Angel City FC writing their own story as NWSL arrival approaches

I will not have been the only one in recent weeks to have turned my eyes to the west coast of America as one of the most eagerly-awaited arrivals to the NWSL seized centre stage. On 20 March, Angel City FC finally took to the field at the Titan Stadium in California under the guidance of the head coach, Freya Coombe. They emerged to a raucous reception as they made their much-anticipated professional debut.

From this side of the Atlantic too, and across the world, it has been hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Since Natalie Portman and her star-studded board and investors were awarded expansion rights by the NWSL in July 2020, the interest in their efforts both on and off the pitch has continued to grow. As Coombe says, this distinctive group of more than 100 co-owners, two-thirds of whom are women, have added an energy to the project like no other: “It is incredible. Natalie Portman spoke to the whole team on our first day and really set the stage for what is being built here and showed the players that they are a part of something special from the outset.”

The NWSL expansion draft is an alien concept to someone like me, a product of the English football system. But while the expansion process proves a test for any team, Coombe believes there are positives to the system that allows a project like Angel City to emerge. “It is an opportunity to write your own story,” she says. “Angel City is doing things so differently that never would have been possible with an established club. We are attracting new fans and sponsors and shedding a new light on the league as a whole.”

On the pitch, Coombe’s side has come together in a flurry. Since November, they have quickly assembled a roster of players and staff to compete.