Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club is a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team that began play in the 2022 season. Based in Los Angeles, California, the formation of the team was announced on July 21, 2020. The team has many high-profile owners, including Natalie Portman, America Ferrera, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Eva Longoria, 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 coachBecki Tweed (interim)
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
20235th of 12
Playoffs: 5th Seed
WebsiteClub website

Angel City FC 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 NWSL 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 actor Uzo Aduba.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

A three-part documentary chronicling the team's first season entitled Angel City was released in the May of 2023 on HBO.[11]

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]

In October 2021, Angel City pre-emptively retired shirt number 22 to recognize its founding year and the number of players on the pitch during matches. The team sells shirts bearing the number 22 and donates 10 percent of revenue through a charitable program managed by the California Community Foundation.[15]

On November 17, 2021, the club unveiled a black primary kit made of recycled materials. The kit's design features hints of sol rosa, an art deco pattern, and the team's motto "Volemos" above player names.[16]

On March 16, 2023, Angel City released a new secondary kit featuring a print of the Los Angeles County coastline.[17]

Kit history
2022 away
2022–2023 home
2023 away

Sponsorship and revenue

The club's eight-figure deal with DoorDash as the inaugural primary kit sponsor is the largest in the NWSL.[18] Angel City also sold $6 million in merchandise in 2022 to lead the league. The club's revenue accounted for 38.75% of the NWSL's total revenue on the year.[19]

Period Kit manufacturer Front sponsor Back sponsor Sleeve sponsor Ref
2022– Nike DoorDash Sprouts Farmers Market Birdies [20]

Stadium

In November 2020, it was announced the team would play its home matches at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park near Downtown Los Angeles.[21][22] BMO Stadium, formerly named Banc of California Stadium until 2023, is also home to Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.[22][23]

Players

Current squad
As of August 31, 2023.[24]
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
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 MF Scarlett Camberos  Mexico
16 DF M.A. Vignola  United States
17 MF Dani Weatherholt  United States
18 FW Jun Endō  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
26 MF Amandine Henry  France
28 MF Lily Nabet  United States
29 MF Clarisse Le Bihan  France
33 MF 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[25])  Canada

Staff

Current staff
As of June 14, 2023.[26][27][28]
Executive
President Julie Uhrman
General manager Angela Hucles Mangano
Coaching
Interim head coach Becki Tweed
Assistant coach Eleri Earnshaw
Head of Goalkeeping Daniel Ball
Technical Staff
Senior Director of Soccer Operations Marisa Leconte
Director of Player Care Alex Bitaine
Soccer Operations Coordinator Alrick Drummond
Player Care Coordinator Olivia Aluko
Head Equipment Manager Brock Chartier
Director of Medical and Performance Sarah Smith
Head of Sports Science Dan Jones
Head Athletic Trainer Manny De Alba
Director of Rehabilitation Joscelyn Shumate Bourne
Physical Therapist Symiah Campbell

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
2023 NWSL 22 8 7 7 31 30 31 5th TBD Group Stage

Head coaching record
As of June 15, 2023[29]

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

All-time Angel City FC coaching records
Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%
Freya Coombe  England March 19, 2022 June 15, 2023[30] 36 10 9 17 39 53 027.78
Becki Tweed (interim)  England June 15, 2023[30] present 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—

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 (October 21, 2020). "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. "Angel City FC Ownership". Angel City. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. "Tigres tamed in Los Angeles: Angel City FC 1, Tigres UANL Femenil 0". July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  10. "Mexico Wins Inaugural Copa Angelina 2–0". Angel City. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  11. "Hollywood A-listers unite for NWSL team in L.A." ESPN.com. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  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. Hruby, Emma (October 6, 2021). "ACFC announces new player program, retirement of No. 22". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  16. Linehan, Meg (November 17, 2021). "Angel City unveils inaugural primary kit: A 'timeless' look to set the tone for record-breaking aspirations". The Athletic. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  17. "Angel City 2023 Away Kit Released - Can Be Customized With 12 Unique Patches". Footy Headlines. March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  18. "DoorDash Signs On As Angel City FC Jersey Sponsor For Club Debut". Sports Business Journal. February 18, 2021.
  19. "Winners of the 2023 Sports Business Awards". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  20. "Angel City FC complete shirt sponsorship hattrick with Sprouts deal". www.sportspromedia.com. March 17, 2021.
  21. "Angel City Football Club To Play At Banc Of California Stadium In Downtown L.A." November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  22. 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.
  23. "LAFC's home venue renamed as BMO Stadium". MLSsoccer.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  24. "ACFC Roster". Angel City FC.
  25. "Arrivée sous forme de prêt de Vanessa Gilles (Angel City)". www.ol.fr. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  26. "Angel City Football Club Elevates Angela Hucles Mangano to Team General Manager". Angel City FC. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  27. "Technical Staff". angelcity.com. Angel City FC. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  28. Linehan, Meg (June 14, 2023). "Angel City fires coach Freya Coombe after 11th-place start to season". The Athletic. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  29. "Angel City FC Stats and History". FBRef. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  30. "Angel City FC Parts Ways with Freya Coombe". Angel City.
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