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00:00:01,919 --> 00:00:03,296
[TV static drones]
2
00:00:03,296 --> 00:00:05,798
[bright tone]
3
00:00:16,392 --> 00:00:19,312
- Whoo!
- [chuckling] Whoa.
4
00:00:19,312 --> 00:00:21,814
Wait a minute.
5
00:00:23,357 --> 00:00:25,485
[laughing] Yo!
6
00:00:25,485 --> 00:00:26,944
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I could play here.
7
00:00:26,944 --> 00:00:29,739
I had no idea
how big the screens were.
8
00:00:29,739 --> 00:00:32,617
The Challenge Cup was
a nice kick in the pants
9
00:00:32,617 --> 00:00:33,701
that we needed.
10
00:00:33,701 --> 00:00:36,245
Which, I think
we're all grateful for
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00:00:36,245 --> 00:00:39,457
because, you know,
it's only when things get hard
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00:00:39,457 --> 00:00:41,459
that you're forced to
learn lessons.
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Holy shit.
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00:00:46,839 --> 00:00:50,009
[laughs]
15
00:00:50,009 --> 00:00:51,844
{\an8}- Yep.
- Yup.
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00:00:51,844 --> 00:00:56,098
{\an8}We're hoping for sell-out
which is 22,000 people.
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00:00:57,892 --> 00:00:58,893
{\an8}Yeah.
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00:00:58,893 --> 00:01:02,480
Oh, my God, our home opener
is tomorrow, like--
19
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,273
There's gonna be nerves
with people.
20
00:01:04,273 --> 00:01:05,608
I don't care who you are;
21
00:01:05,608 --> 00:01:08,194
you're gonna look around and
hear the crowd and be nervous.
22
00:01:09,737 --> 00:01:14,659
- Oh, my goodness!
- [chuckles] This is insane.
23
00:01:14,659 --> 00:01:16,661
You got your fit
planned out?
24
00:01:16,661 --> 00:01:18,037
- I do. Do you?
- [laughs]
25
00:01:18,037 --> 00:01:19,455
You're wearing overalls
or what?
26
00:01:19,455 --> 00:01:21,374
- Yeah!
- [laughs]
27
00:01:21,374 --> 00:01:22,375
- Volemos.
- Volemos.
28
00:01:22,375 --> 00:01:23,793
[chatter]
29
00:01:23,793 --> 00:01:25,419
- Yes!
- [laughs]
30
00:01:25,419 --> 00:01:27,880
Completely customized to you
and what you want--
31
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:29,173
if you want a chair,
if you don't want a chair.
32
00:01:29,173 --> 00:01:30,550
I'd like a chair.
33
00:01:30,550 --> 00:01:31,759
I'm good either way.
34
00:01:31,759 --> 00:01:34,262
I like chairs,
I don't like chairs.
35
00:01:35,638 --> 00:01:37,598
Yeah, that's nice.
36
00:01:40,226 --> 00:01:42,061
From Pee Wee League to this?
37
00:01:42,061 --> 00:01:45,189
Like, who would've thought,
you know?
38
00:01:45,189 --> 00:01:46,732
[groans]
39
00:01:46,732 --> 00:01:48,234
[exhales]
40
00:01:48,234 --> 00:01:51,028
This is my tenth season
in the league,
41
00:01:51,028 --> 00:01:55,700
but this is like my first
opportunity on this stage.
42
00:01:57,827 --> 00:02:01,831
I told Dan I was going to
retire last year.
43
00:02:01,831 --> 00:02:04,458
I was second string
with Gotham.
44
00:02:04,458 --> 00:02:07,295
To wake up every day
and tell yourself,
45
00:02:07,295 --> 00:02:10,882
"You're enough, you're good,
keep your confidence"--
46
00:02:10,882 --> 00:02:12,550
it's a grind.
47
00:02:13,175 --> 00:02:15,303
[murmuring] epic.
48
00:02:15,303 --> 00:02:16,929
That is epic.
49
00:02:18,598 --> 00:02:21,183
That's where my mum, dad, and
sister get to sit tomorrow.
50
00:02:21,183 --> 00:02:23,311
They got here yesterday.
51
00:02:23,311 --> 00:02:25,271
But look at this place.
52
00:02:25,271 --> 00:02:27,273
This is unreal.
53
00:02:27,273 --> 00:02:29,358
Welcome to the home
of women's soccer.
54
00:02:29,358 --> 00:02:30,985
Whoo!
55
00:02:30,985 --> 00:02:33,070
{\an8}[energetic music]
56
00:02:33,070 --> 00:02:35,239
{\an8}All right, off we go!
57
00:02:35,239 --> 00:02:38,367
{\an8}Angel City, spread your wings!
58
00:02:38,367 --> 00:02:40,328
{\an8}♪ ♪
59
00:02:40,328 --> 00:02:42,496
{\an8}- U.S. soccer on
the women's side has been
60
00:02:42,496 --> 00:02:45,750
{\an8}fighting for respect.
61
00:02:45,750 --> 00:02:47,960
{\an8}- The mantra always was
"you should be thankful"
62
00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:49,754
{\an8}and "you can't screw it up."
63
00:02:49,754 --> 00:02:51,756
{\an8}- The National Women's
Soccer League just kicked off
64
00:02:51,756 --> 00:02:53,049
{\an8}its tenth season.
65
00:02:53,049 --> 00:02:55,635
{\an8}- Two new clubs coming out
in California.
66
00:02:57,011 --> 00:03:00,014
{\an8}- Angel City Football Club
in Los Angeles is backed by
67
00:03:00,014 --> 00:03:03,142
{\an8}the largest female ownership
group in professional sports.
68
00:03:03,142 --> 00:03:06,312
{\an8}- 14 former U.S. Women's
National Team players
69
00:03:06,312 --> 00:03:08,064
{\an8}are investors.
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00:03:08,064 --> 00:03:09,482
{\an8}- These are the best players
in the world.
71
00:03:09,482 --> 00:03:11,484
{\an8}We're gonna elevate the sport
72
00:03:11,484 --> 00:03:14,320
{\an8}and show how valuable
it truly is.
73
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,948
{\an8}- When you watch
these athletes play,
74
00:03:16,948 --> 00:03:19,951
{\an8}you're changing something
that was formed in your brain
75
00:03:19,951 --> 00:03:22,662
{\an8}about what it means for
a woman to be a woman.
76
00:03:22,662 --> 00:03:25,831
{\an8}[vocalizing]
77
00:03:25,831 --> 00:03:28,793
{\an8}♪ ♪
78
00:03:28,793 --> 00:03:29,794
{\an8}♪ Hey ♪
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00:03:29,794 --> 00:03:32,421
{\an8}[wheels squeaking]
80
00:03:34,256 --> 00:03:38,678
{\an8}[engine whirring]
81
00:03:38,678 --> 00:03:40,680
{\an8}Goal, Angel City.
82
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,306
{\an8}I don't think you've ever seen
a camera person be like,
83
00:03:42,306 --> 00:03:45,518
{\an8}"Hey. How ya doing?"
84
00:03:45,518 --> 00:03:48,062
{\an8}Does it ever blow your mind
how big a soccer field is?
85
00:03:48,062 --> 00:03:49,230
{\an8}- Yeah, soccer fields
are very big.
86
00:03:49,230 --> 00:03:50,982
{\an8}- It's really big.
- Who wants to run this?
87
00:03:50,982 --> 00:03:52,858
{\an8}Like, in football,
you go like short distances
88
00:03:52,858 --> 00:03:54,944
{\an8}and you get to stop.
Like, they don't stop.
89
00:03:54,944 --> 00:03:56,654
It's just--it blows me away
90
00:03:56,654 --> 00:03:58,906
when you think about
how big this is.
91
00:04:00,282 --> 00:04:02,702
LAFC's let us
use their stadium,
92
00:04:02,702 --> 00:04:04,787
but we want it to feel like
Angel City's stadium,
93
00:04:04,787 --> 00:04:06,080
so there's a lot of work
going on
94
00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,498
as far as creating signage,
95
00:04:07,498 --> 00:04:10,501
replacing a lot of LAFC signs
and pathways
96
00:04:10,501 --> 00:04:11,794
so it feels like
our branding's here,
97
00:04:11,794 --> 00:04:14,880
our logo's here,
our crest is here.
98
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,717
You know, the women that are
playing here deserve this.
99
00:04:17,717 --> 00:04:20,720
{\an8}[playing piano]
100
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,015
{\an8}♪ ♪
101
00:04:24,015 --> 00:04:25,725
{\an8}- [discordant chord]
- Oh, that was it.
102
00:04:25,725 --> 00:04:26,976
{\an8}[laughter]
103
00:04:28,394 --> 00:04:30,771
This is where my parents
watch my games.
104
00:04:30,771 --> 00:04:34,358
[chuckles] If they can figure
out CBS and Paramount+.
105
00:04:34,358 --> 00:04:36,861
There's this pressure
to want to do well
106
00:04:36,861 --> 00:04:41,574
now that we have 15,000 plus
season ticket holders.
107
00:04:41,574 --> 00:04:44,869
I want them to buy a season
ticket next year as well.
108
00:04:44,869 --> 00:04:48,039
If we lose every game,
I don't know if I can ask them
109
00:04:48,039 --> 00:04:49,540
to do that.
110
00:04:49,540 --> 00:04:51,876
We have to work damn hard
if we want to beat teams
111
00:04:51,876 --> 00:04:53,836
that have been around
for ten years.
112
00:04:53,836 --> 00:04:56,338
Well, this is where
I practiced my soccer.
113
00:04:56,338 --> 00:04:59,258
And then we had a net
on this hedge.
114
00:04:59,258 --> 00:05:00,968
And so then I would just
dribble around
115
00:05:00,968 --> 00:05:03,262
and then shoot
against the hedge.
116
00:05:03,262 --> 00:05:04,430
And the hedge
was a lot shorter,
117
00:05:04,430 --> 00:05:06,599
and then sometimes
it would go over
118
00:05:06,599 --> 00:05:09,310
into the neighbors' pool.
119
00:05:09,310 --> 00:05:11,103
Wasn't it about that high?
120
00:05:11,103 --> 00:05:13,606
Yeah, I don't know.
How did it get so high?
121
00:05:13,606 --> 00:05:15,775
- Probably as high--
- That was 25 years ago.
122
00:05:15,775 --> 00:05:19,153
The 1999 World Cup was,
I think, really defining.
123
00:05:20,821 --> 00:05:24,200
To see 90,000 people
watching the U.S.,
124
00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,536
that's like something
I will never forget.
125
00:05:27,536 --> 00:05:29,455
I loved Mia Hamm.
I loved Briana Scurry.
126
00:05:29,455 --> 00:05:31,332
I wanted to be a goalie
even though I was
127
00:05:31,332 --> 00:05:33,250
like 2 feet tall.
128
00:05:33,250 --> 00:05:35,586
Briana Scurry was my hero
growing up
129
00:05:35,586 --> 00:05:37,296
{\an8}and why I wanted to play soccer
130
00:05:37,296 --> 00:05:39,840
{\an8}and believed I could play
at this level.
131
00:05:41,425 --> 00:05:44,762
They've laid such an
incredible foundation for us.
132
00:05:46,889 --> 00:05:49,475
{\an8}All the success in 1999
was a real breakthrough
133
00:05:49,475 --> 00:05:50,810
{\an8}for women's soccer,
134
00:05:50,810 --> 00:05:53,062
{\an8}for women's sports
in this country.
135
00:05:53,062 --> 00:05:55,272
{\an8}And it really showed
what's possible.
136
00:05:58,067 --> 00:05:59,151
Goal!
137
00:05:59,151 --> 00:06:02,571
[loud cheers and applause]
138
00:06:02,571 --> 00:06:04,615
Your team has said all along
"We don't want to win.
139
00:06:04,615 --> 00:06:07,201
We want to leave a legacy."
What's the legacy?
140
00:06:07,201 --> 00:06:10,121
All these people in
these stands, 90,000 plus,
141
00:06:10,121 --> 00:06:11,872
and the smiling faces
of these young kids
142
00:06:11,872 --> 00:06:13,999
that are sitting right here.
143
00:06:13,999 --> 00:06:17,545
I have a photo from the
final of the 1999 World Cup
144
00:06:17,545 --> 00:06:19,547
with my face painted
at the Rose Bowl.
145
00:06:19,547 --> 00:06:21,507
{\an8}And so it's like I look at
those photos and I'm like,
146
00:06:21,507 --> 00:06:23,843
{\an8}"I definitely was dreaming
of this."
147
00:06:23,843 --> 00:06:26,137
You know, there wasn't always
leagues to watch.
148
00:06:26,137 --> 00:06:28,097
There weren't always games
to watch.
149
00:06:28,097 --> 00:06:31,350
We kind of had to
make our own dreams.
150
00:06:31,350 --> 00:06:35,521
We're finally realizing
that '99er dream of,
151
00:06:35,521 --> 00:06:37,523
we should be crushing
this space.
152
00:06:37,523 --> 00:06:39,358
That, I think, is
the importance of Angel City
153
00:06:39,358 --> 00:06:40,568
being successful.
154
00:06:40,568 --> 00:06:46,448
Lot of big names, players,
actresses, owners.
155
00:06:46,448 --> 00:06:47,950
Can they pull it off?
156
00:06:49,785 --> 00:06:51,495
{\an8}- We are gonna do our best
to get everything done
157
00:06:51,495 --> 00:06:53,622
{\an8}that we need to get done
for our partners, our fans,
158
00:06:53,622 --> 00:06:55,166
our owners, our community,
159
00:06:55,166 --> 00:06:58,335
our players, our coaches,
and each one of us.
160
00:06:58,335 --> 00:07:00,504
If something doesn't get done
or doesn't make it,
161
00:07:00,504 --> 00:07:02,715
let's just prioritize
what's most important.
162
00:07:02,715 --> 00:07:05,384
Just remember that the person
sitting next to you
163
00:07:05,384 --> 00:07:07,720
and across from you
and on the Zoom is as stressed
164
00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,055
and as busy as you are.
165
00:07:13,642 --> 00:07:18,647
[indistinct chatter]
166
00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:24,153
Welcome home.
167
00:07:24,153 --> 00:07:27,364
[cheers and applause]
168
00:07:27,364 --> 00:07:29,366
This is probably
the nicest room
169
00:07:29,366 --> 00:07:32,203
I've ever been in for a team
meeting, which is great.
170
00:07:32,203 --> 00:07:34,997
{\an8}But this is the standard now
that we deserve
171
00:07:34,997 --> 00:07:37,041
{\an8}as a club, as players,
172
00:07:37,041 --> 00:07:39,126
{\an8}and I think it's great
that we're finally home
173
00:07:39,126 --> 00:07:42,129
{\an8}and we can now start to
build on the rhythm
174
00:07:42,129 --> 00:07:43,631
that we found in preseason
175
00:07:43,631 --> 00:07:48,302
and the success as a way of
making this our home.
176
00:07:48,302 --> 00:07:50,763
Come over here.
[laughter]
177
00:07:50,763 --> 00:07:52,473
Be discreet.
178
00:07:52,473 --> 00:07:55,100
- The slow crawl.
- You are awkward!
179
00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:59,438
Vanessa Gilles, everyone.
[laughter and applause]
180
00:07:59,438 --> 00:08:00,898
Now heading into our season,
181
00:08:00,898 --> 00:08:04,902
I would like to make
the captaincy announcement.
182
00:08:06,278 --> 00:08:09,573
Ali.
[cheers and applause]
183
00:08:10,658 --> 00:08:11,617
Yes!
184
00:08:11,617 --> 00:08:14,078
- Speech, speech!
- Speech!
185
00:08:14,078 --> 00:08:15,913
Moving forward to the game--
186
00:08:15,913 --> 00:08:19,083
We had a turbulent start
with preseason
187
00:08:19,083 --> 00:08:22,127
and it was a real slog,
and we had to get results,
188
00:08:22,127 --> 00:08:24,296
but the results
weren't coming our way.
189
00:08:24,296 --> 00:08:26,840
So the first home game
at the Banc,
190
00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,842
I want to get the win.
191
00:08:28,842 --> 00:08:31,303
[hip-hop music]
192
00:08:31,303 --> 00:08:35,432
I told Freya, if we do
nothing else this season,
193
00:08:35,432 --> 00:08:38,519
if we only win one game,
it has to be the home opener.
194
00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:40,479
♪ ♪
195
00:08:40,479 --> 00:08:42,481
Ooh, game day fresh pair?
196
00:08:42,481 --> 00:08:44,275
Did they get them in time?
197
00:08:44,275 --> 00:08:46,485
{\an8}I ordered five new pairs
of each color.
198
00:08:46,485 --> 00:08:50,030
{\an8}- [laughs]
- I spent $300 on socks.
199
00:08:53,075 --> 00:08:54,702
I got an MRI,
200
00:08:54,702 --> 00:08:58,664
and I have a strained MCL.
201
00:08:59,290 --> 00:09:01,458
We're gonna strap it up,
put on a sleeve,
202
00:09:01,458 --> 00:09:04,837
and just kinda, like, test it
out and see how it feels.
203
00:09:04,837 --> 00:09:06,797
Fingers crossed,
'cause I really wanna be
204
00:09:06,797 --> 00:09:08,340
a part of the magic tomorrow.
205
00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:10,509
It's gonna be really exciting,
and that's, like--
206
00:09:10,509 --> 00:09:11,844
I really wanna be
a part of that.
207
00:09:14,096 --> 00:09:16,473
It's been four months going
through some injury stuff,
208
00:09:16,473 --> 00:09:19,601
and I'm going
absolutely crazy.
209
00:09:19,601 --> 00:09:22,062
I wasn't cleared to play.
210
00:09:22,062 --> 00:09:25,482
The game is finally here,
and I'm not ready.
211
00:09:25,482 --> 00:09:26,984
Yellow, yellow, yellow!
Good.
212
00:09:26,984 --> 00:09:29,653
You know, as much as
it's been difficult preseason
213
00:09:29,653 --> 00:09:31,447
and we've had
a lot of injuries,
214
00:09:31,447 --> 00:09:34,116
there's been lots of things
that've gone wrong--
215
00:09:34,116 --> 00:09:36,952
{\an8}I couldn't have asked for
a better group of women.
216
00:09:36,952 --> 00:09:40,331
{\an8}Like, their hearts, you know,
are in the right place.
217
00:09:40,331 --> 00:09:42,958
♪ Hey ♪
218
00:09:42,958 --> 00:09:44,168
Go!
219
00:09:44,168 --> 00:09:47,087
♪ Hey ♪
220
00:09:47,087 --> 00:09:50,382
Winning is infectious,
but you gotta taste it first.
221
00:09:50,382 --> 00:09:52,760
Go, Katie!
222
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,721
{\an8}- The big screen!
- This is a walkout video
223
00:09:55,721 --> 00:09:57,389
{\an8}- that will play...
- Whoo!
224
00:09:57,389 --> 00:09:58,724
{\an8}Before you guys
enter the field.
225
00:09:58,724 --> 00:10:00,434
{\an8}When it hits the logo,
226
00:10:00,434 --> 00:10:04,355
that's the cue for the smoke,
the pyro, everything, when it--
227
00:10:04,355 --> 00:10:06,398
- All right, hit it.
- Hit it.
228
00:10:06,398 --> 00:10:07,399
Hit it.
229
00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:10,903
[rock music playing on video]
230
00:10:10,903 --> 00:10:14,740
Whoo!
[all cheering]
231
00:10:14,740 --> 00:10:18,827
- Whoo!
- Yay!
232
00:10:18,827 --> 00:10:25,876
♪ ♪
233
00:10:27,294 --> 00:10:28,712
- Yeah!
- Ahh!
234
00:10:28,712 --> 00:10:30,798
[cheering]
235
00:10:30,798 --> 00:10:33,675
[excited chatter]
236
00:10:33,675 --> 00:10:35,761
The team has been
through so much,
237
00:10:35,761 --> 00:10:39,056
and it's
a really special moment.
238
00:10:39,056 --> 00:10:42,184
{\an8}So it was like happiness
but I also was really sad
239
00:10:42,184 --> 00:10:44,978
{\an8}because I don't feel like
I'm a part of
240
00:10:44,978 --> 00:10:47,064
{\an8}that entire special moment.
241
00:10:50,651 --> 00:10:55,239
{\an8}Yeah, but it doesn't
feel like it until I'm back.
242
00:10:55,239 --> 00:10:58,909
And I think a lot of injured
players go through that,
243
00:10:58,909 --> 00:11:01,787
and that's the side
a lot of people don't see.
244
00:11:01,787 --> 00:11:03,747
It's like...
245
00:11:03,747 --> 00:11:06,458
it's tough, it's tough.
246
00:11:06,458 --> 00:11:09,795
[percussive rock music]
247
00:11:09,795 --> 00:11:15,342
{\an8}- This is the first huge test
for Angel City.
248
00:11:15,342 --> 00:11:18,137
{\an8}North Caroline has proven
that they can score.
249
00:11:18,137 --> 00:11:20,347
{\an8}They're averaging
two goals a game,
250
00:11:20,347 --> 00:11:24,268
and Angel City, defensively,
they're not that sound.
251
00:11:24,268 --> 00:11:27,020
I give the win
to North Carolina.
252
00:11:28,564 --> 00:11:30,274
[exhales]
253
00:11:30,274 --> 00:11:33,068
Today is--[sighs]
254
00:11:33,068 --> 00:11:34,653
Today is what
we've been building for.
255
00:11:34,653 --> 00:11:36,447
It's the home opener.
256
00:11:36,447 --> 00:11:38,740
Angel City Football Club--
it's our inaugural game.
257
00:11:38,740 --> 00:11:40,284
"For the last 22 months,
Julie Uhrman
258
00:11:40,284 --> 00:11:41,326
"has been focused on launching
259
00:11:41,326 --> 00:11:43,328
"a women's professional
soccer team
260
00:11:43,328 --> 00:11:44,788
"and little else.
261
00:11:44,788 --> 00:11:46,498
"'My life is Angel City
and my kids,' she said.
262
00:11:46,498 --> 00:11:49,543
"'Sometimes in that order.'
[laughs]
263
00:11:49,543 --> 00:11:52,045
"Taking Angel City
from concept to conclusion
264
00:11:52,045 --> 00:11:53,505
"had been a bumpy ride
for Uhrman.
265
00:11:53,505 --> 00:11:56,675
"Then last fall, the league
fined Angel City twice
266
00:11:56,675 --> 00:11:58,677
"within a six-week period.
267
00:11:58,677 --> 00:12:00,846
"First for announcing
the signing of Press
268
00:12:00,846 --> 00:12:01,889
"before the deal was completed,
269
00:12:01,889 --> 00:12:03,932
"and later for violating
NWSL tampering policy
270
00:12:03,932 --> 00:12:05,559
"in pursuit of midfielder
Allie Long,
271
00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,020
who had played for Coombe
with Gotham FC."
272
00:12:08,020 --> 00:12:09,646
Jesus, you would think
we are, like...
273
00:12:09,646 --> 00:12:11,857
- I know.
- You know, failing.
274
00:12:11,857 --> 00:12:13,692
I mean...
275
00:12:13,692 --> 00:12:15,486
- The pictures are awesome.
- The pictures!
276
00:12:15,486 --> 00:12:16,653
[laughs]
277
00:12:16,653 --> 00:12:20,824
Hey, guys! On our way to
the first ever home opener.
278
00:12:20,824 --> 00:12:24,536
We're making
some over-easy eggs, pancakes,
279
00:12:24,536 --> 00:12:26,497
that's my game day go-to.
280
00:12:26,497 --> 00:12:28,790
My mom is here.
281
00:12:28,790 --> 00:12:30,751
- Hey, everybody!
- [laughs]
282
00:12:30,751 --> 00:12:34,046
She's actually about to iron
my pregame outfit,
283
00:12:34,046 --> 00:12:35,380
so bless her.
284
00:12:35,380 --> 00:12:36,924
Volemos.
285
00:12:38,509 --> 00:12:40,552
Oh, my God!
Look at all the people!
286
00:12:40,552 --> 00:12:42,054
I was shooting a series,
287
00:12:42,054 --> 00:12:45,140
and I flew out
right after work.
288
00:12:45,140 --> 00:12:48,101
{\an8}I land in L.A.,
and I take the COVID test,
289
00:12:48,101 --> 00:12:50,062
{\an8}and it's positive.
290
00:12:50,062 --> 00:12:54,608
{\an8}I was just like, "No!"
291
00:12:54,608 --> 00:12:56,568
I was--it was horrible.
292
00:12:56,568 --> 00:12:58,946
It was horrible.
I was devastated.
293
00:12:58,946 --> 00:13:01,907
[upbeat music playing on PA]
294
00:13:01,907 --> 00:13:05,827
♪ ♪
295
00:13:05,827 --> 00:13:08,288
Look at all these people!
296
00:13:08,288 --> 00:13:10,082
I followed Julie Uhrman around
297
00:13:10,082 --> 00:13:12,000
for my story
at the home opener,
298
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,419
{\an8}and I just remember, like,
somehow I turned into
299
00:13:14,419 --> 00:13:16,755
{\an8}a person that was trying to,
like, get her places.
300
00:13:17,381 --> 00:13:19,174
It does always feel
a little bit
301
00:13:19,174 --> 00:13:21,051
like stepping into
a whirlwind.
302
00:13:21,051 --> 00:13:22,594
We have all this progress
303
00:13:22,594 --> 00:13:24,263
on the marketing
and commercial side,
304
00:13:24,263 --> 00:13:26,473
you have big sponsors
coming in,
305
00:13:26,473 --> 00:13:28,684
we're spending a lot of money.
306
00:13:28,684 --> 00:13:31,603
I think the really important
thing for everyone involved
307
00:13:31,603 --> 00:13:33,855
is to not lose sight
of the fans
308
00:13:33,855 --> 00:13:36,066
who have been there
at the start
309
00:13:36,066 --> 00:13:37,484
and the game.
310
00:13:40,821 --> 00:13:42,406
{\an8}Yeah!
[laughs]
311
00:13:42,406 --> 00:13:44,408
{\an8}This is it.
312
00:13:44,408 --> 00:13:47,786
{\an8}This is crazy.
Hello, hello.
313
00:13:50,163 --> 00:13:51,540
{\an8}I was seeing all the fans.
I'm like,
314
00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:52,874
{\an8}"Is this for
a different event?"
315
00:13:52,874 --> 00:13:54,418
{\an8}But, no it's for us.
316
00:13:54,418 --> 00:13:56,503
{\an8}[laughs]
317
00:13:56,503 --> 00:13:58,297
{\an8}I have no words for you.
318
00:13:58,297 --> 00:14:00,674
{\an8}I got infumed in the car
from the nail polish.
319
00:14:00,674 --> 00:14:02,551
{\an8}- Literally have a headache.
- [laughs]
320
00:14:02,551 --> 00:14:03,719
{\an8}[indistinct chatter]
321
00:14:06,555 --> 00:14:08,724
{\an8}This is what
women's sports deserves--
322
00:14:08,724 --> 00:14:11,018
{\an8}a sold-out crowd,
everyone cheering for them,
323
00:14:11,018 --> 00:14:13,145
{\an8}wearing their scarves
and logos.
324
00:14:13,145 --> 00:14:15,188
{\an8}I am so, so excited.
325
00:14:15,188 --> 00:14:17,316
{\an8}I'm so proud of everyone
in the organization.
326
00:14:17,316 --> 00:14:18,942
{\an8}I can't believe
we're really here.
327
00:14:18,942 --> 00:14:20,652
{\an8}I can't believe
this is happening
328
00:14:20,652 --> 00:14:23,780
{\an8}I never could imagine
that this day was possible,
329
00:14:23,780 --> 00:14:25,616
{\an8}and I know there was
a lot of sleepless nights
330
00:14:25,616 --> 00:14:26,658
{\an8}to get it to here.
331
00:14:26,658 --> 00:14:27,951
{\an8}Just know this:
332
00:14:27,951 --> 00:14:30,662
{\an8}There's never been a press line
before a game
333
00:14:30,662 --> 00:14:33,665
{\an8}- in the history of my career.
- Yes!
334
00:14:33,665 --> 00:14:36,084
{\an8}I'm tired that
when a woman does something,
335
00:14:36,084 --> 00:14:38,211
{\an8}they think we only
do it for women.
336
00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:41,006
{\an8}We do it for everyone,
just like a guy, okay?
337
00:14:41,006 --> 00:14:43,634
So, leadership and
empowerment--let's go for it.
338
00:14:43,634 --> 00:14:45,469
Angel City, you better win.
339
00:14:45,469 --> 00:14:48,472
[tense music]
340
00:14:48,472 --> 00:14:55,354
♪ ♪
341
00:14:55,354 --> 00:14:56,855
Why are you guys
out here right now?
342
00:14:56,855 --> 00:14:58,607
- What's going on?
- Nerves. No.
343
00:14:58,607 --> 00:14:59,691
- No.
- No, we just always--
344
00:14:59,691 --> 00:15:00,901
- Do you do this?
- Yeah, we always
345
00:15:00,901 --> 00:15:02,069
- kick the ball around before.
- Oh, you make me
346
00:15:02,069 --> 00:15:03,320
- wanna kick one.
- Well, I mean, come on in.
347
00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:04,363
{\an8}- Can I kick one?
- Yeah. Here.
348
00:15:04,363 --> 00:15:06,740
{\an8}- All right.
- We've had a request.
349
00:15:06,740 --> 00:15:07,824
{\an8}We've had a kick request.
350
00:15:07,824 --> 00:15:10,577
Natalie and I
were at the same event.
351
00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:14,289
I got up on the stage, and I
ended with something like,
352
00:15:14,289 --> 00:15:15,499
"Make a new friend today.
353
00:15:15,499 --> 00:15:16,875
"Find someone
that you have no reason
354
00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:18,210
"to do any business with
355
00:15:18,210 --> 00:15:20,212
"who you're just curious
to get to know,
356
00:15:20,212 --> 00:15:21,546
give 'em your number."
357
00:15:21,546 --> 00:15:23,256
And one person
came up to me
358
00:15:23,256 --> 00:15:25,550
and gave me their number,
and it's--
359
00:15:25,550 --> 00:15:27,260
Literally,
I can show it to you.
360
00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:30,222
It is still in my phone
as "Natalie P."
361
00:15:30,222 --> 00:15:32,766
She put it in my phone.
I've never changed it.
362
00:15:32,766 --> 00:15:35,560
It's been a while.
I retired in sixth grade.
363
00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,062
Okay.
364
00:15:37,062 --> 00:15:40,440
- I've got faith.
- Yes!
365
00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,027
All right.
I'm gonna call it on that one.
366
00:15:44,027 --> 00:15:47,906
In life, if you're looking
for new openings,
367
00:15:47,906 --> 00:15:50,283
new friendships,
new experiences,
368
00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:52,411
new conversations,
new adventures,
369
00:15:52,411 --> 00:15:54,705
they will start
to present themselves.
370
00:15:54,705 --> 00:15:57,040
You may not even realize
they're occurring.
371
00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:58,917
But once you sort of
open yourself up to 'em
372
00:15:58,917 --> 00:16:00,168
and you say, yes--
373
00:16:00,168 --> 00:16:02,587
and certainly, some of them
were uncomfortable for me--
374
00:16:02,587 --> 00:16:04,756
it's just like pulling
the string
375
00:16:04,756 --> 00:16:07,801
that can lead you
to a place like this.
376
00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:12,097
When I saw
Angel City playing
377
00:16:12,097 --> 00:16:14,975
in the preseason games,
I thought they were awful.
378
00:16:16,017 --> 00:16:17,477
We have the biggest stars
379
00:16:17,477 --> 00:16:19,479
here in Southern California sports.
380
00:16:19,479 --> 00:16:22,399
It's the most crowded sports
landscape in the country,
381
00:16:22,399 --> 00:16:23,400
maybe in the world.
382
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,069
{\an8}There are ways
you can stand out,
383
00:16:26,069 --> 00:16:29,740
{\an8}but bottom line is you need
to succeed on the field.
384
00:16:29,740 --> 00:16:32,075
{\an8}Fans, make some noise!
385
00:16:32,075 --> 00:16:35,120
{\an8}[cheers and applause]
386
00:16:51,178 --> 00:16:52,596
{\an8}- Yeah.
- Right.
387
00:16:57,601 --> 00:16:59,227
For our players,
for many of them,
388
00:16:59,227 --> 00:17:00,437
it's the first time
they've played
389
00:17:00,437 --> 00:17:02,856
in front of a crowd
that size.
390
00:17:02,856 --> 00:17:05,609
You've got all these
celebrities endorsing the club
391
00:17:05,609 --> 00:17:08,111
and such a cauldron
of pressure.
392
00:17:08,111 --> 00:17:10,697
[upbeat music]
393
00:17:10,697 --> 00:17:12,115
{\an8}I grew up playing soccer,
394
00:17:12,115 --> 00:17:13,950
{\an8}and I'm Chicana--
Mexican American,
395
00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:17,788
{\an8}proud to be--and football
is a huge part of our culture.
396
00:17:17,788 --> 00:17:21,291
{\an8}And so, this is a very
full circle moment for me,
397
00:17:21,291 --> 00:17:23,627
{\an8}and I've cried
at least five times today,
398
00:17:23,627 --> 00:17:25,837
{\an8}but very proud to be a part
of this, for sure.
399
00:17:25,837 --> 00:17:28,131
{\an8}[energetic music playing]
400
00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:30,634
{\an8}All right, I have
a quick little addition
401
00:17:30,634 --> 00:17:31,843
{\an8}to the three clap,
402
00:17:31,843 --> 00:17:33,386
{\an8}and I need you all
to be with me
403
00:17:33,386 --> 00:17:36,014
{\an8}because I gotta get
22,000 people together,
404
00:17:36,014 --> 00:17:37,891
{\an8}and we can't practice
this shit.
405
00:17:37,891 --> 00:17:39,184
[laughter]
I'm gonna go,
406
00:17:39,184 --> 00:17:41,853
three clap on three--
boom, boom, boom,
407
00:17:41,853 --> 00:17:44,064
and then you give,
like, a, "Uh!"
408
00:17:44,064 --> 00:17:45,148
[laughter]
Uh!
409
00:17:45,148 --> 00:17:47,317
Whatever it is you want,
but it's from the soul.
410
00:17:47,317 --> 00:17:49,069
- Are you ready? On three.
- Yes!
411
00:17:49,069 --> 00:17:51,154
One, two, three!
[all clapping]
412
00:17:51,154 --> 00:17:52,155
[all grunt]
413
00:17:52,155 --> 00:17:56,326
Oh! It works!
[cheers and applause]
414
00:17:56,326 --> 00:17:57,828
The three clap came from
415
00:17:57,828 --> 00:17:59,663
the early days
of the national team.
416
00:17:59,663 --> 00:18:01,748
You go, "One, two, three. Uh!"
417
00:18:01,748 --> 00:18:04,459
But we were like,
the "Uh!" is from your soul.
418
00:18:04,459 --> 00:18:07,295
Like, that's right before
you go on the field. Let's go!
419
00:18:07,295 --> 00:18:09,005
[cheering]
420
00:18:09,005 --> 00:18:11,049
Please welcome to the pitch
421
00:18:11,049 --> 00:18:15,011
the owners of Angel City
Football Club.
422
00:18:16,888 --> 00:18:20,183
When I met Julie and Kara
and Natalie,
423
00:18:20,183 --> 00:18:22,310
I was blown away.
424
00:18:22,310 --> 00:18:24,729
So Mia and I
were talking about,
425
00:18:24,729 --> 00:18:26,231
"Wow, wouldn't this be
really cool
426
00:18:26,231 --> 00:18:30,235
"if every player who played
on the national team
427
00:18:30,235 --> 00:18:33,864
who had a tie to Southern
California came in?"
428
00:18:33,864 --> 00:18:35,740
[cheering]
429
00:18:35,740 --> 00:18:37,617
We sent out an email
to the group.
430
00:18:37,617 --> 00:18:40,036
Literally, within two hours,
it was like,
431
00:18:40,036 --> 00:18:42,205
"Hell yes!" "Yes!"
"Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!"
432
00:18:42,205 --> 00:18:43,540
"I want in!"
433
00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:45,250
[cheering]
434
00:18:45,250 --> 00:18:47,669
We have 14 former U.S.
Women's National Team players
435
00:18:47,669 --> 00:18:49,004
who are owners on this team.
436
00:18:49,004 --> 00:18:50,255
They are why we are here.
437
00:18:50,255 --> 00:18:53,383
It is their successes,
it was their fight.
438
00:18:53,383 --> 00:18:56,094
They did all the hard work.
439
00:18:56,094 --> 00:18:58,430
Now, they not only
are responsible
440
00:18:58,430 --> 00:19:01,474
for us existing, but now
they have a seat at the table
441
00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:03,935
for how the league grows
and how the sport grows,
442
00:19:03,935 --> 00:19:05,312
and they have
a financial stake
443
00:19:05,312 --> 00:19:06,938
in how this team succeeds.
444
00:19:08,648 --> 00:19:10,066
I'm a dreamer,
445
00:19:10,066 --> 00:19:14,196
{\an8}but I never expected to be part
of an ownership group
446
00:19:14,196 --> 00:19:16,656
{\an8}of any professional
sports team,
447
00:19:16,656 --> 00:19:20,410
{\an8}let alone the sport
that I played, loved,
448
00:19:20,410 --> 00:19:24,080
and helped build in this
country for so many years.
449
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,292
[cheering]
450
00:19:27,292 --> 00:19:29,461
Everything about what
we've done so far this year
451
00:19:29,461 --> 00:19:30,962
has been a process.
452
00:19:30,962 --> 00:19:33,340
We're getting better,
and better, and better
453
00:19:33,340 --> 00:19:36,009
each game we play,
and today's just another game
454
00:19:36,009 --> 00:19:37,969
for us to showcase
that we're getting better.
455
00:19:37,969 --> 00:19:40,805
Okay? Focus on the process.
Stay in the moment.
456
00:19:40,805 --> 00:19:43,308
Enjoy the game.
[cheering]
457
00:19:43,308 --> 00:19:45,977
[applause]
458
00:19:45,977 --> 00:19:48,229
Yes, beautiful people,
459
00:19:48,229 --> 00:19:50,607
do you know what's better
460
00:19:50,607 --> 00:19:52,400
than putting on
for your city?
461
00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,819
♪ Is your city
putting on for you, whoo ♪
462
00:19:54,819 --> 00:19:56,780
♪ Yeah, the city's
putting on for you, huh ♪
463
00:19:56,780 --> 00:19:58,782
♪ See the real,
recognize the truth, uh ♪
464
00:19:58,782 --> 00:20:01,159
♪ And now you, and now I'm ♪
465
00:20:01,159 --> 00:20:07,332
both: ♪ And now I'm running
with the Angels ♪
466
00:20:07,332 --> 00:20:10,251
♪ Whoo ♪
467
00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:15,423
♪ And now I'm running
with the Angels ♪
468
00:20:16,466 --> 00:20:20,053
{\an8}Eight, seven, six, five.
469
00:20:20,053 --> 00:20:22,472
{\an8}- Standby, Michelle.
- And then take one.
470
00:20:22,472 --> 00:20:25,850
{\an8}Ready, three, and...
471
00:20:25,850 --> 00:20:26,851
{\an8}take three.
472
00:20:26,851 --> 00:20:29,854
{\an8}♪ You know it's the queen ♪
473
00:20:29,854 --> 00:20:33,775
And now,
your starting 11
474
00:20:33,775 --> 00:20:36,861
for Angel City Football Club.
475
00:20:36,861 --> 00:20:40,907
[cheers and applause]
476
00:20:40,907 --> 00:20:43,326
[upbeat music playing]
477
00:20:43,326 --> 00:20:50,792
♪ ♪
478
00:20:50,792 --> 00:20:53,545
This atmosphere
in Banc of California Stadium
479
00:20:53,545 --> 00:20:55,630
has been increasing
by the minute,
480
00:20:55,630 --> 00:20:58,008
and you can see the supporters
group is unveiling
481
00:20:58,008 --> 00:21:00,427
their first
regular season tifo.
482
00:21:00,427 --> 00:21:03,346
This is one of the largest
tifos in NWSL history.
483
00:21:03,346 --> 00:21:07,058
It covers the entirety
of the supporters' section.
484
00:21:07,058 --> 00:21:09,644
It reads, "A new dawn,"
in Spanish,
485
00:21:09,644 --> 00:21:12,063
and Angel City FC
has been adamant
486
00:21:12,063 --> 00:21:14,858
that they're not just bringing
a soccer team to Los Angeles,
487
00:21:14,858 --> 00:21:16,443
they're bringing
a sense of community,
488
00:21:16,443 --> 00:21:19,195
and that's what tonight
is really all about.
489
00:21:19,195 --> 00:21:22,532
[bluesy music playing]
490
00:21:22,532 --> 00:21:25,368
♪ Dragonfly out in the sun,
you know what I mean... ♪
491
00:21:25,368 --> 00:21:29,247
Angel City in black,
North Carolina in white.
492
00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:34,794
I'm seeing nerves
on some of those faces.
493
00:21:34,794 --> 00:21:36,755
Would you have nerves,
do you think?
494
00:21:36,755 --> 00:21:38,131
Absolutely.
495
00:21:38,131 --> 00:21:40,091
And then you run it out
in the first five.
496
00:21:40,091 --> 00:21:41,468
That's right.
497
00:21:41,468 --> 00:21:42,886
Now you know you're in L.A.
498
00:21:42,886 --> 00:21:45,305
All right, off we go!
Kickoff.
499
00:21:45,305 --> 00:21:47,098
We're in Banc of California Stadium.
500
00:21:47,098 --> 00:21:49,100
Two years in the making
501
00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:53,063
to get Angel City FC
from a dream to a reality.
502
00:21:53,063 --> 00:21:56,107
And now
the actual soccer begins.
503
00:21:56,107 --> 00:21:59,277
[coaches shouting]
504
00:21:59,861 --> 00:22:01,237
Similar ball,
a little higher, though,
505
00:22:01,237 --> 00:22:02,739
from McCaskill.
506
00:22:02,739 --> 00:22:04,616
Headed back across.
507
00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:07,869
Jun Endo,
one move to get free.
508
00:22:07,869 --> 00:22:10,080
Left footed serve--
And, ohh!
509
00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,749
What a start for Angel City!
510
00:22:12,749 --> 00:22:14,292
[crowd cheering]
511
00:22:14,292 --> 00:22:16,461
Yes!
512
00:22:18,046 --> 00:22:22,300
- [screaming]
- Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!
513
00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:24,677
Yeah! Called it!
Fuckin' called it!
514
00:22:24,677 --> 00:22:26,513
Let's go!
515
00:22:26,513 --> 00:22:29,682
Yes! Yes!
516
00:22:29,682 --> 00:22:33,561
Whoo! Whoo!
517
00:22:41,694 --> 00:22:43,446
Endo, just a quick
little touch there
518
00:22:43,446 --> 00:22:45,281
bypasses the pressure
of O'Sullivan.
519
00:22:45,281 --> 00:22:47,408
Now she's got time
to pick out a target.
520
00:22:47,408 --> 00:22:51,788
And there are three players
in the box, wide open.
521
00:22:51,788 --> 00:22:56,626
And Gilles makes no mistake
with this conversion.
522
00:22:56,626 --> 00:22:58,962
The home opener against
North Carolina at the Banc--
523
00:22:58,962 --> 00:23:02,590
{\an8}top three
of my sporting moments ever.
524
00:23:02,590 --> 00:23:04,551
{\an8}It was just electric.
525
00:23:04,551 --> 00:23:07,846
[playing drums, chanting]
526
00:23:07,846 --> 00:23:11,141
Come on, get it out now.
Keep it going!
527
00:23:15,145 --> 00:23:17,605
McCaskill, big switch.
It's there.
528
00:23:18,648 --> 00:23:20,859
Endo tracks it down.
529
00:23:20,859 --> 00:23:23,653
Endo in the box,
in the corner!
530
00:23:23,653 --> 00:23:25,655
[crowd cheering]
531
00:23:25,655 --> 00:23:29,659
The lead now doubled,
as Endo, in the books.
532
00:23:29,659 --> 00:23:31,703
Yeah!
533
00:23:33,413 --> 00:23:36,958
Well, it is an incredibly
electric start for Angel City.
534
00:23:36,958 --> 00:23:39,002
McCaskill does so well
just to change it.
535
00:23:39,002 --> 00:23:41,838
You can see the narrow shape
of North Carolina.
536
00:23:41,838 --> 00:23:43,089
You get out that weak side,
537
00:23:43,089 --> 00:23:45,049
now there's green
to run into,
538
00:23:45,049 --> 00:23:48,178
and Endo just
gobbles up that space.
539
00:23:48,178 --> 00:23:49,554
And now she's still
got work to do
540
00:23:49,554 --> 00:23:51,222
because that's a difficult angle,
541
00:23:51,222 --> 00:23:53,391
but she slides this one
on the ground,
542
00:23:53,391 --> 00:23:56,144
right past Rowland.
543
00:23:56,144 --> 00:24:01,107
Jun Endo, her first NWSL
regular season goal.
544
00:24:01,107 --> 00:24:04,819
Angel City FC,
starting off with a bang
545
00:24:04,819 --> 00:24:07,530
in every way you could imagine
here tonight.
546
00:24:07,530 --> 00:24:09,032
♪ ♪
547
00:24:09,032 --> 00:24:12,035
♪ Hey, hey ♪
548
00:24:12,035 --> 00:24:15,205
Done a fucking great job
of putting pressure on them.
549
00:24:15,205 --> 00:24:16,915
The next five minutes
of the half,
550
00:24:16,915 --> 00:24:19,209
they are gonna come out
with a lot of pressure.
551
00:24:19,209 --> 00:24:21,502
So we need to think about
just absorbing that pressure
552
00:24:21,502 --> 00:24:23,755
by being really organized,
really compact,
553
00:24:23,755 --> 00:24:25,298
making it hard to play.
554
00:24:25,298 --> 00:24:28,509
This is a brilliant,
brilliant start.
555
00:24:28,509 --> 00:24:30,553
It's a start.
Let's finish the game.
556
00:24:33,014 --> 00:24:36,142
Emily Gray,
first NWSL start tonight.
557
00:24:36,142 --> 00:24:38,978
Left footer,
ball in the box, header!
558
00:24:38,978 --> 00:24:42,732
Hello, North Carolina!
Debinha scores.
559
00:24:42,732 --> 00:24:45,735
[percussive pop music]
560
00:24:45,735 --> 00:24:47,654
♪ ♪
561
00:24:47,654 --> 00:24:49,781
If someone had told you at
the beginning of this match,
562
00:24:49,781 --> 00:24:52,367
"Okay, Angel City
gets a 2-2 draw out of this
563
00:24:52,367 --> 00:24:53,952
against North Carolina,"
you'd probably say--
564
00:24:53,952 --> 00:24:55,286
- You'd take it.
- Yeah, it's pretty good.
565
00:24:55,286 --> 00:24:57,747
But at this point,
to have held on for this long,
566
00:24:57,747 --> 00:24:59,582
you think,
oh, you want those full--
567
00:24:59,582 --> 00:25:02,252
you need those
full three points.
568
00:25:02,252 --> 00:25:04,295
Honestly, I wanted to puke.
569
00:25:04,295 --> 00:25:05,755
Like, I was so nervous.
570
00:25:05,755 --> 00:25:08,508
It's way worse watching
than being on the field.
571
00:25:08,508 --> 00:25:10,802
But then, like,
Jun was going off.
572
00:25:10,802 --> 00:25:13,304
And I was like, oh, crap,
we could be good.
573
00:25:13,304 --> 00:25:14,639
We're going this way.
574
00:25:14,639 --> 00:25:17,308
- Jen, do you wanna go?
- I need a cowbell!
575
00:25:17,308 --> 00:25:18,726
Yes!
576
00:25:18,726 --> 00:25:21,145
[chanting]
577
00:25:21,145 --> 00:25:27,485
♪ ♪
578
00:25:29,028 --> 00:25:31,239
[crowd cheering]
579
00:25:31,239 --> 00:25:33,616
Crowd sensing
the moment is near.
580
00:25:33,616 --> 00:25:36,244
[whistle blares]
And it is here!
581
00:25:36,244 --> 00:25:39,163
Angel City, spread your wings!
582
00:25:39,163 --> 00:25:44,877
You've got a win in your first
NWSL regular season game.
583
00:25:44,877 --> 00:25:48,131
[cheers and applause]
584
00:25:48,131 --> 00:25:51,384
Oh, my God!
Oh, my God.
585
00:25:51,384 --> 00:25:54,345
Genuinely one of
the best days of my life.
586
00:25:54,345 --> 00:25:57,890
{\an8}[upbeat music]
587
00:25:57,890 --> 00:25:59,392
{\an8}We did it!
588
00:26:01,436 --> 00:26:02,812
{\an8}So good!
589
00:26:05,273 --> 00:26:06,649
I was lucky enough
to have a lot
590
00:26:06,649 --> 00:26:09,319
of my friends and family
in the stands.
591
00:26:09,319 --> 00:26:13,364
They've seen my journey and how
difficult it was at times.
592
00:26:13,364 --> 00:26:15,325
My mom, who's passed away,
593
00:26:15,325 --> 00:26:17,618
and what it would've meant
for her to see me,
594
00:26:17,618 --> 00:26:18,661
and she would've been proud.
595
00:26:18,661 --> 00:26:21,706
So, it was unreal
to have that achievement.
596
00:26:21,706 --> 00:26:26,461
[laughs] Sorry.
597
00:26:26,461 --> 00:26:29,547
We're a club
for the community.
598
00:26:29,547 --> 00:26:32,425
We're representing you guys.
599
00:26:32,425 --> 00:26:34,052
We want you to feel
a part of it,
600
00:26:34,052 --> 00:26:35,887
and we want our win
on the field
601
00:26:35,887 --> 00:26:37,555
to feel like your win.
602
00:26:37,555 --> 00:26:41,893
[crowd cheering]
603
00:26:41,893 --> 00:26:43,936
{\an8}There was just, like,
so much excitement
604
00:26:43,936 --> 00:26:46,397
{\an8}that there was no way
we weren't gonna win,
605
00:26:46,397 --> 00:26:49,067
{\an8}at least in our mindset.
606
00:26:49,067 --> 00:26:52,028
I know what it's like
to play in a packed stadium,
607
00:26:52,028 --> 00:26:53,863
but the Angel City
gameday experience
608
00:26:53,863 --> 00:26:55,573
is just very unique.
609
00:26:55,573 --> 00:26:59,702
It is wild and joyous.
610
00:26:59,702 --> 00:27:01,537
It's about so much more
than football,
611
00:27:01,537 --> 00:27:03,164
and you feel that
on the field.
612
00:27:03,164 --> 00:27:04,374
players: AC!
613
00:27:04,374 --> 00:27:05,583
all: FC!
614
00:27:05,583 --> 00:27:07,877
players: AC!
all: FC!
615
00:27:07,877 --> 00:27:10,755
[all cheering]
616
00:27:10,755 --> 00:27:12,131
It was--it was just--
617
00:27:12,131 --> 00:27:13,758
You can't write it.
You can't write it.
618
00:27:13,758 --> 00:27:16,302
This--it's a Hollywood ending
that nobody believes.
619
00:27:16,302 --> 00:27:19,639
♪ ♪
620
00:27:29,107 --> 00:27:30,650
What's up, Katelyn?
621
00:27:30,650 --> 00:27:32,568
- How's it going?
- Good.
622
00:27:34,821 --> 00:27:37,115
Is it just us from the office
that are on the call?
623
00:27:37,115 --> 00:27:39,075
- Yeah.
- No one else is here?
624
00:27:39,075 --> 00:27:41,285
Each week,
we'll do a gameday recap.
625
00:27:41,285 --> 00:27:43,579
Like, what went well,
what went poorly,
626
00:27:43,579 --> 00:27:45,081
what could be better.
627
00:27:45,081 --> 00:27:46,124
Should we be
thinking about ways
628
00:27:46,124 --> 00:27:47,625
of getting more people there
more easily--
629
00:27:47,625 --> 00:27:49,127
how to help outside of
what we're already doing?
630
00:27:49,127 --> 00:27:51,504
And then, you know,
the pregame experience, right,
631
00:27:51,504 --> 00:27:53,631
like, again, trying to
hype up what they can do
632
00:27:53,631 --> 00:27:54,674
in addition to the game?
633
00:27:54,674 --> 00:27:57,969
{\an8}- Like, what is our plan
for, like,
634
00:27:57,969 --> 00:28:00,012
{\an8}that hit in, like,
the dead of summer,
635
00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:01,264
like, through September.
636
00:28:01,264 --> 00:28:04,142
And let's assume that the team
is not in contention.
637
00:28:04,142 --> 00:28:05,184
- Yeah.
- Right, so, like,
638
00:28:05,184 --> 00:28:06,769
let's just, like,
prepare for battle.
639
00:28:06,769 --> 00:28:08,312
Okay.
640
00:28:08,312 --> 00:28:10,148
All right.
641
00:28:10,148 --> 00:28:11,816
Look, we want sellout crowds.
642
00:28:11,816 --> 00:28:13,443
Like, we don't want it
to be a one-off.
643
00:28:13,443 --> 00:28:15,945
Like, it's incredible that
we did it for a home opener,
644
00:28:15,945 --> 00:28:18,656
but now the bogey is,
I wanna sell out another game.
645
00:28:18,656 --> 00:28:20,324
Right, and then I'm gonna wanna
sell out another game.
646
00:28:20,324 --> 00:28:23,453
It's, how do we create
the experience for the fans?
647
00:28:23,453 --> 00:28:24,620
How do we win on the pitch
648
00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:26,998
that drives them
to wanna come?
649
00:28:26,998 --> 00:28:28,499
We have to keep
raising the bar.
650
00:28:31,544 --> 00:28:34,630
{\an8}Today, they invited us
to watch practice,
651
00:28:34,630 --> 00:28:36,382
{\an8}and I think
that's really special.
652
00:28:36,382 --> 00:28:38,509
{\an8}I'd say a supporter
supports is--
653
00:28:38,509 --> 00:28:41,679
{\an8}it's the ultimate fan,
the ultra fan, really.
654
00:28:41,679 --> 00:28:44,348
{\an8}We have friends that--
sometimes we say fans,
655
00:28:44,348 --> 00:28:46,767
{\an8}not to be, you know,
demean them or anything--
656
00:28:46,767 --> 00:28:48,436
{\an8}but, you know, showing up
right at kickoff
657
00:28:48,436 --> 00:28:50,229
going to the game,
and then going home.
658
00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:51,647
For us, it's an all-day thing.
659
00:28:51,647 --> 00:28:53,524
It's an all-day event.
It's an all-week event.
660
00:28:53,524 --> 00:28:55,860
[crowd cheering]
661
00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:57,695
Yeah, keep doing it.
Keep making all that noise,
662
00:28:57,695 --> 00:28:59,822
'cause we intimidate the--
663
00:28:59,822 --> 00:29:01,824
out of other teams.
[cheering, laughter]
664
00:29:01,824 --> 00:29:02,909
And that's what
we wanna have,
665
00:29:02,909 --> 00:29:04,994
so, it's really appreciated
666
00:29:04,994 --> 00:29:06,579
and honestly,
it's the best atmosphere
667
00:29:06,579 --> 00:29:08,206
that I've ever experienced
on game day
668
00:29:08,206 --> 00:29:10,708
and that the players
have ever experienced, as well.
669
00:29:10,708 --> 00:29:11,834
- Boom, boom.
- FC.
670
00:29:11,834 --> 00:29:13,961
AC, boom, boom. AC.
671
00:29:13,961 --> 00:29:15,838
- Como están?
- Bien!
672
00:29:15,838 --> 00:29:19,258
[speaking Spanish]
673
00:29:19,258 --> 00:29:20,593
- Thank you. Cheers.
- Thank you so much.
674
00:29:20,593 --> 00:29:21,719
- Appreciate it.
- Hey, Coach.
675
00:29:21,719 --> 00:29:23,721
So this is the actual flag
676
00:29:23,721 --> 00:29:26,057
that we used to wave
at the MLS games
677
00:29:26,057 --> 00:29:28,142
to get first ever--
bringing the first--
678
00:29:28,142 --> 00:29:30,436
I love it! The OG flag.
679
00:29:30,436 --> 00:29:32,522
[chatter]
680
00:29:32,522 --> 00:29:34,732
It's work.
I mean, we wake up early,
681
00:29:34,732 --> 00:29:37,235
{\an8}and get ready for games,
tailgates, I mean,
682
00:29:37,235 --> 00:29:38,611
{\an8}where they're not
gonna play till 7:00,
683
00:29:38,611 --> 00:29:40,530
{\an8}but we're getting ready
at 8:00 a.m.
684
00:29:40,530 --> 00:29:42,865
to set up our tailgate,
set up what we need to do.
685
00:29:42,865 --> 00:29:45,826
And, you know,
he's grilling tacos for hours.
686
00:29:45,826 --> 00:29:48,079
[voice cracking] And, like,
it's worth us supporting.
687
00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:49,539
Like, we signed up
to be supporters,
688
00:29:49,539 --> 00:29:51,832
but I didn't think
it'd be at this level,
689
00:29:51,832 --> 00:29:53,292
like, where they appreciate it
690
00:29:53,292 --> 00:29:56,921
and they show us
that they really appreciate it.
691
00:29:56,921 --> 00:29:58,714
So it feels good.
[laughs]
692
00:29:58,714 --> 00:30:01,050
The work is not for nothing.
693
00:30:03,177 --> 00:30:06,639
People care, and they wanna
know what you stand for,
694
00:30:06,639 --> 00:30:08,766
and they wanna know
how you spend your afternoon,
695
00:30:08,766 --> 00:30:12,103
and they want you to show up
as a full human.
696
00:30:12,103 --> 00:30:13,604
I love that.
697
00:30:13,604 --> 00:30:15,773
They're my fans, like,
from my hometown,
698
00:30:15,773 --> 00:30:18,276
and, like, I immediately felt,
like, honestly,
699
00:30:18,276 --> 00:30:20,736
some ownership over them,
and, like,
700
00:30:20,736 --> 00:30:22,572
that they had ownership
over me.
701
00:30:22,572 --> 00:30:25,658
You know,
and I just felt that bond
702
00:30:25,658 --> 00:30:28,286
that was, like, wow, like,
I have said, like,
703
00:30:28,286 --> 00:30:31,455
this is where I want to play
for these people,
704
00:30:31,455 --> 00:30:33,416
and these people
actually, like,
705
00:30:33,416 --> 00:30:35,293
campaigned for me
to come here.
706
00:30:35,293 --> 00:30:38,129
[chatter]
707
00:30:38,129 --> 00:30:41,632
So much of what we do,
we, like, give to the fans
708
00:30:41,632 --> 00:30:44,135
and then, like, in return,
I got, like, the best gift
709
00:30:44,135 --> 00:30:46,387
of my life, to come home
because of them.
710
00:30:46,387 --> 00:30:48,639
And I really do feel like
me being here
711
00:30:48,639 --> 00:30:50,349
is because of the fans.
712
00:30:50,349 --> 00:30:51,976
{\an8}[chatter]
713
00:30:51,976 --> 00:30:55,021
{\an8}[speaking Japanese]
714
00:31:08,659 --> 00:31:12,330
{\an8}- As part of the strategy
for us building a new team,
715
00:31:12,330 --> 00:31:16,459
{\an8}having an international
team of players
716
00:31:16,459 --> 00:31:18,419
{\an8}that would reflect
the community
717
00:31:18,419 --> 00:31:21,005
I think was really key
to what the vision
718
00:31:21,005 --> 00:31:22,173
in what we're building.
719
00:31:22,173 --> 00:31:23,466
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
720
00:31:23,466 --> 00:31:25,384
- May I wear it?
- Of course.
721
00:31:25,384 --> 00:31:27,678
- Thank you.
- Jun Endo being
722
00:31:27,678 --> 00:31:30,389
our first Japanese player
723
00:31:30,389 --> 00:31:32,516
is gonna be massive
for the Japanese community,
724
00:31:32,516 --> 00:31:34,018
who are gonna come
and pay tickets
725
00:31:34,018 --> 00:31:35,353
to come and watch us play.
726
00:31:35,353 --> 00:31:37,271
That conversation and strategy
727
00:31:37,271 --> 00:31:40,733
is beyond Jun Endo
on the field, right?
728
00:31:40,733 --> 00:31:44,070
So, I have to think about
a much wider lens for the club.
729
00:31:44,070 --> 00:31:47,823
Okay.
[laughter]
730
00:31:47,823 --> 00:31:49,450
Yeah, there we go.
731
00:31:49,450 --> 00:31:52,328
[laughter]
732
00:31:52,328 --> 00:31:56,582
[chatter]
[upbeat music playing on PA]
733
00:31:56,582 --> 00:31:59,877
Let's go, Angel City!
Whoo!
734
00:31:59,877 --> 00:32:02,880
♪ ♪
735
00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:04,715
7,900 so far.
736
00:32:04,715 --> 00:32:05,883
Wow.
737
00:32:05,883 --> 00:32:07,426
We're expecting, what, 19,000?
738
00:32:07,426 --> 00:32:08,761
We sold 19,000,
there's always--
739
00:32:08,761 --> 00:32:10,388
- Oh, sold 19,000.
- Well, we sold 19,000
740
00:32:10,388 --> 00:32:12,098
first thing this morning,
but there's always walkup,
741
00:32:12,098 --> 00:32:14,058
and that could be--
we could be 300, 600,
742
00:32:14,058 --> 00:32:16,227
800 more from walk-up.
743
00:32:16,227 --> 00:32:18,062
And then you don't know
how many people actually show.
744
00:32:18,062 --> 00:32:20,398
I mean, this is already
more than Washington had.
745
00:32:20,398 --> 00:32:22,566
- 30 minutes from kickoff--
- I said today--
746
00:32:22,566 --> 00:32:25,069
I said to someone today,
"We start counting at 15,000."
747
00:32:25,069 --> 00:32:29,532
They were like, "We would love
15,000 just once a year."
748
00:32:29,532 --> 00:32:31,909
- We're almost at 16,000.
- Julie, it's amazing.
749
00:32:31,909 --> 00:32:33,869
- I know.
- It really is.
750
00:32:33,869 --> 00:32:36,872
[pop music playing on PA]
751
00:32:36,872 --> 00:32:39,083
♪ ♪
752
00:32:39,083 --> 00:32:41,460
- Hi! How are you?
- How are you?
753
00:32:41,460 --> 00:32:43,421
I'm obsessed
with Jasmyne Spencer.
754
00:32:43,421 --> 00:32:45,423
- Right?
- I think she's, like--
755
00:32:45,423 --> 00:32:47,299
- I love Jasmyne.
- She's, like, MVP to me.
756
00:32:47,299 --> 00:32:48,843
Like, I feel like
she's just, like,
757
00:32:48,843 --> 00:32:50,386
always where she needs to be.
758
00:32:50,386 --> 00:32:52,471
Her progression over--
she's amazing.
759
00:32:52,471 --> 00:32:53,848
Insane.
760
00:32:53,848 --> 00:32:56,684
And my son's, like,
all about Endo.
761
00:32:56,684 --> 00:32:58,102
- Everyone is.
- He's just like--
762
00:32:58,102 --> 00:33:00,104
I mean, she's a star.
763
00:33:00,104 --> 00:33:02,022
{\an8}And then my husband's like...
764
00:33:04,525 --> 00:33:05,735
{\an8}- [laughs]
- She moves it like--
765
00:33:05,735 --> 00:33:07,903
{\an8}he's like, "She moves like
a dancer." [laughs]
766
00:33:07,903 --> 00:33:08,904
{\an8}I love it.
767
00:33:08,904 --> 00:33:10,906
{\an8}Press gets in behind guard.
768
00:33:10,906 --> 00:33:13,117
{\an8}Christen Press scores!
769
00:33:13,117 --> 00:33:15,661
It's her first
regular season goal
770
00:33:15,661 --> 00:33:18,748
in an Angel City uniform.
771
00:33:18,748 --> 00:33:21,459
Christen scored
a brilliant goal,
772
00:33:21,459 --> 00:33:24,170
and she's gonna keep scoring
for us, I know it.
773
00:33:24,170 --> 00:33:25,963
But I told her,
even if she doesn't
774
00:33:25,963 --> 00:33:28,257
we all still love her.
775
00:33:28,257 --> 00:33:31,677
I went in with
two minutes left.
776
00:33:31,677 --> 00:33:34,472
But I got in, and I made it,
and we won.
777
00:33:35,723 --> 00:33:37,933
When I stepped on that field,
778
00:33:37,933 --> 00:33:40,853
I was like,
this is why I love it so much.
779
00:33:40,853 --> 00:33:42,813
{\an8}Everyone has
each other's backs,
780
00:33:42,813 --> 00:33:44,940
{\an8}and it's bigger than soccer.
781
00:33:44,940 --> 00:33:49,987
{\an8}- It's over the wall
and kept out from Haracic.
782
00:33:49,987 --> 00:33:51,614
DiDi, fucking brilliant save.
783
00:33:51,614 --> 00:33:52,948
{\an8}Really good work.
[applause]
784
00:33:52,948 --> 00:33:56,202
{\an8}[cheers and applause]
785
00:33:56,202 --> 00:33:59,163
Slightly gets away,
good recovery from Ball.
786
00:33:59,163 --> 00:34:01,290
Press back to her feet,
centering it,
787
00:34:01,290 --> 00:34:04,043
and it's an own goal!
788
00:34:04,043 --> 00:34:06,504
Just a hopeful ball
from Christen Press,
789
00:34:06,504 --> 00:34:09,173
last touched by Taylor Leach.
790
00:34:09,173 --> 00:34:12,092
I got a raspberry.
791
00:34:12,092 --> 00:34:14,345
- That's to remember it for.
- Yeah, there you go.
792
00:34:14,345 --> 00:34:15,971
- That was me for a minute.
- Well done.
793
00:34:15,971 --> 00:34:17,181
Wasn't pretty, but we did it.
794
00:34:17,181 --> 00:34:18,682
{\an8}- Yeah.
- Good game.
795
00:34:18,682 --> 00:34:21,644
{\an8}[crowd cheering]
796
00:34:22,144 --> 00:34:23,354
Just hold there.
Just hold there.
797
00:34:23,354 --> 00:34:25,231
Hold in that space.
798
00:34:25,231 --> 00:34:32,154
♪ ♪
799
00:34:33,155 --> 00:34:35,241
Yes!
[crowd cheering]
800
00:34:42,289 --> 00:34:44,542
[chatter]
801
00:34:44,542 --> 00:34:48,879
One of our greatest strengths
is who we are as a collective
802
00:34:48,879 --> 00:34:51,882
and how hard we are willing
to work for each other.
803
00:34:51,882 --> 00:34:54,218
And I know that
there's lots of stories about
804
00:34:54,218 --> 00:34:55,886
the resilience of this group,
805
00:34:55,886 --> 00:34:58,222
and it is what makes us
who we are.
806
00:34:58,222 --> 00:34:59,682
- Come on!
- Go on, here,
807
00:34:59,682 --> 00:35:01,183
go on, go on, go on,
love it.
808
00:35:02,643 --> 00:35:04,895
{\an8}I was born in Bosnia.
809
00:35:04,895 --> 00:35:08,274
{\an8}April 6th, '92,
there was a war.
810
00:35:08,274 --> 00:35:10,693
Six days later, I was born.
811
00:35:11,777 --> 00:35:15,489
We came to the U.S. in '94.
812
00:35:15,489 --> 00:35:17,575
Both my parents
worked multiple jobs
813
00:35:17,575 --> 00:35:20,244
just to get food on the table.
814
00:35:21,412 --> 00:35:23,080
Fuck!
815
00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:24,206
It's okay.
816
00:35:24,206 --> 00:35:27,251
I don't think people
realize the grind.
817
00:35:27,251 --> 00:35:29,086
My fault.
818
00:35:29,086 --> 00:35:33,424
It took me four years
to get a contract in the NWSL.
819
00:35:33,424 --> 00:35:34,758
[grunts]
820
00:35:34,758 --> 00:35:37,303
And a lot of people
would've stopped.
821
00:35:37,303 --> 00:35:39,054
I had something to prove.
822
00:35:39,054 --> 00:35:41,015
May dates.
May, may, may.
823
00:35:45,019 --> 00:35:47,479
Welcome to my home.
824
00:35:47,479 --> 00:35:49,732
{\an8}- She has good fashion.
- [laughs]
825
00:35:49,732 --> 00:35:51,317
{\an8}Yeah. I'm pretty sure
this is her shirt.
826
00:35:51,317 --> 00:35:53,527
{\an8}We share all of our clothes,
but--
827
00:35:53,527 --> 00:35:55,988
{\an8}The benefits
of marrying a woman.
828
00:35:55,988 --> 00:35:57,573
{\an8}[laughter]
829
00:35:57,573 --> 00:35:59,074
The day after a game,
830
00:35:59,074 --> 00:36:01,493
your body feels like
it got hit by a truck.
831
00:36:01,493 --> 00:36:05,623
You run 13K,
which is like 8 miles.
832
00:36:05,623 --> 00:36:08,584
There's boots,
and there's also hip things.
833
00:36:08,584 --> 00:36:11,086
There's, like,
full space boots.
834
00:36:11,086 --> 00:36:13,047
Now that I'm 28 years old,
835
00:36:13,047 --> 00:36:16,300
recovery takes a lot longer
as you get older,
836
00:36:16,300 --> 00:36:18,552
and it's even more important.
837
00:36:18,552 --> 00:36:21,513
{\an8}[upbeat acoustic music]
838
00:36:21,513 --> 00:36:27,394
{\an8}♪ ♪
839
00:36:27,394 --> 00:36:29,438
{\an8}- A lot of us go surfing
on our off days.
840
00:36:32,441 --> 00:36:35,110
We're in L.A.,
so when in L.A...
841
00:36:35,110 --> 00:36:37,112
I wouldn't say we go surfing.
842
00:36:37,112 --> 00:36:38,781
We go in the water
with our boards.
843
00:36:38,781 --> 00:36:40,991
I'm out.
844
00:36:40,991 --> 00:36:48,082
♪ ♪
845
00:36:49,375 --> 00:36:51,335
There's gotta be
a dolphin out there.
846
00:36:51,335 --> 00:36:54,672
Where there's fish,
there's dolphins.
847
00:36:54,672 --> 00:36:56,882
A little gameday surf.
848
00:36:56,882 --> 00:36:58,175
That's a nice ritual.
849
00:36:58,175 --> 00:37:00,052
Also, the feeling
of when you catch a wave
850
00:37:00,052 --> 00:37:03,055
and the adrenaline part
is really nice.
851
00:37:04,598 --> 00:37:05,849
There's an adrenaline part
852
00:37:05,849 --> 00:37:07,810
which you get from football,
as well,
853
00:37:07,810 --> 00:37:10,521
and I think
that part fuels me.
854
00:37:10,521 --> 00:37:12,189
It's like the adrenaline
of games
855
00:37:12,189 --> 00:37:14,692
and the competition
and wanting to win.
856
00:37:14,692 --> 00:37:21,991
♪ ♪
857
00:37:21,991 --> 00:37:25,285
I thought one of
the really important points
858
00:37:25,285 --> 00:37:27,663
was talking about
we can be satisfied
859
00:37:27,663 --> 00:37:29,373
in our life in Christ,
but yet it's not--
860
00:37:29,373 --> 00:37:32,042
{\an8}that doesn't mean
we're gonna have all the riches
861
00:37:32,042 --> 00:37:36,588
{\an8}and fame and glory
and perfect life.
862
00:37:36,588 --> 00:37:38,215
{\an8}Yeah.
863
00:37:38,215 --> 00:37:42,344
{\an8}We all love playing soccer,
and so many people do.
864
00:37:42,344 --> 00:37:43,887
{\an8}An op--like, the chance to be
865
00:37:43,887 --> 00:37:46,724
{\an8}a pro soccer player
is literally nobody.
866
00:37:46,724 --> 00:37:49,518
{\an8}And so the fact of, like,
we get to do this
867
00:37:49,518 --> 00:37:52,229
{\an8}and, like, God knows
how much we love playing soccer
868
00:37:52,229 --> 00:37:54,398
{\an8}and he, like,
lets us get to know him
869
00:37:54,398 --> 00:37:56,025
{\an8}through something
that we love--
870
00:37:56,025 --> 00:37:59,320
{\an8}how cool is that?
Like, that--that's really cool.
871
00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:03,323
{\an8}Soccer was a way
for me to run away
872
00:38:03,323 --> 00:38:05,993
{\an8}from, like, pain at home,
you know.
873
00:38:05,993 --> 00:38:09,872
{\an8}And I feel like
I identified with it so hard.
874
00:38:09,872 --> 00:38:11,373
And that's why I think
still, to this day,
875
00:38:11,373 --> 00:38:13,208
I struggle with it
'cause it's like,
876
00:38:13,208 --> 00:38:16,628
I found my identity
in myself as a soccer player.
877
00:38:16,628 --> 00:38:19,298
It doesn't fill you up forever.
878
00:38:19,298 --> 00:38:22,259
Yeah, it's just like,
with my knee and everything,
879
00:38:22,259 --> 00:38:25,721
I feel like, for me, it's been
a little frustrating y'all,
880
00:38:25,721 --> 00:38:27,765
but I appreciate, like--
881
00:38:27,765 --> 00:38:29,558
I was gonna ask you guys
to pray for me,
882
00:38:29,558 --> 00:38:32,311
'cause it's been--plot's been
getting real thick, y'all.
883
00:38:32,311 --> 00:38:33,937
- Yeah.
- It's been getting real thick.
884
00:38:33,937 --> 00:38:35,814
Yeah.
885
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:38,233
From Portland, Oregon,
it is the Thorns
886
00:38:38,233 --> 00:38:40,235
and Angel City.
887
00:38:40,235 --> 00:38:43,405
The in-swinger,
the header is on, and it's in!
888
00:38:43,405 --> 00:38:44,656
[crowd roars]
889
00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:46,575
Splendid service!
890
00:38:46,575 --> 00:38:48,744
An even better header.
891
00:38:48,744 --> 00:38:51,205
And Portland takes the lead
at home.
892
00:38:56,794 --> 00:38:58,962
Sugita, Sinclair,
893
00:38:58,962 --> 00:39:01,298
she went right through there!
894
00:39:01,298 --> 00:39:05,177
Christine Sinclair,
back to her goal-scoring ways.
895
00:39:05,177 --> 00:39:07,638
Portland doubles its advantage
896
00:39:07,638 --> 00:39:09,932
just minutes after the first.
897
00:39:09,932 --> 00:39:13,477
They're running rampant
at Providence Park.
898
00:39:14,228 --> 00:39:17,523
Rolls it in, and Sinclair,
and she just missed it.
899
00:39:17,523 --> 00:39:19,441
Becky sends it back.
900
00:39:19,441 --> 00:39:22,694
Sinclair,
she won't miss twice.
901
00:39:22,694 --> 00:39:25,614
And it's a brace
for Christine Sinclair.
902
00:39:29,076 --> 00:39:30,828
The fight is there from us.
903
00:39:30,828 --> 00:39:32,746
That's there,
but we just have to
904
00:39:32,746 --> 00:39:34,706
make smart decisions
on the ball now.
905
00:39:34,706 --> 00:39:37,126
It's up to us now
to raise that level
906
00:39:37,126 --> 00:39:39,044
and then we go again, okay?
907
00:39:39,044 --> 00:39:40,963
Let's go.
908
00:39:42,506 --> 00:39:44,049
You realize this is
the highest crowd
909
00:39:44,049 --> 00:39:45,551
they've had in a game.
910
00:39:45,551 --> 00:39:47,511
- Everybody plays up for us.
- Yeah.
911
00:39:47,511 --> 00:39:50,097
The fans come in,
the players play.
912
00:39:50,097 --> 00:39:51,390
It's great for the league,
913
00:39:51,390 --> 00:39:52,558
not great for our record.
914
00:39:52,558 --> 00:39:55,060
It's great for the league,
not great for the record.
915
00:39:55,060 --> 00:39:58,564
Right. It's great for
the league, but yeah.
916
00:40:02,067 --> 00:40:03,986
{\an8}[phone line trilling]
917
00:40:03,986 --> 00:40:05,320
{\an8}Hi, Jules.
It's Natalie.
918
00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:08,031
- Hey, how are you?
- I'm pretty good.
919
00:40:08,031 --> 00:40:09,658
Game day minus one.
920
00:40:09,658 --> 00:40:11,952
I know, I'm very excited
for tomorrow.
921
00:40:11,952 --> 00:40:15,372
We've got nearly 19,000
tickets sold for Saturday.
922
00:40:15,372 --> 00:40:17,166
- That's so amazing.
- Like, that's amazing,
923
00:40:17,166 --> 00:40:18,542
but I've now challenged
the team
924
00:40:18,542 --> 00:40:20,836
to try to stay above 20,000
for every game
925
00:40:20,836 --> 00:40:23,422
- because you just get no-shows.
- Right.
926
00:40:23,422 --> 00:40:25,340
And I think if we can
stay above 20,000,
927
00:40:25,340 --> 00:40:27,551
then if the no-show rate
falls to 18,000
928
00:40:27,551 --> 00:40:30,179
or, you know, 18,500,
it still feels like
929
00:40:30,179 --> 00:40:31,555
a really full stadium.
930
00:40:31,555 --> 00:40:33,432
What was it like
in Washington?
931
00:40:33,432 --> 00:40:36,935
I was--on TV, it looked
quite empty, but--
932
00:40:36,935 --> 00:40:38,896
There was very clearly
a sunny side
933
00:40:38,896 --> 00:40:40,522
and a shady side.
934
00:40:40,522 --> 00:40:42,482
The camera faces
the sunny side.
935
00:40:42,482 --> 00:40:45,694
- Oh, bummer.
- Yeah. So I was sitting
936
00:40:45,694 --> 00:40:47,237
on the shady side,
and it felt like
937
00:40:47,237 --> 00:40:49,615
the entire stands behind me
were really packed,
938
00:40:49,615 --> 00:40:51,200
and the sunny side
was really light.
939
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:53,911
Aw. See, that's
a really annoying thing
940
00:40:53,911 --> 00:40:56,371
like, where you don't
have enough cameras
941
00:40:56,371 --> 00:40:58,999
covering the game,
and it makes it look
942
00:40:58,999 --> 00:41:01,043
much less popular
than it is.
943
00:41:01,043 --> 00:41:02,628
- That's so--
- Yep.
944
00:41:02,628 --> 00:41:06,173
That feels like
such an important detail.
945
00:41:06,173 --> 00:41:08,717
Is there way
we can be supportive
946
00:41:08,717 --> 00:41:10,552
of other teams, too?
947
00:41:10,552 --> 00:41:12,888
Like, can we push
on our socials, like,
948
00:41:12,888 --> 00:41:14,973
when it's game day
for other teams
949
00:41:14,973 --> 00:41:18,602
and, like ticket sales
for other teams with our group?
950
00:41:18,602 --> 00:41:20,562
You know,
because we need, like,
951
00:41:20,562 --> 00:41:21,980
everyone to be selling out.
952
00:41:21,980 --> 00:41:26,443
Like, we need everyone to be
having the same kind of vibes.
953
00:41:26,443 --> 00:41:29,154
[light tense music]
954
00:41:29,154 --> 00:41:31,573
{\an8}Anyone who has worked
in this space,
955
00:41:31,573 --> 00:41:34,534
{\an8}you're essentially doing
two jobs at any given time.
956
00:41:34,534 --> 00:41:35,911
{\an8}You're doing the job
that you are actually
957
00:41:35,911 --> 00:41:38,372
being paid to do,
which is cover the sport.
958
00:41:38,372 --> 00:41:40,040
Then you are also
doing a second job
959
00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:42,125
of trying to justify
your existence.
960
00:41:42,125 --> 00:41:45,295
Men's, we get these--
the full narratives,
961
00:41:45,295 --> 00:41:47,798
we get both sides,
we get endless quotes,
962
00:41:47,798 --> 00:41:49,883
we get all of
the pomp and circumstance
963
00:41:49,883 --> 00:41:51,969
that you should see
around a sporting event.
964
00:41:51,969 --> 00:41:54,471
And that's where it still needs
to come into women's sports
965
00:41:54,471 --> 00:41:56,890
and where we're maybe finally
starting to make progress.
966
00:41:58,058 --> 00:42:00,102
Let's say this is
a four-camera shoot.
967
00:42:00,102 --> 00:42:01,979
{\an8}Normally, we've got
half a dozen.
968
00:42:01,979 --> 00:42:04,940
{\an8}This would normally
just be a handheld camera.
969
00:42:04,940 --> 00:42:08,277
{\an8}And we would have
a large studio camera.
970
00:42:08,277 --> 00:42:10,487
But this is a streaming show,
971
00:42:10,487 --> 00:42:13,448
so, obviously,
the budgets aren't as big.
972
00:42:13,448 --> 00:42:18,912
We have to compete
with the 4K,
973
00:42:18,912 --> 00:42:21,123
beautiful depth of field
NFL camera
974
00:42:21,123 --> 00:42:22,624
that looks like a video game.
975
00:42:22,624 --> 00:42:25,502
{\an8}That is what a modern
American sports consumer
976
00:42:25,502 --> 00:42:28,672
{\an8}expects out of
a tier one product.
977
00:42:28,672 --> 00:42:30,507
{\an8}That is who we compete with.
978
00:42:30,507 --> 00:42:32,342
The quality of
the women's broadcast
979
00:42:32,342 --> 00:42:34,678
is not the same
as the men's broadcast.
980
00:42:34,678 --> 00:42:38,056
We have fewer cameras, which
means we have fewer angles,
981
00:42:38,056 --> 00:42:39,433
and it's a real challenge.
982
00:42:41,268 --> 00:42:43,103
We need the league
to succeed
983
00:42:43,103 --> 00:42:44,855
for all of us to succeed.
984
00:42:44,855 --> 00:42:47,024
{\an8}The biggest revenue streams
by far,
985
00:42:47,024 --> 00:42:48,483
{\an8}for all of us at the team level
986
00:42:48,483 --> 00:42:50,986
should come from
the broadcast deal
987
00:42:50,986 --> 00:42:53,113
that this league deserves.
988
00:42:53,113 --> 00:42:54,990
I don't know if that's
an obstacle or an opportunity,
989
00:42:54,990 --> 00:42:57,826
but I'm never satisfied
with status quo.
990
00:42:59,911 --> 00:43:02,331
{\an8}- I'm gonna get the DJ
to play, like, Pride music.
991
00:43:02,331 --> 00:43:03,957
{\an8}- Just go tell her.
- All right.
992
00:43:03,957 --> 00:43:05,834
You guys all ready
for game day?
993
00:43:05,834 --> 00:43:07,836
[cheers and applause]
Yes!
994
00:43:07,836 --> 00:43:09,212
Unfortunately,
we live in a world
995
00:43:09,212 --> 00:43:12,758
where it's still important
to make a statement
996
00:43:12,758 --> 00:43:14,885
and show that this is okay,
and it's unfortunate
997
00:43:14,885 --> 00:43:16,720
that we have to do it
during one month a year.
998
00:43:16,720 --> 00:43:18,221
It should be every single
month of the year,
999
00:43:18,221 --> 00:43:19,639
it should be every single day
where you feel comfortable
1000
00:43:19,639 --> 00:43:21,600
and confident
in your own skin,
1001
00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:22,726
but until we get there,
I think
1002
00:43:22,726 --> 00:43:23,894
days like this are important.
1003
00:43:23,894 --> 00:43:27,773
And showing up as loud
and as proud as we can,
1004
00:43:27,773 --> 00:43:29,733
which we are,
as an organization,
1005
00:43:29,733 --> 00:43:33,403
as the president/co-founder,
I think is really important
1006
00:43:33,403 --> 00:43:34,780
for the community to see.
1007
00:43:35,989 --> 00:43:37,574
- Hi. How are you?
- Hi.
1008
00:43:37,574 --> 00:43:38,742
Look at Cha Cha,
he's killing me.
1009
00:43:38,742 --> 00:43:40,035
- Look at his hair.
- Oh, my God, amazing.
1010
00:43:40,035 --> 00:43:43,038
What's that?
[pop music playing over PA]
1011
00:43:43,038 --> 00:43:45,040
♪ ♪
1012
00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:46,541
We intentionally
are building
1013
00:43:46,541 --> 00:43:48,377
a diverse and inclusive community.
1014
00:43:48,377 --> 00:43:50,087
We have a diverse staff.
1015
00:43:50,087 --> 00:43:51,588
We have a diverse
front office.
1016
00:43:51,588 --> 00:43:54,257
We have a diverse team.
1017
00:43:54,257 --> 00:43:57,886
Legs and hips
and the body. Uh.
1018
00:43:57,886 --> 00:44:01,848
Give it up for Lilly Singh!
[cheers and applause]
1019
00:44:01,848 --> 00:44:04,476
What's up, Angel City fans?
1020
00:44:04,476 --> 00:44:08,605
Are you ready? This is our
first ever Pride night
1021
00:44:08,605 --> 00:44:10,273
Make some noise for that.
1022
00:44:10,273 --> 00:44:11,566
[cheers and applause]
1023
00:44:11,566 --> 00:44:13,735
Now, everybody, here we go.
1024
00:44:13,735 --> 00:44:16,196
One, two, three.
1025
00:44:16,196 --> 00:44:18,198
[all clap, grunt]
1026
00:44:18,198 --> 00:44:21,243
- Let's go ACFC!
- Whoo!
1027
00:44:21,243 --> 00:44:24,287
Okay, so tonight
is all about pride
1028
00:44:24,287 --> 00:44:27,082
and it's about
being our true selves.
1029
00:44:27,082 --> 00:44:29,376
We don't forget who we are,
we move the ball well,
1030
00:44:29,376 --> 00:44:31,962
we play quickly,
and we excite the crowd.
1031
00:44:31,962 --> 00:44:34,715
Tonight is about joy,
tonight is about fun.
1032
00:44:34,715 --> 00:44:36,383
Let's make sure
we're having it on the field.
1033
00:44:36,383 --> 00:44:37,884
Otherwise, what the fuck
are we doing?
1034
00:44:37,884 --> 00:44:39,177
All right?
1035
00:44:39,177 --> 00:44:41,471
AC!
all: FC!
1036
00:44:41,471 --> 00:44:44,641
♪ Running with the angels ♪
1037
00:44:44,641 --> 00:44:48,437
Ow!
[laughter]
1038
00:44:48,437 --> 00:44:50,689
All right, standby three
with CG2.
1039
00:44:52,149 --> 00:44:54,234
And take three with CG2.
1040
00:44:54,234 --> 00:44:57,279
[cheers and applause]
1041
00:45:00,198 --> 00:45:03,285
Angel City welcomes
The Dash for the first time.
1042
00:45:03,285 --> 00:45:07,330
Houston looking for a sixth
consecutive unbeaten game.
1043
00:45:07,330 --> 00:45:10,459
Two teams part of
a very compact area
1044
00:45:10,459 --> 00:45:14,838
between second place and just
beneath the playoff line.
1045
00:45:14,838 --> 00:45:17,340
One win could make
all the difference.
1046
00:45:17,340 --> 00:45:21,803
[crowd cheering]
1047
00:45:21,803 --> 00:45:27,350
Falls, Schmidt, a laser!
Denied by Haracic.
1048
00:45:27,350 --> 00:45:30,145
Welcome to the
Save of the Week reel.
1049
00:45:31,938 --> 00:45:34,941
Still alive, Le Bihan, Endo!
1050
00:45:34,941 --> 00:45:36,943
There's a save,
there's Press--
1051
00:45:36,943 --> 00:45:39,613
Oh, again, from Campbell!
1052
00:45:39,613 --> 00:45:42,032
It's unbelievable!
1053
00:45:42,032 --> 00:45:44,659
And The Dash
clear their lines.
1054
00:45:44,659 --> 00:45:48,413
[crowd cheering]
1055
00:45:59,966 --> 00:46:01,384
The day before
our Pride event,
1056
00:46:01,384 --> 00:46:03,345
a player--Katie Cousins--
1057
00:46:03,345 --> 00:46:05,889
reposted a post from a
Tampa Bay baseball player
1058
00:46:05,889 --> 00:46:07,849
that wasn't comfortable
wearing a Pride shirt
1059
00:46:07,849 --> 00:46:11,061
because it was against
his own religious beliefs
1060
00:46:11,061 --> 00:46:13,230
and worked very hard
to say,
1061
00:46:13,230 --> 00:46:15,023
"I'm not making a comment
about the lifestyle,
1062
00:46:15,023 --> 00:46:17,067
{\an8}but it doesn't align
with my religious values."
1063
00:46:18,568 --> 00:46:21,571
{\an8}The problem is he is making
a lifestyle statement.
1064
00:46:21,571 --> 00:46:23,615
{\an8}- One of the players
from Tampa
1065
00:46:23,615 --> 00:46:26,034
{\an8}made a statement saying,
1066
00:46:26,034 --> 00:46:27,869
{\an8}because of religious beliefs,
1067
00:46:27,869 --> 00:46:30,747
{\an8}we just--we chose not
to wear this.
1068
00:46:30,747 --> 00:46:32,999
I think it was a patch
and a hat.
1069
00:46:32,999 --> 00:46:35,544
But it's not to say
that we don't love these people
1070
00:46:35,544 --> 00:46:37,921
and care for them and want them
to feel welcome here.
1071
00:46:37,921 --> 00:46:42,133
And so I reposted it.
1072
00:46:42,133 --> 00:46:44,803
Pretty bad timing,
looking back on it now.
1073
00:46:45,887 --> 00:46:49,099
And maybe if I'd known,
like, the reaction,
1074
00:46:49,099 --> 00:46:50,767
maybe not at all.
1075
00:46:50,767 --> 00:46:52,769
'Cause I've never really been
in the public eye
1076
00:46:52,769 --> 00:46:54,145
like this before.
1077
00:46:57,983 --> 00:46:59,901
{\an8}I don't know.
I never had--
1078
00:46:59,901 --> 00:47:02,028
{\an8}I wasn't on the roster
for the game, so--
1079
00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:04,573
{\an8}I don't know.
I was debating it,
1080
00:47:04,573 --> 00:47:07,909
{\an8}and ended up
not being on the roster, so--
1081
00:47:07,909 --> 00:47:10,912
{\an8}When Katie posted,
people were angry,
1082
00:47:10,912 --> 00:47:12,414
{\an8}and people were hurt,
1083
00:47:12,414 --> 00:47:14,457
{\an8}and it sent, you know,
these ripples out.
1084
00:47:14,457 --> 00:47:17,460
[somber music]
1085
00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:24,593
♪ ♪
1086
00:47:35,895 --> 00:47:37,272
We did post a statement
1087
00:47:37,272 --> 00:47:40,108
about our commitment
to LGBTQ+ inclusion
1088
00:47:40,108 --> 00:47:42,527
and that our approach
to these kinds of issue
1089
00:47:42,527 --> 00:47:46,197
and conflict was going to be
to call in and not call out.
1090
00:47:46,197 --> 00:47:49,451
And I had somebody
who I've never met
1091
00:47:49,451 --> 00:47:52,621
find my account
and direct message me,
1092
00:47:52,621 --> 00:47:54,956
telling me I was
a homophobe and an asshole.
1093
00:47:57,500 --> 00:47:59,878
We will not please everyone.
1094
00:47:59,878 --> 00:48:03,089
But it is important
that we share broadly
1095
00:48:03,089 --> 00:48:04,966
what we're doing
and how we're doing it
1096
00:48:04,966 --> 00:48:07,093
and what it means.
1097
00:48:07,093 --> 00:48:08,553
We do stand for something,
1098
00:48:08,553 --> 00:48:11,973
and it's a lens with which
we make decisions
1099
00:48:11,973 --> 00:48:14,517
and it's how we build
our organization.
1100
00:48:14,517 --> 00:48:18,688
So, there has to be
a level of excitement for it.
1101
00:48:18,688 --> 00:48:20,190
Otherwise,
why are you here, too?
1102
00:48:20,190 --> 00:48:22,150
Like, it's so much
about what we do.
1103
00:48:22,150 --> 00:48:24,819
If it's so at odds
with your own personal beliefs
1104
00:48:24,819 --> 00:48:25,987
or how you wanna
live your life,
1105
00:48:25,987 --> 00:48:30,492
then why would you wanna
be here when this is our--
1106
00:48:30,492 --> 00:48:32,243
these are our beliefs,
and these are our values,
1107
00:48:32,243 --> 00:48:33,828
and we live them every day
1108
00:48:33,828 --> 00:48:36,164
and every decision we make
is inclusive of these.
1109
00:48:38,333 --> 00:48:39,793
How'd you find this place?
1110
00:48:39,793 --> 00:48:41,920
{\an8}We were walking
around the promenade,
1111
00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:45,340
{\an8}and we're like, dude, like,
we really want tattoos.
1112
00:48:45,340 --> 00:48:48,551
{\an8}Literally, to our right
was a tattoo shop.
1113
00:48:48,551 --> 00:48:50,929
- And then we walked in...
- Oh, God.
1114
00:48:50,929 --> 00:48:53,056
- And met the guys.
- Oh, God.
1115
00:48:53,056 --> 00:48:55,392
- [tattoo gun buzzing]
- Wow, you don't even flinch.
1116
00:48:57,227 --> 00:48:59,562
I think initially,
when that post came out,
1117
00:48:59,562 --> 00:49:00,814
people were shocked.
1118
00:49:00,814 --> 00:49:02,899
I think that's always
the initial reaction,
1119
00:49:02,899 --> 00:49:04,067
especially because
1120
00:49:04,067 --> 00:49:07,862
she is a great teammate
and super positive,
1121
00:49:07,862 --> 00:49:10,865
and a lot of people
are very close with her.
1122
00:49:10,865 --> 00:49:14,035
It just--it's put me in
a very uncomfortable position
1123
00:49:14,035 --> 00:49:16,204
'cause I know who I am.
1124
00:49:18,623 --> 00:49:25,588
And I have no hatred
towards Katie, and I know she
1125
00:49:25,588 --> 00:49:28,591
I don't think has hatred
towards me.
1126
00:49:28,591 --> 00:49:31,386
But we just don't see
eye-to-eye.
1127
00:49:31,386 --> 00:49:33,471
And I just have a hard time
right now
1128
00:49:33,471 --> 00:49:38,226
accepting that
I'm told I'm loved,
1129
00:49:38,226 --> 00:49:41,604
but I'm not accepted
for who I love.
1130
00:49:41,604 --> 00:49:45,233
And that's a hard pill
for me to swallow right now.
1131
00:49:45,233 --> 00:49:50,905
Yeah, I think the goal for me
is to love Katie,
1132
00:49:50,905 --> 00:49:57,787
but to hope that she
will wanna learn about it.
1133
00:49:57,787 --> 00:49:59,664
I asked so many questions,
1134
00:49:59,664 --> 00:50:02,584
and I have not received
any questions back.
1135
00:50:05,837 --> 00:50:09,215
The word "dominate" has, like,
a lot of meaning for me
1136
00:50:09,215 --> 00:50:11,509
'cause my brother
gave me some advice
1137
00:50:11,509 --> 00:50:14,804
when I was--
like, four years ago,
1138
00:50:14,804 --> 00:50:17,474
when I was having a tough time
after my mom passed.
1139
00:50:17,474 --> 00:50:19,476
It's like a warrior mentality
of, like,
1140
00:50:19,476 --> 00:50:20,977
dominating your opponent,
1141
00:50:20,977 --> 00:50:25,106
dominating your diet,
lifestyle habits, sleep.
1142
00:50:25,106 --> 00:50:29,152
And I write it for every game,
1143
00:50:29,152 --> 00:50:33,907
and it really, like,
it lifts a spirit in my fire,
1144
00:50:33,907 --> 00:50:37,285
in my motivation for that day.
1145
00:50:37,285 --> 00:50:38,870
Yeah.
1146
00:50:43,875 --> 00:50:46,336
{\an8}Equal pay is now a reality
1147
00:50:46,336 --> 00:50:49,297
{\an8}for the best female soccer
players in this country.
1148
00:50:49,297 --> 00:50:51,174
In an historic announcement today,
1149
00:50:51,174 --> 00:50:54,010
the U.S. Soccer Federation
said it has agreed
1150
00:50:54,010 --> 00:50:56,346
with its men's and women's
national teams
1151
00:50:56,346 --> 00:50:59,015
to pay them the same amounts
for all games
1152
00:50:59,015 --> 00:51:00,892
and competitions.
1153
00:51:00,892 --> 00:51:03,228
{\an8}[crowd cheering]
1154
00:51:03,228 --> 00:51:06,773
{\an8}- Press with a header.
It's a brilliant cross.
1155
00:51:06,773 --> 00:51:10,652
And Christen Press heads
the United States in front.
1156
00:51:10,652 --> 00:51:12,654
We knew in 2019
that, like,
1157
00:51:12,654 --> 00:51:14,989
we were playing
for equal pay.
1158
00:51:14,989 --> 00:51:17,033
In the stands, as we played,
1159
00:51:17,033 --> 00:51:18,493
they were chanting,
"equal pay."
1160
00:51:18,493 --> 00:51:23,706
Like, it was so much bigger
than the sport.
1161
00:51:23,706 --> 00:51:26,000
The United States
of America.
1162
00:51:26,000 --> 00:51:28,753
And then, you know,
we won the World Cup,
1163
00:51:28,753 --> 00:51:30,505
but we didn't win the lawsuit
at that point.
1164
00:51:30,505 --> 00:51:32,590
So, then we had to
go back and keep fighting.
1165
00:51:32,590 --> 00:51:35,760
[chatter]
1166
00:51:35,760 --> 00:51:38,721
Without the
Women's National Team fighting
1167
00:51:38,721 --> 00:51:41,266
so hard for equal pay
on their level,
1168
00:51:41,266 --> 00:51:43,184
we don't see
the continued success
1169
00:51:43,184 --> 00:51:45,311
and growth
of our domestic league.
1170
00:51:45,311 --> 00:51:47,647
{\an8}I think a lot of their success
1171
00:51:47,647 --> 00:51:50,191
{\an8}has shown up in the form
of our CBA
1172
00:51:50,191 --> 00:51:52,026
{\an8}for the league for this year.
1173
00:51:52,026 --> 00:51:54,028
{\an8}We are about to sign
1174
00:51:54,028 --> 00:51:55,822
{\an8}the collective bargaining
agreement--
1175
00:51:55,822 --> 00:51:57,907
{\an8}the historic moment
for this league,
1176
00:51:57,907 --> 00:52:01,536
{\an8}their first contract that
so many people worked so hard.
1177
00:52:01,536 --> 00:52:04,289
{\an8}- I was part of
the CBA negotiations.
1178
00:52:04,289 --> 00:52:07,000
{\an8}One of the biggest strides
that we made was free agency.
1179
00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:08,835
{\an8}A lot of players
don't have a choice
1180
00:52:08,835 --> 00:52:12,130
{\an8}as to where they go,
and they can't leave situations
1181
00:52:12,130 --> 00:52:14,090
{\an8}that aren't good for them.
1182
00:52:14,090 --> 00:52:17,176
Before the CBA,
there was no free agency.
1183
00:52:17,176 --> 00:52:19,762
Even now, the free agency
has come about,
1184
00:52:19,762 --> 00:52:21,890
you have to play in the league
for seven years.
1185
00:52:21,890 --> 00:52:24,309
It's-it's too restrictive.
1186
00:52:24,309 --> 00:52:28,271
The best players are always,
always going to
1187
00:52:28,271 --> 00:52:31,357
consider Europe,
as long as they don't have
1188
00:52:31,357 --> 00:52:33,526
enough autonomy
over their careers.
1189
00:52:34,819 --> 00:52:36,529
{\an8}Free agency is huge.
1190
00:52:36,529 --> 00:52:39,741
{\an8}The rest of the world has free
agency, and it's the norm.
1191
00:52:39,741 --> 00:52:44,913
When only one party
has the decision, it's toxic.
1192
00:52:44,913 --> 00:52:47,248
We have stories
of players being traded
1193
00:52:47,248 --> 00:52:49,334
to, like, cover up misconduct.
1194
00:52:49,334 --> 00:52:53,588
It kinda puts us in really
unhealthy environments at times
1195
00:52:53,588 --> 00:52:56,132
because we don't have
any power.
1196
00:52:56,132 --> 00:52:58,176
It's either,
you play for this club,
1197
00:52:58,176 --> 00:52:59,552
or you're not playing
in the league.
1198
00:52:59,552 --> 00:53:01,137
Coaches are in control,
1199
00:53:01,137 --> 00:53:04,599
and that's where
things get messy.
1200
00:53:04,599 --> 00:53:08,686
The fight for equal pay,
helping the players union,
1201
00:53:08,686 --> 00:53:10,521
and then negotiating the CBA,
1202
00:53:10,521 --> 00:53:13,066
I feel like
so much has changed.
1203
00:53:15,360 --> 00:53:17,445
I look forward to the day
1204
00:53:17,445 --> 00:53:21,240
when female athletes
can just be female athletes.
1205
00:53:22,408 --> 00:53:24,410
And I know that
that's not my role,
1206
00:53:24,410 --> 00:53:27,246
and that's not the role that I
play in the story right now.
1207
00:53:27,246 --> 00:53:29,791
My role is to be a trailblazer
1208
00:53:29,791 --> 00:53:32,502
and fight for equality
and fight for all the things,
1209
00:53:32,502 --> 00:53:37,048
and I'm trying to do my best
in that role,
1210
00:53:37,048 --> 00:53:38,675
but looking forward to that day
1211
00:53:38,675 --> 00:53:41,219
when you can just
play soccer.
1212
00:53:43,513 --> 00:53:45,515
Hey. How are you?
1213
00:53:45,515 --> 00:53:47,183
- Good. How are you?
- Good.
1214
00:53:47,183 --> 00:53:49,102
Today, the team
is meeting up at the office
1215
00:53:49,102 --> 00:53:52,188
to get the bus
to go to the charter plane
1216
00:53:52,188 --> 00:53:54,732
that we got for them
to fly to Louisville.
1217
00:53:54,732 --> 00:53:56,359
It's very difficult
from the West Coast
1218
00:53:56,359 --> 00:53:58,945
to get to Louisville
in a straight shot.
1219
00:53:58,945 --> 00:54:00,113
Look, at the end of the day,
1220
00:54:00,113 --> 00:54:03,032
I wanna position these players
in the best possible way
1221
00:54:03,032 --> 00:54:04,492
so they can give
their best on the pitch
1222
00:54:04,492 --> 00:54:05,952
and get those three points.
1223
00:54:05,952 --> 00:54:07,662
This is obviously
a huge expense
1224
00:54:07,662 --> 00:54:08,871
and one that we didn't budget.
1225
00:54:08,871 --> 00:54:11,165
Certainly one that I will
budget moving forward.
1226
00:54:11,165 --> 00:54:12,583
But it's the right thing
to do for the players,
1227
00:54:12,583 --> 00:54:14,711
especially given the fact
that this is the third game
1228
00:54:14,711 --> 00:54:16,587
in what'll be eight days.
1229
00:54:18,089 --> 00:54:19,257
Ain't no way.
1230
00:54:19,257 --> 00:54:23,094
♪ Smooth operator ♪
1231
00:54:23,094 --> 00:54:24,387
- ♪ Smooth ♪
- ♪ Smooth op-- ♪
1232
00:54:24,387 --> 00:54:25,555
[laughter]
1233
00:54:25,555 --> 00:54:29,267
♪ Smooth operator ♪
1234
00:54:29,267 --> 00:54:31,019
♪ Smooth ♪
1235
00:54:31,019 --> 00:54:33,396
♪ Operator ♪
1236
00:54:33,396 --> 00:54:37,358
♪ Smooth operator ♪
1237
00:54:37,358 --> 00:54:38,818
♪ Smooth ♪
1238
00:54:38,818 --> 00:54:41,362
♪ Operator ♪
1239
00:54:41,362 --> 00:54:42,822
♪ Coast to coast ♪
1240
00:54:42,822 --> 00:54:44,866
- ♪ L.A. to Chicago ♪
- Ah! Ahh!
1241
00:54:44,866 --> 00:54:49,078
{\an8}- [laughter]
- ♪ Western male ♪
1242
00:54:49,078 --> 00:54:51,748
{\an8}♪ Across the north and south ♪
1243
00:54:51,748 --> 00:54:53,958
{\an8}- ♪ To Key Largo ♪
- Go, ACFC!
1244
00:54:53,958 --> 00:54:56,919
Let's go! Let's go!
1245
00:54:56,919 --> 00:54:59,297
Whoo!
Let's go! Let's go!
1246
00:55:00,256 --> 00:55:01,466
- High five!
- Yay!
1247
00:55:01,466 --> 00:55:03,593
You gonna see Christen?
All right.
1248
00:55:03,593 --> 00:55:07,764
[chatter]
1249
00:55:07,764 --> 00:55:11,142
Let's go, Angel City!
1250
00:55:11,142 --> 00:55:13,436
We're huge fans
of Katie Cousins.
1251
00:55:13,436 --> 00:55:16,105
- Yep.
- Yeah, we're cheering her on.
1252
00:55:18,858 --> 00:55:21,235
ACFC!
1253
00:55:21,235 --> 00:55:24,405
I grew up in a home
where it was very religious
1254
00:55:24,405 --> 00:55:26,032
and very conservative,
1255
00:55:26,032 --> 00:55:29,243
and I was in the closet
for 27 years.
1256
00:55:29,243 --> 00:55:32,538
So, I know that she made
some mistakes,
1257
00:55:32,538 --> 00:55:35,249
but I think that
as a community
1258
00:55:35,249 --> 00:55:37,794
full of love and diversity
and inclusion,
1259
00:55:37,794 --> 00:55:39,754
we need to forgive Katie,
1260
00:55:39,754 --> 00:55:40,963
we need to love one another,
1261
00:55:40,963 --> 00:55:42,799
and let that message spread.
1262
00:55:42,799 --> 00:55:44,759
Share it with everybody.
1263
00:55:44,759 --> 00:55:47,261
Go, women. Go, gays.
1264
00:55:47,261 --> 00:55:49,430
Go, Angel City, ACFC.
1265
00:55:50,556 --> 00:55:53,142
Let's go, Angel City!
1266
00:55:53,142 --> 00:55:54,685
Let's go!
1267
00:55:54,685 --> 00:55:56,479
Well, Angel City's
head coach, Freya Coombe
1268
00:55:56,479 --> 00:55:58,356
said that there's
a lot of chemistry
1269
00:55:58,356 --> 00:56:00,108
with Press and with Endo,
1270
00:56:00,108 --> 00:56:02,151
and she wants 'em
to play closer together.
1271
00:56:02,151 --> 00:56:03,945
And so it looks like
they're going to shift
1272
00:56:03,945 --> 00:56:06,823
their formation a little bit
to do just that.
1273
00:56:06,823 --> 00:56:10,535
Racing Louisville, up one.
1274
00:56:10,535 --> 00:56:13,079
Press, racing towards it.
1275
00:56:13,079 --> 00:56:16,040
Press scores!
1276
00:56:16,040 --> 00:56:20,002
The equalizer
from Christen Press.
1277
00:56:20,002 --> 00:56:22,171
47 career goals.
1278
00:56:22,171 --> 00:56:24,507
Christen Press
is the exact person
1279
00:56:24,507 --> 00:56:26,843
to get Angel City
back on track tonight.
1280
00:56:26,843 --> 00:56:29,053
- Way to go, Angel City!
- Press, one of the most
1281
00:56:29,053 --> 00:56:32,431
prolific goal scorers
in NWSL history.
1282
00:56:32,431 --> 00:56:35,852
Yeah, Christen!
That's your girl!
1283
00:56:37,395 --> 00:56:39,355
Let's go, Angel City!
1284
00:56:43,442 --> 00:56:45,695
Let's go, Simone!
1285
00:56:45,695 --> 00:56:48,030
Inside, Simone!
1286
00:56:48,030 --> 00:56:49,699
Cuts back,
left-footed shot!
1287
00:56:49,699 --> 00:56:52,326
- Ohh!
- The finish from McCaskill
1288
00:56:52,326 --> 00:56:54,579
against her former club.
1289
00:56:54,579 --> 00:56:57,081
- Let's go!
- Let's go.
1290
00:56:57,081 --> 00:56:59,667
- So quiet. So quiet!
- Great job! Let's go!
1291
00:56:59,667 --> 00:57:03,713
I love the buildup.
Ekic does a great job.
1292
00:57:03,713 --> 00:57:07,049
Gets it right back.
Fox to DeMelo.
1293
00:57:07,049 --> 00:57:09,010
Hit.
1294
00:57:10,386 --> 00:57:12,680
Now there's a player down
for Angel City.
1295
00:57:12,680 --> 00:57:15,141
Appears to be Press.
1296
00:57:17,310 --> 00:57:19,770
Oof. There it is.
1297
00:57:19,770 --> 00:57:21,063
Ugh.
1298
00:57:21,063 --> 00:57:24,025
[somber music]
1299
00:57:24,025 --> 00:57:29,030
♪ ♪
1300
00:57:29,030 --> 00:57:31,157
It was really sad.
1301
00:57:31,157 --> 00:57:35,369
Like, you never wanna see
a player go down on the field,
1302
00:57:35,369 --> 00:57:38,372
and you especially don't wanna
see someone go down
1303
00:57:38,372 --> 00:57:39,749
holding their knee.
1304
00:57:39,749 --> 00:57:46,839
♪ ♪
1305
00:57:49,550 --> 00:57:51,969
I was watching
from the sidelines,
1306
00:57:51,969 --> 00:57:54,805
and I didn't have
a good feeling about it.
1307
00:57:54,805 --> 00:57:59,518
♪ ♪
1308
00:57:59,518 --> 00:58:03,731
I put her on my back and
walked her to the locker room.
1309
00:58:03,731 --> 00:58:09,070
♪ ♪
1310
00:58:09,070 --> 00:58:12,490
We were both like,
you know, it could be anything.
1311
00:58:12,490 --> 00:58:14,200
But in the back of my head,
1312
00:58:14,200 --> 00:58:16,786
I thought it was her ACL,
for sure.
1313
00:58:16,786 --> 00:58:21,582
♪ ♪
1314
00:58:21,582 --> 00:58:25,962
Le Bihan to Charley,
who's gonna get there.
1315
00:58:25,962 --> 00:58:28,631
What a ball!
1316
00:58:28,631 --> 00:58:30,800
But there's--it's dead quiet!
1317
00:58:30,800 --> 00:58:32,635
What's happening?
1318
00:58:32,635 --> 00:58:36,764
Press goes down, and now you
got a PK to deal with.
1319
00:58:38,057 --> 00:58:40,059
Come on, Savy!
1320
00:58:48,234 --> 00:58:50,611
- McCaskill, got it!
- Ohh.
1321
00:58:50,611 --> 00:58:53,614
A brace
for Savannah McCaskill
1322
00:58:53,614 --> 00:58:57,118
and the potential knockout
punch for Angel City.
1323
00:58:57,118 --> 00:59:00,162
[upbeat acoustic music]
1324
00:59:00,162 --> 00:59:07,253
♪ ♪
1325
00:59:09,088 --> 00:59:10,423
{\an8}It was a pretty emotional
1326
00:59:10,423 --> 00:59:12,174
{\an8}game with Christen going down,
1327
00:59:12,174 --> 00:59:14,802
{\an8}and it's the first game
we came back from.
1328
00:59:14,802 --> 00:59:18,014
They fought for that goal,
and they deserved it.
1329
00:59:18,014 --> 00:59:19,765
You know, they've been
fighting so hard.
1330
00:59:19,765 --> 00:59:21,517
- They needed that.
- AC!
1331
00:59:21,517 --> 00:59:22,852
all: FC!
1332
00:59:22,852 --> 00:59:24,520
Whoo!
[clapping]
1333
00:59:24,520 --> 00:59:28,524
Christen is a great advocate
for players.
1334
00:59:28,524 --> 00:59:30,943
Her leadership
and the voice that she has
1335
00:59:30,943 --> 00:59:33,988
and the weight
that her voice carries--
1336
00:59:33,988 --> 00:59:36,449
that's definitely challenging,
1337
00:59:36,449 --> 00:59:41,203
missing her both on the field
and off the field.
1338
00:59:41,203 --> 00:59:43,205
When Christen went down,
you just knew.
1339
00:59:43,205 --> 00:59:44,623
Like, you knew it was bad.
1340
00:59:44,623 --> 00:59:47,668
And, I mean,
she's so critical
1341
00:59:47,668 --> 00:59:49,712
to the offense of our team.
1342
00:59:49,712 --> 00:59:52,757
She is the community favorite,
1343
00:59:52,757 --> 00:59:56,552
and shows up for Angel City
on and off the pitch.
1344
00:59:58,971 --> 01:00:01,974
She led the team in shots,
she led the team in goals.
1345
01:00:01,974 --> 01:00:03,768
{\an8}She is the marquee star.
1346
01:00:03,768 --> 01:00:05,436
{\an8}She is the person
they built around.
1347
01:00:05,436 --> 01:00:08,147
{\an8}She is the L.A. native
coming home to conquer all.
1348
01:00:10,441 --> 01:00:11,692
So when Christen Press
went down,
1349
01:00:11,692 --> 01:00:14,570
they lose their scoring punch,
they lose their whole offense,
1350
01:00:14,570 --> 01:00:15,946
they lose the focus
of their attack
1351
01:00:15,946 --> 01:00:18,866
and they lose
their marquee player.
1352
01:00:18,866 --> 01:00:21,035
How do you replace all that?
1353
01:00:23,579 --> 01:00:26,874
[dramatic music]
1354
01:00:26,874 --> 01:00:33,798
♪ ♪
1355
01:00:33,798 --> 01:00:35,758
♪ Feels like defeat ♪
1356
01:00:35,758 --> 01:00:38,594
♪ I hit the ground hard ♪
1357
01:00:38,594 --> 01:00:40,429
♪ They're counting me out ♪
1358
01:00:40,429 --> 01:00:43,099
♪ But I made it this far ♪
1359
01:00:43,099 --> 01:00:45,226
♪ 'Cause I'm a fighter,
a survivor ♪
1360
01:00:45,226 --> 01:00:46,936
♪ When I fall,
I'm a riser ♪
1361
01:00:48,312 --> 01:00:49,522
♪ This time I'll tell ya ♪
1362
01:00:49,522 --> 01:00:52,942
♪ This girl, don't you know
she's a lifer ♪
1363
01:00:52,942 --> 01:00:54,985
♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪
1364
01:00:54,985 --> 01:00:57,279
♪ Let me catch my breath ♪
1365
01:00:57,279 --> 01:01:00,574
[singing in Spanish]
1366
01:01:01,158 --> 01:01:03,577
♪ I'm gonna get up,
get up, get up ♪
1367
01:01:03,577 --> 01:01:05,913
[singing in Spanish]
1368
01:01:05,913 --> 01:01:08,207
♪ I'm gonna get up,
get up, get up ♪
1369
01:01:08,207 --> 01:01:10,626
[singing in Spanish]
1370
01:01:10,626 --> 01:01:12,753
♪ I'm gonna get up,
get up, get up ♪
1371
01:01:14,255 --> 01:01:16,882
[bright tone]