It was revealed on 21st July that Los Angeles based team “Angel City FC” have been given the go ahead to join the NWSL ranks in 2022.
Avid speculation of an LA side has been rife amongst NWSL supporters for some time. Certainly the (naturally Hollywood-esque) announcement finally declaring the fact, did not disappoint. With a star-loaded ownership and an escalating media presence, Angel City have already shown up, and shown up in a big way.
The club boasts a founding ownership of no less than 34 members, the majority of whom are female.
Amongst the names spearheading the club are: actors America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Jennifer Garner (13 Going on 30), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black); talk show host Lilly Singh; tennis legend Serena Williams and her two-year old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
If these headliners weren’t enough, fourteen former USWNT players have also invested, including Mia Hamm and World Cup winners Lauren Holiday and Abby Wambach.
“Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group,” stated leading founder Portman, “I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles.”
NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird also remarked on the news, “we’ve long sought the right partner in LA considering the NWSL fanbase that already exists in the region and the massive interest in women’s soccer in general. Those factors, along with an incredible ownership group make this an ideal situation and we couldn’t be more thrilled to move forward.”
Provisionally named Angel City FC, the club will release its official name and home venue towards the end of the year. It also remains to be seen whether the club will bear any affiliation with either of the LA MLS teams.
Angel City FC are the second expansion side announced this year. Racing Louisville FC will be taking the NWSL’s cohort into double figures as the league’s 10th team, joining in 2021.
By Charlotte Stacey
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