Jump to content

Angel City FC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2603:6080:4d02:7c4d:a08a:5888:4d6:5da2 (talk) at 15:00, 27 November 2022 (→Current squad). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Angel City FC
Full nameAngel City Football Club
FoundedJuly 21, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-07-21)
StadiumBanc of California Stadium
Capacity22,000
PresidentJulie Uhrman
Head coachFreya Coombe
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
20228th of 12
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitehttps://angelcity.com/
Current season

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 Becky G, Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, and Serena Williams.[1]

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]

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

Angel City FC hosted Mexican football club Tigres UANL Femenil in the club’s first-ever International Friendly match in August 2022, which Angel City FC won 1-0.[5] The first edition of the Copa Angelina on September 5, 2022 saw Angel City FC fall 2-0 to the Mexico women's national football team off a goal by Scarlett Camberos and an own goal.[6]

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[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

The club collaborated with supporters in the design of the colors, crest, and kit to ensure the club represented Los Angeles.[11]

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.[12]

Period Kit manufacturer Front sponsor Back sponsor Sleeve sponsor Ref
2022– Nike DoorDash Sprouts Farmers Market Birdies [13]

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.[14][15] Banc of California Stadium is also home to Los Angeles Football Club of Major League Soccer.[15]

Players and staff

Current squad

As of November 27, 2022.[16]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Brittany Isenhour  United States
2 FW Sydney Leroux  United States
3 FW 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 Cari Roccaro  United States
9 MF Savannah McCaskill  United States
10 FW Claire Emslie  Scotland
11 DF Sarah Gorden  United States
13 GK DiDi Haračić  Bosnia and Herzegovina
14 DF Paige Nielsen  United States
16 DF Mary Alice Vignola  United States
17 MF Dani Weatherholt  United States
18 FW Jun Endo  Japan
20 FW Tyler Lussi  United States
23 FW Christen Press  United States
25 DF Allyson Swaby  Jamaica
28 MF Lily Nabet  United States
29 MF Clarisse Le Bihan  France
99 DF Madison Hammond  United States

Out on loan

No. Pos. Player Nation
4 DF Vanessa Gilles (at Lyon until June 30, 2023[17])  Canada

Management and staff

As of August 15, 2022.[18][19]
Executive
President Julie Uhrman
General manager Angela Hucles Mangano
Director of recruitment Eniola Aluko
Director of scouting and analytics Kim McCauley
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

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 28 9 6 13 33 42 032.14

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. ^ 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. ^ "Tigres tamed in Los Angeles: Angel City FC 1, Tigres UANL Femenil 0". July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mexico Wins Inaugural Copa Angelina 2–0". Angel City. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "What Angel City Derby Has Accomplished Since 2006". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "Rankings Archives". WFTDA. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Angel City Logo And Colours Released". footyheadlines.com. July 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Angel City FC unveils official crest and colors". www.equalizersoccer.com. June 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Angel City FC unveils franchise's first jersey". www.latimes.com. November 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "DoorDash Signs On As Angel City FC Jersey Sponsor For Club Debut". www.latimes.com. February 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Angel City FC complete shirt sponsorship hattrick with Sprouts deal". www.sportspromedia.com. March 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "Angel City Football Club To Play At Banc Of California Stadium In Downtown L.A." November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  15. ^ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "ACFC Roster". Angel City FC.
  17. ^ https://www.ol.fr/fr/actualites/arrivee-sous-forme-de-pret-de-vanessa-gilles-angel-city
  18. ^ "ANGEL CITY NAMES FREYA COOMBE AS HEAD COACH". Angel City FC. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "Angel City Football Club Elevates Angela Hucles Mangano to Team General Manager". Angel City.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Angel_City_FC&oldid=1124139638"