Angel City FC

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Angel City FC
Angel City FC logo.svg
Full nameAngel City Football Club
FoundedJuly 21, 2020; 17 months ago (2020-07-21)
StadiumBanc of California Stadium
Capacity22,000
Founders
  • Natalie Portman
  • Julie Uhrman
  • Kara Nortman
PresidentJulie Uhrman
Head coachFreya Coombe
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

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

The team will be 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]

History[]

On July 21, 2020, it was announced by the National Women's Soccer League, the top flight of women's soccer in the United States, 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] 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, 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]

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 have been 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 US men's international soccer star Cobi Jones, NFL offensive lineman Ryan Kalil, and "The Vlog Squad" member Natalie Mariduena.[4]

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[5] due to the long-standing existence of the popular Angel City Derby, a groundbreaking WFTDA team in Los Angeles, established in 2005 by female skaters; consistently ranked among the top derby teams in the world. On October 21, 2020, the club officially confirmed that it would keep the name "Angel City Football Club."[4]

Colors and crest[]

Angel City FC's official colors are "asphalt" and "armour" with "sol rosa" as an accent color, a pink-tinted hue unique to the club.[6]

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.[7]

The club collaborated with supporters in the design of the colors, crest, and kit to ensure the club represented Los Angeles.[8]

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.[9]

Period Kit manufacturer Front sponsor Back sponsor Sleeve sponsor Ref
2022– Nike DoorDash Sprouts Farmers Market Birdies [10]

Stadium[]

In November 2020, it was announced the team would play its home matches at Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park near Downtown Los Angeles.[11] [12] Banc of California Stadium is also home to Los Angeles Football Club of Major League Soccer.[12]

Players and staff[]

Roster[]

As of December 21, 2021.
No. Pos. Player Nation
— GK DiDi Haracic  Bosnia and Herzegovina
— GK Brittany Wilson  United States
— DF Vanessa Gilles  Canada
— DF Sarah Gorden  United States
— DF Paige Nielsen  United States
— DF Allyson Swaby  Jamaica
— DF Mary Alice Vignola  United States
— MF Katie Cousins  United States
— MF Julie Ertz  United States
— MF Savannah McCaskill  United States
— MF Cari Roccaro  United States
— MF Dani Weatherholt  United States
— FW Simone Charley  United States
— FW Jun Endo  Japan
— FW Tyler Lussi  United States
— FW Christen Press  United States
— FW Jasmyne Spencer  United States

Management and staff[]

As of December 20, 2021.[13]
Executive
President Julie Uhrman
Sporting director Eniola Aluko
Vice president of player development and operations Angela Hucles Mangano
Director of scouting and analytics Kim McCauley
Coaching
Head coach Freya Coombe
Assistant head coach and performance director Robert Udberg
Goalkeeping coach Daniel Ball

Head coaching record[]

As of August 23, 2021

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 August 23, 2021 present 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Total 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b "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.
  5. ^ "What Angel City Derby Has Accomplished Since 2006". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Angel City Logo And Colours Released". footyheadlines.com. July 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Angel City FC unveils official crest and colors". www.equalizersoccer.com. June 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Angel City FC unveils franchise's first jersey". www.latimes.com. November 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "DoorDash Signs On As Angel City FC Jersey Sponsor For Club Debut". www.latimes.com. February 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Angel City FC complete shirt sponsorship hattrick with Sprouts deal". www.sportspromedia.com. March 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Angel City Football Club To Play At Banc Of California Stadium In Downtown L.A." November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  12. ^ a b 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.
  13. ^ "ANGEL CITY NAMES FREYA COOMBE AS HEAD COACH". Angel City FC. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

External links[]

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