sponsor Ref
2022– Nike DoorDash Sprouts Farmers Market Birdies [16]

Kit history
2022 away
2022– home
2023 away

Stadium

In November 2020, it was announced the team would play its home matches at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park near Downtown Los Angeles.[17][18] BMO Stadium, formerly named Banc of California Stadium until 2023, is also home to Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.[18][19]

Players and staff

Current squad
As of April 17, 2023.[20]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Brittany Isenhour  United States
2 FW Sydney Leroux  United States
3 DF Jasmyne Spencer  United States
5 DF Ali Riley (captain)  New Zealand
6 DF Megan Reid  United States
7 FW Simone Charley  United States
8 MF Julie Ertz  United States
9 MF Savannah McCaskill  United States
10 FW Claire Emslie  Scotland
11 DF Sarah Gorden  United States
12 DF Merritt Mathias  United States
13 GK DiDi Haračić  Bosnia and Herzegovina
14 DF Paige Nielsen  United States
15 FW Scarlett Camberos  Mexico
16 DF Mary Alice Vignola  United States
17 MF Dani Weatherholt  United States
18 FW Jun Endo  Japan
19 GK Angelina Anderson  United States
21 FW Alyssa Thompson  United States
23 FW Christen Press  United States
24 MF Mackenzie Pluck  United States
28 MF Lily Nabet  United States
29 MF Clarisse Le Bihan  France
33 FW Katie Johnson  Mexico
99 DF Madison Hammond  United States

Out on loan
No. Pos. Player Nation
4 DF Vanessa Gilles (at Lyon until June 30, 2023[21])  Canada
25 DF Allyson Swaby (at Paris Saint-Germain until June 30, 2023)  Jamaica

Management and staff
As of August 15, 2022.[22][23]
Executive
President Julie Uhrman
General manager Angela Hucles Mangano
Coaching
Head coach Freya Coombe
Assistant head coach and performance director Robert Udberg
Goalkeeping coach Daniel Ball

Records

Year-by-year
Season League Regular season Playoffs Challenge Cup Avg. attendance
P W D L GF GA Pts Pos
2022 NWSL 22 8 5 9 23 27 29 8th did not qualify — 19,105

Head coaching record
As of October 16, 2022[24]

Only competitive matches are counted. Includes NWSL regular season, playoffs, and Challenge Cup matches.

All-time Angel City FC coaching stats
Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Freya Coombe  England March 19, 2022 present 28 9 6 13 29 40 032.14

References
  1. Creditor, Avi (October 21, 2020). "NWSL L.A. Team Reveals Name, Even More High-Profile Investors". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. Hays, Graham (July 21, 2020). "Hollywood stars and ex-USWNT players unite to bring NWSL team to Los Angeles". ESPN. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  3. "Natalie Portman part of L.A. ownership group for NWSL expansion team in 2022". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  4. Novy-Williams, Eben (April 11, 2023). "NWSL's Sixth Street Deal Has Safeguards for Private Equity First". Sportico. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  5. "Jenna Segal". Angel City FC. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  6. Kriger, Rachael. "Angel City FC confirms name, 2022 NWSL entry, additional owners – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  7. "Angel City Confirms Name as Angel City Football Club and Officially Joins National Women's Soccer League" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  8. "Tigres tamed in Los Angeles: Angel City FC 1, Tigres UANL Femenil 0". July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  9. "Mexico Wins Inaugural Copa Angelina 2–0". Angel City. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  10. "What Angel City Derby Has Accomplished Since 2006". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  11. "Rankings Archives". WFTDA. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  12. "Angel City Logo And Colours Released". footyheadlines.com. July 5, 2021.
  13. "Angel City FC unveils official crest and colors". www.equalizersoccer.com. June 30, 2021.
  14. "Angel City FC unveils franchise's first jersey". www.latimes.com. November 17, 2021.
  15. "DoorDash Signs On As Angel City FC Jersey Sponsor For Club Debut". www.latimes.com. February 18, 2021.
  16. "Angel City FC complete shirt sponsorship hattrick with Sprouts deal". www.sportspromedia.com. March 17, 2021.
  17. "Angel City Football Club To Play At Banc Of California Stadium In Downtown L.A." November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  18. Baxter, Kevin (November 19, 2020). "NWSL's Angel City will play home games at Banc of California Stadium". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "LAFC's home venue renamed as BMO Stadium". MLSsoccer.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  20. "ACFC Roster". Angel City FC.
  21. "Arrivée sous forme de prêt de Vanessa Gilles (Angel City)". www.ol.fr. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  22. "ANGEL CITY NAMES FREYA COOMBE AS HEAD COACH". Angel City FC. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  23. "Angel City Football Club Elevates Angela Hucles Mangano to Team General Manager". Angel City.
  24. "Angel City FC Stats and History". FBRef. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
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