[TV static drones]
[bright tone]
[overlapping shouting]
Just gut-wrenching news this week
of Christen Press having a torn ACL.
Yeah, it's so sad, and she was just having
an outstanding year.
- Christen leaves a very big goal-scoring gap.
Do we have just one forward that comes in,
or do we replace Christen's attributes with two?
- Yeah, I think we definitely need someone
that is able to come in straightaway,
someone at a high level
that will continue to play for us
and isn't just a Band-Aid for the season.
So are you still keen on Sydney Leroux?
Yeah, I think Sydney's--
is a proven goal scorer in this league at this level,
and I think there's less doubt around her,
the ability to do the job.
If we are going to go out and get another player,
we should always start from the viewpoint of,
is what we're getting better than what we've got?
You know, we have players like Stefany Van Ginkel.
She's part of our team and can play as a forward.
But, like, you've gotta give players a chance
to actually prove, yes or no,
whether they can play in that position.
Otherwise, it's just a waste of a player.
No, I disagree a little bit.
I so think she's at their level in training,
let alone going into the game.
But I also think it's worth-- if you don't agree with me,
speak to the coaches.
Oh, I've spoken to them.
I've spoken to them, and I don't know,
maybe people change what they say to me,
but that's okay.
Like, we don't have to agree.
Do we have the same conversations every time?
- But everybody doesn't have to agree.
Everybody doesn't have to agree with what you say.
Yeah, but they do agree, Eni.
- This is the whole point-- - I'm asking the question,
- because I just needed to-- - Oh, my God.
'Cause I'm seeing something different.
[energetic music]
All right, off we go!
Angel City, spread your wings!
♪ ♪
- U.S. soccer on the women's side
has been fighting for respect.
♪ ♪
- The mantra always was, "You should be thankful,"
and, "You can't screw it up."
- The National Women's Soccer League
just kicked off its tenth season.
- Two new clubs coming out in California.
- Angel City Football Club in Los Angeles
is backed by the largest female ownership group
in professional sports.
- 14 former U.S. Women's National Team players
are investors.
- These are the best players in the world.
We're gonna elevate the sport
and show how valuable it truly is.
- When you watch these athletes play,
you're changing something that was formed in your brain
about what it means for a woman to be a woman.
[vocalizing]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
One, two, three.
Oh! Nice.
First of all, how lucky are we to have Sydney Leroux?
Leroux can take this herself.
Dribbles around the keeper-- scores.
Leroux is in the clear.
And the keeper--she goals!
Sydney is a nightmare to defend against.
At any second, she can go off
and score three goals if she wanted to.
She's a world champion
with the U.S. Women's National team.
She's won the Olympics, won the World Cup.
Yeah! Of course.
- She has an incredibly large following.
I think it's something over 3 million followers
across Insta and Twitter.
Thank you.
- Thank you. - Aw, thank you.
I almost got, like, emotional.
Like, just a weight has been lifted,
and I just am so happy, so I'm very excited to be here.
Good.
Well, it's a work in progress.
We wanna optimize this from a press perspective,
a media perspective, concept perspective,
and then obviously merch perspective
and get, like, Sydney merch up, content up.
Hit the subscribe button below
for more exclusive content from the NWSL.
Sydney gives us that, you know, strong forward
that can push the team.
She's an attacker. She presses.
Getting it here for this.
- Yep. - And then that ball.
We're also bringing in Claire Emslie.
She's a player that we selected her
in the expansion draft at the end of last year
whose visa's finally coming through in a couple weeks.
So the idea's that we'll have two players now
and to see how they can
sort of work to replace Christen.
I sound like I know what I'm talking about now, don't I?
- You do. - It's fascinating. I know!
♪ ♪
This is my first year in the NWSL
and first year playing professional.
You know, I'm a rookie, but I'm ambitious.
This is my board.
Here I just write things that are in my head
and my goals this season.
"Make smart decisions."
"Good relationship with coach" is one of my goals too.
Sometimes when you don't play, you're like,
oh, I don't play because I'm not good enough.
I wanna be so good
that it's gonna be obvious that I have to play.
[engine humming]
So we talked about, at the start of the season,
around how playoffs was a goal
that we wanted to achieve.
6 out of 12 teams go and make playoffs.
With everything that we've had
in terms of a little bit of an up and down
and everything with the start of this season,
we are still on track to be able to meet our goal,
which would be a fantastic achievement
for an expansion team.
Let's make sure now we continue to keep our focus
and we take advantage over the next few weeks
for us to be able to really grab some points.
[pop music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[roars]
[laughs] How are ya?
Welcome, everyone, to the Angel City Fan Festival!
[cheers and applause]
Talk about wanting to be a spectacle.
[cheers and applause] Like, it is an experience.
It is a fun, engaging experience
where you also watch football.
Oh, wow.
You know, I would always joke internally
that our first game was the greatest show on Earth.
But the next game has to be the greatest show on Earth,
and the game after that has to be the greatest show on Earth.
Like, we actually have to keep raising the bar,
because we have to remember
that it's always somebody's first game.
And if they don't have an exceptional experience,
they may not come back.
They may not tell their friends to come back.
They may not buy season tickets for the next year.
[cheers and applause]
- What you just saw was an all-female skydiving team,
four of the best skydivers in the world.
Winning and losing does play a factor,
but if you still love the club,
then you wanna come, no matter the ups and the downs,
the wins and the losses, the highs and the lows.
Whoo! Right?
It has to be that important to you.
[cheers and applause]
All right, so we're gonna welcome our players
by doing our three clap.
Y'all know the three clap?
[all clap three times]
all: Unh!
[cheers and applause]
Wait, just stop here. Hi!
This is my 12th professional year,
and I've never experienced an injury.
And then to get a major injury in this way
is, like, really shocking.
Thank you.
What day did you get here?
Two days ago.
So are you available?
- Okay. - Yeah.
I mean, I think that I could do more,
but I'm, like, not fit right now.
- Yeah. - I haven't played.
- Yeah. - But, like, if I was
out there, I'm like, sure, I could figure it out...
- Yeah. - But...
Oh, I don't have that attitude.
You know me; like, I need a full month of training
before I even think about anyone giving me talks.
Just put me out there.
Sydney had an ankle injury when she was in Orlando
and rehabbed it while she was there.
We talked to the medical staff in Orlando
and felt like it was something that was manageable.
The contribution she can have on the team
is credibly significant,
and we're gonna be better because of it.
[speaking indistinctly]
Sydney Leroux!
[cheers and applause]
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you!
- How are you? - I'm good.
- You've been better, right? - Yes. [laughs]
Oh, my goodness.
I also just want you to know, like,
I'm such a big fan.
- Thank you. - Like, I literally--
I--like, watching you play, like, inspired me so much...
- Aw, thank you. - Just, like, as a Black woman.
I tell you, I've seen people we've inspired
go on to do it themselves,
and then now you're gonna inspire
the next round of young girls to do it.
It doesn't get better than that, really.
And we are underway.
Quick passing here, McCaskill trying to come in.
[whistle blows]
Is this an early penalty? It is!
Not even a minute gone.
McCaskill--oh, it's saved!
And McCaskill puts it in!
[cheers and applause]
Angel City strikes 90 seconds in.
- And this is exactly what they need.
- Yeah, we're up 1-0. - [laughs]
Feeling great. Can the game end?
Let's go!
[indistinct chatter]
Yeah, if we can get her just to--
And then sit in a minute 30, if you're happy with that.
Yeah, I would get her.
[cheers and applause]
Now entering the match, number 2,
- Sydney Leroux! - Yay!
This is the moment everybody's been waiting for.
It is Sydney Leroux time for Angel City!
Could she be the one tasked
with really getting this Angel City attack on track?
Here's Leroux.
Sydney Leroux dispossessed.
Hubly was there.
Dani, let's keep everyone going!
It's good! It's good!
The City trying to hold on.
- Angel City right now, you're all about
keeping possession.
I've learned this new phrase which is "park the bus."
Opportunity for Portland.
- So we've been having a hard time
holding it at the end.
We haven't been able to park the bus.
Then we can put Stef in.
You're gonna go in and play on the right-hand side.
- Okay. - Okay?
I will press in the same way we've been?
Yeah.
I prefer playing in the midfield,
but Freya thought I would be better on the wing.
[whistle blows]
Brazilian Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel
checking on.
Ten minutes to go.
Don't dive.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- There is space on the far side.
Pogarch is there.
♪ ♪
Cross comes in.
The header is in!
Fuck me.
Pogarch, what a ball in.
[whistle blowing]
And that will be the end of proceedings.
Wow, what a finish.
I mean, it's like, there's 30 seconds.
I know.
It's been a question mark that's been hanging around
for a little bit about the depth of our team.
And when people talk about depth,
they talk about roster construction.
So do we have enough people to come off the bench
to help us win?
Which is, you know, fundamental to my job.
[moody music]
- Look, I think the tension is more just,
like, trying to build the plane while it's being flown.
And there is the, yeah, I recruited these players
to play this way, and the reality is,
once you get, you know, these players together,
the chemistry doesn't necessarily support
what the objective was.
And I think they're still coming to terms of
what's possible and what is.
Got a mint cucumber lemonade over here.
- Thank you. - Yeah, you guys enjoy.
We didn't have a good last game at home.
It's a challenge to be on the wing on the sides.
- Ooh! [gasps] - Got a French toast.
Do you eat this in Japan?
French toast? Yes.
Our team is good.
But it's tough sometimes.
I'm excited to work on the things
that I saw that I need to improve,
and I always improve.
I never stay the same.
That's something about me: I grow.
There always has to be pain
- for then to be good. - Yeah.
Have you cried since you've been here?
- Here? - Yeah. Have you cried?
- No. - No? You haven't cried?
- Japan... - Yeah.
- So many. - In Japan?
[laughing] So many.
- I cry, like, every week. - Yeah, I know.
[laughter] I know. I know.
[light music]
♪ ♪
- Up until now, we've been at the mercy of the Rams.
And it's just not the way forward.
We will be moving here next week,
the modular buildings where the team will eventually
move over to with the locker rooms
and offices and eating space.
And more importantly, we're on our own schedule.
Angel City gets to set the schedule, not the Rams.
No. Almost.
We all joke that we're like ACFC Moving Company.
- [chuckles] - You missed a spot.
I missed a lot of spots.
That's lovely. [laughs]
Definitely not sealed.
Definitely hot as hell.
It's gonna be a little sweatbox.
We set things up in a limited amount of time,
and, you know, finding real estate is slim pickings.
But we're pushing to get things
to a certain standard.
Part of what we had to do was enter a partnership
that shares the soccer pitch.
The pitch is not--I mean, it's not, like, perfect,
but it's not horrendous, and it's got a lot of space.
- [laughter] - This is normal!
I want that!
Angel City as a club
made a brave and bold statement
in that we were going to set new standards
in terms of women's football
and try to be the best club in every aspect.
Those boxes were checked in terms of
having the most attendance, having the best fans.
Sponsorship-wise, all of these things
have been incredible,
but from a sporting perspective,
there were definitely challenges
that were not really accounted for
in terms of facilities and space.
These players have given us a lot of breaks.
I mean, we sold a vision that we will get to,
but we are absolutely not there today.
Elle, do you want any of those bracelets?
- No. - I have tattoos we can put on
when we get down there.
'Cause, you know, it's not a game day without a tattoo.
Okay.
How big is this San Diego game today?
It's very big.
'Cause San Diego's winning right now
in the terms of, like, the standings,
but Angel City is doing so much better
on revenue, resources,
and, like, being able to broaden it.
Like, we have a good team,
but they, like, focus solely on that,
which--it's different.
I mean, when you have neighbors that have
global stars like
Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper
and Casey Stoney and Jill Ellis,
of course I wanna beat them and be the best
in Southern California
and will fan that flame every chance I get.
Angel City and San Diego
both, I think, had very different approaches
to introducing themselves
as a team, as a brand.
Teams are prioritizing different things.
You have San Diego Wave,
who have really focused on
running the team at a high level.
And then you also have Angel City,
who have just been like, "Hello, we're here,
and you're not going to ignore us, period."
[percussive music playing]
[indistinct chanting]
San Diego Wave is crushing it right at the moment,
but Angel City is firmly in the playoff chase.
The top six teams go to the playoffs.
You get three points for a win, one for a tie,
and zero for a loss,
so there's a lot of opportunity for movement.
Angel City had a much more difficult journey
to this moment just in terms of players having injuries.
You know, Christen Press is a player
that you build a team around.
[indistinct chanting]
I'm here with Angel City's Official--
look at it-- The Soccer Moms,
Glennon Doyle and Jennifer Garner.
[all exclaiming]
Glennon Doyle and Jen Garner
declared themselves Angel City Moms.
[indistinct chatter]
Yeah, you got enough sleep last night?
Did you have a nice chill day,
- a good meal? - I did.
- You're warmed up? - [laughs]
AC... all: FC!
[all exclaiming]
They really believe in what we're building here,
and they believe in this team, and they wanna be a part of it,
so it's incredible when you see two women
that aren't soccer women at all
embrace this club, embrace this team,
embrace the mission the way they have.
- It's an honor. - Hi, how are you?
You need someone who doesn't care what you do.
No, just loves you no matter what.
Aw, I love that.
And we love them no matter what.
I think that's the top strategy.
- Yes. - Yeah.
Love no matter what.
Here we go. One, two, three.
[all clap three times]
all: Unh!
Tonight there's more tickets out,
and attendance is due to be bigger
- than our home opener. - Whoo!
That is because the city's turning out with pride.
It's a massive thing for us, and as a group,
we have to be proud of our performances,
we have to be proud of getting points on the board,
and we have to proud of getting
into that playoff spot on the table.
The league's hotting up. We're getting competitive.
So now we can go in and put in
that performance that we're proud of.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
[applause]
AC... all: FC!
[cheers and applause] [whistle blows]
And here we go.
Leroux takes off...
after Endo.
Endo searching.
Goes wide.
Riley comes in!
Angel City on the board!
[stirring music]
Yes!
That's a huge statement from Angel City
to start this match against their California rival.
What a moment for Ali Riley.
Keep it up! That's right!
In the midfield.
Doniak rips a shot.
San Diego's got a bit of a fire lit under them.
We look fucked.
[shouting indistinctly]
Up!
Angel City's back line has truly been tested,
put under a lot of pressure by San Diego.
Oh, fuck. Fuck.
McNabb floats it in, tucks it in the corner!
The equalizer for San Diego.
Hey, we're working so fucking hard
to get the ball back, and we fucking pissed it away!
For Angel City,
number 10, Claire Emslie!
[upbeat music]
I'm Claire Emslie. I'm a forward,
and I'm from Scotland.
♪ ♪
Claire Emslie, who arrived three days before,
she was always intended to be additional depth
for our forward line.
We'd planned on maybe play the last 30 minutes.
Then at halftime, the coach was like,
oh, can you go on now?
And I was like oh, right, okay.
And it was so strange,
'cause I didn't even know the girls' names.
Like, I didn't know who everyone was.
So I'm, like, shouting, like, hey, hey,
like, trying to see what the name on their back was.
Like, so excited but so nervous,
'cause obviously the game was a tie.
♪ ♪
To be honest, more pressure, more exciting.
That's fucking well class. It's absolutely well class.
Yeah, I love the pressure. [laughs]
[exciting music]
♪ ♪
You can see the most confident players
in our league.
They take control of games. They want the ball.
They touch the ball.
They make amazing things happen.
At the end of the day, it's a battle.
It's who's first to the ball, who can win the second ball,
and winning those 50/50s.
It's brutal at times.
A defender is-- I think they're gritty.
They have to enjoy the physical battles.
And for me, anytime I get beat one-on-one,
I take it personally.
Like, you're not getting past me even if you want to.
Center official is letting both of these sides
duke it out on the field.
Yeah, you said it. It's been pretty physical.
Takeaway, Ali.
Pushed by Lussi.
And we got a card for Lussi! [whistle blows]
- [yelling indistinctly] - That's her second.
So now Angel City
is playing a woman down.
That's a huge, huge loss.
Here comes a free kick for San Diego.
And it bounces, intended for Riehl,
ends up going out.
[cheers and applause]
Go! Go, go, go, go!
Charley...
- [grunts] - Takes Telford.
Simone Charley goes for it!
Here's a chance.
Dahlkemper denies.
Chaos!
[cheers and applause]
Roccaro.
Leroux.
Here's a chance.
Got it!
Emslie! Her first game with Angel City!
Down a woman!
Oh, my gosh.
And when she scored,
the crowd got so loud, like, my vision was, like, shaky.
[cheers and applause]
It all happened so fast.
[whistling blowing]
Yeah!
- Yes! - Yes! Fuck yeah!
[uplifting music]
♪ ♪
Being able to react from
quite a disappointing result against Portland
to then beat the best team in the league right now--
huge momentum shift.
A huge win for us.
- Congrats! - Thank you.
Say what?
This club is incredible.
[exclaiming]
[speaking indistinctly]
We had Jennifer Garner--
like, she's handing out oranges,
and, like, Abby Wambach's giving me hugs.
And I was just like, what is happening?
You really did it!
Like, this is mad.
AC...
all: FC!
Whoo!
♪ ♪
[moody music]
Obviously, you know, you're taking a risk
whenever you bring someone on that has an injury
or had an injury.
Sydney came into Angel City, started playing,
felt great, and then slowly wasn't feeling so hot,
so we did an MRI of her ankle.
And the injury got worse.
Yeah.
Mm.
[somber music]
[indistinct chatter]
From day one, I was really big on
a no-trade culture.
Halfway through the season,
we've had so many injuries that...
that principle of not trading got questioned.
♪ ♪
In difficult moments, you kind of have to stick
to those values, right?
So the question should be,
how are we gonna win with these players?
How are you gonna coach these players
to go from five out of ten,
if that is what the determination is,
to ten out of ten?
I feel proud of our no-trade policy
because I think
it is a big part of player well-being.
But it's certainly an ideology difference.
It's stressful, because we're supposed
to have this mindset of,
you know, we're building this year,
we're competing next year,
and we're winning the third year.
Well, this team's been winning,
and the team wants to win.
We keep going sixth, seventh, sixth, seventh,
sixth, seventh in the league,
and only the top six go to playoffs.
♪ ♪
It's been a month since that game
where we beat San Diego,
and we have three games in a really short window,
which gives us a greater opportunity
to make up ground.
For Orlando.
Ball went to cross.
It touched it, over the line!
On the precipice of stoppage time.
It was a really tough period where we were on the road,
our schedule is really condensed,
and we had to get results.
Angel City below the line,
trying to pull level for sixth.
Angel City, driven in.
Charley's there, and so was McCaskill!
1-0, Angel City.
[whistle blowing]
Game over, 3 points
for the home side, Angel City,
and they wanna just make it
to at least that sixth position.
Angel City should have been eliminated a long time ago,
given all the turmoil and injury that they've had.
Instead Freya Coombe, the coach,
hold this team together with baling wire
and paper clips.
Riley in.
Press came off the line,
and there's the goal from Angel City!
Oh, cross needed to be better.
- And then-- - It is a penalty kick.
LaBonta steps up and scores.
1-1.
So it ends as a 1-1 final.
Important points to play for right now.
Remember, it's the top six to get in.
And you always say, if you don't put 'em away early,
it can come back to haunt you,
and they will certainly feel that way.
I know, I'm, like, praying we'll
have a miracle and make it to playoffs.
We've been playing the best soccer
we've been playing all year.
So now it just has to convert into points
and to wins and...
Are we doing anything about, like,
building internal culture
- for the... - Yeah.
Administrative and--
The groups within the soccer house
weren't working well together, and so we moved Angela
into a role to oversee all of coaching, recruiting,
performance, medical, and operations
and allowed Eni to focus purely in record recruiting,
which felt like her sweet spot.
But the reality of that shift in role
is reduction in responsibilities.
It's just the reality of that role.
When we first started hearing
that there was friction between
Eni and Freya's approaches,
I was very concerned.
But then people on the board were saying, no,
that's good; that's normal.
And that's how people challenge each other
and move things forward.
So it doesn't always feel the same.
But at a certain point in the season,
we start hearing that it's not that productive friction.
It's becoming much, much more negative.
[cheers and applause]
[dramatic music]
At this point in my career,
leadership is what I wanna be doing,
and I don't think this new role is gonna allow me to do that.
So I think I'm not the person to take this forward.
Angel City will go on to do great things, I'm sure,
and I will too.
But sometimes the timing of those two coming together
doesn't work.
I will always root for these players.
I mean, an incredible group of women, and yeah,
I'm very proud of the legacy that I think
I started as kind of the first board and director.
♪ ♪
Okay, this week, focus has to be
three points against Gotham.
We are in the chance to make history
as a team that's an expansion team
that comes in and makes playoffs.
And as a staff, we're gonna step up
in terms of making sure that this is delivered for you,
and we want your feedback.
So if there's something that you guys need
that we're not delivering, come and talk to me about it.
We wanna make sure that we go into playoffs
knowing that we've done absolutely everything.
This is really important.
Coach Freya is very different
from any coach I've ever had.
She does a good job of demanding a high standard,
but she also takes a step back and kind of listens
and tries to navigate things behind the scenes.
[overlapping shouting]
I was the goalkeeper coach at Gotham,
and I worked with Freya for one season.
So same thing, or I can pass.
So there's a decision here now, yeah.
I'm really excited to see the women from Gotham,
because it's not lost to me
that I now have the privilege of working
at one of the best clubs in the world,
but I wouldn't have had that privilege
if I hadn't have had the privilege of working with
lots of the women that we're competing against tomorrow.
♪ ♪
You're so cute. Thank you.
It's been a year and a day,
which is my return to Red Bull Arena
to, yeah, play Gotham.
- To Freya. - Freya.
- So nice to see you. - It's good to see you guys.
Really, it's so nice to see you.
Cheers, guys.
How are you feeling about tomorrow's game?
It's all about the performance goals for the team.
But inside, I wanna win so much.
[laughter]
But I'm trying not to project that onto the team
and just-- it's just another game
that we have to get three points from.
Seven left.
Gotta get four wins out of those.
- Angel City come across the country
to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Freya Coombe, who is back at her old stomping grounds.
[percussive music]
♪ ♪
One, two, three.
Quite the crew in Harrison, New Jersey.
Thank you.
Has it been what you expected?
It has, except, actually,
with a higher potential than I imagined, honestly.
The broadcasting, I'm, like,
super looking forward to that improving,
'cause trying to watch games has been so hard.
- I know. - It's not sustainable.
Like, it has to be better.
And I think you want people to dedicate
advertising dollars to it.
Yeah.
Like, if people know about it,
they will watch it, you know?
I mean, we saw that with the NCAA, right?
Like, when they put women's sports on
a time that people watch on a channel that people watch,
it did well.
[indistinct chatter]
There's a concern I have that, oh, we're grateful
to be here; we'll take what you give us,
as opposed to showing up with the confidence
and conviction that this is the biggest growth sport
in the world, and we're on the ground floor,
and whoever gets on with us is gonna ride.
AC...
all: FC!
One minute.
Right now, the league is not profitable.
But it can be quickly
if they negotiate fair contracts
for broadcasting, for sponsorship deals.
The fans are there. We see it every day.
So the revenue's important to make sure that our players
are treated as best as they can be
and are valued as highly as they should be.
They're really the ones
that are gonna see the benefit of that.
[whistle blows]
And off we go.
Go, Angel City!
Let's go, Angel City!
McCaskill, a nifty nutmeg.
McCaskill!
- Oh! - Yeah!
- Yes! - Yeah!
Wow!
Olympia!
She put that ball right between her legs
and then ran around her and scored.
- Let's go! - All right, all right.
Long ball. Simone's got it.
- Simone is very fast. - She's so fast.
Come on, Simone. Look, look.
Good move, good move, good move!
Finish. One more, one more!
Yes!
Nice! Nice job!
[cheers and applause]
Whoo!
Yeah, Emslie!
Emslie looking for options.
Cuts back with a left!
[cheers and applause]
All right! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
- A world-class finish.
I have chills. That was crazy.
Where did she kick that from?
That was beautiful.
An emphatic first 45 for the visitors.
They drop a three-spot in the first half.
If you're Angel City, you want to keep the pressure.
♪ ♪
Gotham looking to build something.
Come on! Keep pushing!
♪ ♪
Compete! Come on!
This Angel City back line has come through
when they need it to most.
Gotham just knocking on the door.
Four minutes for Gotham.
It's gotta be time, Ref. Come on.
- That's time, Ref. - [laughs]
Wrap it up!
Over... over... over!
Haracic.
[whistle blowing]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
Bring yourselves in. Let's go, let's go.
Hey... fuck yeah.
- Whoo! - Whoo!
AC... all: FC!
Whoo!
♪ Olé, olé, olé, olé ♪
♪ Freya, Freya ♪
DiDi, you are...
- [laughs] - Hi. Thank you.
- Magic. - Are you okay? Is the hand--
Can I introduce you to my mother?
- Of course. - [gasps]
She's, like, your biggest fan.
- Are you kidding me? - So I don't wanna fangirl
- for her. - Should I go out there?
- Do you mind? - No problem.
I'm just so proud where she's now.
I'm really happy for her.
She does this thing. She sits like this.
And she holds on tight, and anytime we clear it away,
it's the quick clap.
Always. So I can hear it. I know who it is.
- [chuckles] - I love DiDi Haracic.
I love DiDi Haracic.
Thanks. I love Dan Ball.
[laughter]
- [laughs] - I know.
To be fair, Angel City is actually the first club
that used the little things...
- Apostrophe? - On my la--
Yeah, whatever you call them--on my last name.
My tenth year, Angel City's the first one who did it.
♪ ♪
[helicopter rotors whirring]
♪ ♪
Drive.
There we go. One more.
Come on. Got it.
Awesome. Very good.
There we go.
It's a nine-month recovery from surgery,
minimum, so it's definitely a long process,
and I think that's give or take many weeks,
depending on what my individual journey looks like.
I have a season to get back to.
We have a World Cup this summer.
And so those things keep me motivated
to come in here and work really hard.
- There you go, six more. - Halfway.
Come on, come on, you got it. Don't wait too long.
It will not get easier.
Eight.
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
Just realized summat.
We haven't got a blade.
Oh, that was just the tubs.
No, no, it's meant to be in there.
"High-grade stainless steel blades."
Yeah. It's not in here.
- Is it in-- - It's in here.
- Oh. - Calm down.
You didn't even look in the--
didn't even look in the cupboard.
Oh, that's shockin'.
Oh, my God.
We can edit that out.
That's embarrassin', eh?
- [doorbell rings] - Oh, my God.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm taking my shoes off.
Have a little housewarming gift for you.
- Ooh! Thank you. - My shoe is on your shoe.
- It's so good when we win. - Oh, my God.
Everyone is so happy.
In Challenge Cup, I was like, I hope we win the game.
- A game. - So if we win the next two,
- we are in. - Yes, correct.
They can't drop points.
We just gotta win, and that's it.
You ready?
- Yes. - We're ready!
[light music]
♪ ♪
- Hi, guys! - Hello, hello.
Here, walk around this way, mama.
It's not just a regular game.
We're playing San Diego.
Yeah, I mean, it'd be great to give the rah-rah,
like, hey, we're two expansion teams, but no,
we're going down to San Diego
and coming home with three points.
If we win, even if we don't go to playoffs--
That would be a win for the season.
I'm fine with that, okay?
- Yeah. - Well done, everybody.
Yay!
- Snapdragon this. - I got it.
Angel City is fighting for a spot in the playoffs,
will do so this weekend in front of the largest crowd
in NWSL history.
[phone ringing]
Game day! What's up?
Hey, buddy, how are you?
Are you ready?
How you feeling? Feeling a little nervous?
- Little anxious? - I'm excited.
[laughing] I'm hoping people show up,
you know what I mean?
I think you've got 32,000 fans that are showing up.
I think you knocked that out of the park, Jill.
You crushed it.
Yeah, I never had to think about these things before,
just get the team ready.
Now it's like, oh, my God, I hope the fans come.
That's right, Pres.
Whenever we travel to an away game,
their attendance goes up.
Now we're headed to San Diego for their first game
in their new stadium, Snapdragon,
which seats 32,000 fans.
And it is sold out.
That's a new NWSL record.
[drumming]
all: Angel City!
We've got 400-plus supporters
showing up in force.
We're gonna bring in drums. We're gonna bring in flags.
So on social media, on highlights, back and forth,
they're gonna show, holy shit,
Angel City brought it all the way down to San Diego.
Yay!
all: AC...FC!
We are Angel City!
We are Angel City Football Club!
Hey!
So tonight it's fucking special.
This is a really special time
that we don't get back again,
so let's make sure that we do everything we can.
Be dedicated and driven.
Let's fucking go. Let's get out there.
- [rapid clapping] - Let's fucking go.
Embrace it.
AC... all: FC!
[vocalizing]
Good luck!
♪ ♪
all: Dale, oh! Dale, oh!
Dale, dale, dale, dale!
We are Angel City Football Club!
Here we go!
A sellout crowd of 32,000,
an NWSL single-game record.
Two expansion teams who are absolutely
just rewriting the script for how it is done.
[indistinct chanting]
Shaw will put it back in the box.
Flipped toward the goal but saved by DiDi Haracic.
♪ ♪
Open up! She's there!
Gyau cuts in! A header!
San Diego gets a goal! It's Shaw!
[cheers and applause]
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
We have to tie it up. We have to tie it up.
♪ ♪
This Angel City team did not fade
come 60-minute mark.
Come on. We can go. We can press it.
♪ ♪
[whistle blows]
Emslie was fouled! It's a penalty.
Right at the edge of the area,
a little bump,
and that sets up a chance for LA to tie it.
McCaskill, the leading scorer for Angel City,
and one of the best ever
at facing penalty kicks in the history of this league,
Kailen Sheridan.
McCaskill--oh, it's saved! Sheridan!
Are you kidding me?
[vocalizing]
Tonight--tonight belongs to San Diego.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
San Diego Wave FC, 1!
[cheers and applause]
That was the best that we played all season
by a country mile.
We've had our chance again
to create more chances than we have in other games.
It sucks. It really fuckin' sucks.
But we have three games now that we need to win.
They're three games that we identify that we have to go.
We have to go and win those games now.
But if we play like that, we're gonna do it.
AC... all: FC!
♪ ♪
It's been a battle of expansion teams, Herc, so far.
Who do you think has had a better first year?
On the field, it's obviously San Diego.
- They're leading the league. - Okay.
But Angel City is changing the game right now.
Before they came into NWSL,
they were giving out franchises
for $2 million, $3 million, okay?
They just did an evaluation on Angel City FC
that's $100 million.
From a growth perspective,
the demand from investors right now
is really unlike anything I've ever seen
in my 20-plus-year career in professional sports.
We have, literally,
dozens of investors
wanting to invest in the next round of expansion.
Angel City, I think, is at the heart of it
and this kind of energy of,
why aren't we being ambitious right now?
Why aren't we pushing as hard as we possibly can
to not just grow our team but grow the league?
And that's something that the NWSL has needed
for a very, very long time.
We've had a lot of changes in our training facility,
from, you know, the start of the season until now.
And I think what's been really great is that we've improved,
you know, each step along the way.
And then getting to a point where we are now,
where we have a dedicated space
for our players that's just for Angel City.
- Hey, Angela. - [speaking indistinctly]
Not where we wanted to be in terms of the timing,
but that's what this is about right now.
It's finding a great foundation
and how we can continually make improvements
to elevate our club, to elevate these players,
and to ultimately elevate the entire sport.
Ice tubs, little...
rehab, rejuvenation, recovery.
I'm just taking a look at this line--is way too small, though.
You get water flow out a lot faster, so...
just fixed.
All else looks good here.
It's not easy trying to evaluate,
you know, what's in the best interest of the club,
what's in the best interest of the player.
Lyon contacted us about loaning Vanessa to their club.
- Lyon! - Lyon!
Lyon is a world-class club
in the Champions League.
Vanessa scored our first goal in Angel City history.
Move to get free, left foot and--
[shouting indistinctly]
But when you look at the opportunities
for her career growth and her advancement,
to experience playing in a different league,
a different culture,
and then, you know, come back and bring that value
I think is gonna be really huge when she does return.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
The decision was pretty easy for me
in that I had a World Cup to prepare,
and obviously Lyon has won eight Champions Leagues
in the past ten years,
so they know what it takes to win, and...
I wanna win.
♪ ♪
I had always stated very clearly
that Angel City would probably be
the only club that I would wanna play for in the States,
not, like, from a sports standpoint
but from the values that they are portraying.
[speaking French]
Women's rights, fighting for women's soccer,
wanting to elevate the sport.
The standards that we have right now
are much better than they were ten years ago,
but I hope that they're nowhere close to
as good as they will be ten years from now.
♪ ♪
Ah.
♪ ♪
Oh, no!
I think it's cold enough.
I'll sprinkle some around Simone.
[laughs] Thanks.
[laughter]
Don't bring that energy over here.
Don't bring that energy-- [laughs]
- See? It's not overflowing. - More?
- Yeah, a little more. - Okay.
It's do or die, you know?
Like, we have to win for playoffs.
Yeah, like, back against the wall.
It's the best, though, you know?
'Cause then it's like, to make playoffs, like...
- that would be... freaking epic! - It would be fun.
- And at home? - I know.
Under the lights at the Banc? [alarm rings]
- Bro. - We done.
Wait. You wanna see something crazy?
There are three games happening in LA right now:
the Chargers, Dodgers, and Angel City.
So the cheapest ticket for the Chargers is 19 bucks.
Dodgers is 26. Angel City is 33.
And we're the hardest ticket to get today.
♪ ♪
Tonight we're playing Louisville.
Our playoff run is hanging in the balance.
Last game of the inaugural season.
- How are you feeling? - I know.
I feel good. Look, cautiously optimistic.
We're gonna go to the playoffs, aren't we, Mariel?
- Yes. Yes. - We're going to the playoffs.
Can you hear me?
[cheers and applause]
One, two,
three!
[all clap three times]
all: Unh!
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
[whistle blows]
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
Claire Emslie-- haven't called her name
too much here in this opening half so far.
She can be dangerous on the ball.
Cutting inside--big long pass across for Endo,
who gets matched up one-v-one.
Onto her right foot, looking for the corner.
Deflected on the way in!
And it [indistinct] for Angel City!
Off McCaskill into the goal.
Total team goal right there.
♪ ♪
[vocalizing]
♪ ♪
Hey! We have to take care of the ball!
Come on! We got to be better!
♪ ♪
Oh, can you believe this?
Louisville's come back to level it.
♪ ♪
Oh, and a point to the spot.
♪ ♪
This is tough for Haracic.
- Yeah, you can see that DiDi's upset.
Not over.
Still possible.
I'm like, we're gonna win this game.
If we're losing, I don't care.
We can still win.
There's time on this clock, then, like,
we're gonna go until there's no time left.
Angel City FC still pushing.
♪ ♪
[crowd exclaims]
♪ ♪
[whistle blowing]
♪ ♪
[cheers and applause]
Let's hear it for Angel City Football Club!
[cheers and applause]
And at this time, yes,
we have sold out another home match.
[continues indistinctly]
♪ ♪
But what an amazing start to professional soccer in LA
that we have created.
And no one can ever take that away in this moment.
'Cause I believe that we have got so much as a group--
passion, the personality,
the willingness, the talent.
Be pissed off, 'cause that's who we are,
but don't be pissed off for too long,
because we have got a lot to be proud of and look back on.
Come on.
AC... all: FC!
♪ ♪
At the end of the season, it's always bittersweet.
Of course we cared about the outcome, but...
in that stadium, every single game day
felt like we made it as strong female athletes,
and we're giving young girls the opportunity
to dream to be a professional athlete too.
[vocalizing]
I was really upset we still lost, though.
[laughs]
♪ ♪
For a group of girls that met
at the very beginning of the season
and for us to, like, come together
and navigate the storms of not just a season
but being on a start-up,
I'm just really proud to be a part of that group.
♪ ♪
Failing at the last minute to make playoffs,
that really hurt.
I think that's something that the players
are gonna take with us into next season
so that we don't feel that pain and disappointment
again next year.
[cheers and applause]
- Sorry. - Don't be sorry.
We still got this.
I'm so proud of how
our team came together and the culture that they built
and the chemistry that they built.
♪ ♪
I prefer that than making the playoffs.
♪ ♪
"Heartbreaking and deeply troubling,"
that is what the U.S. soccer president
is calling the findings of an independent investigation
that reveals systemic abuse and misconduct by coaches
in the top tier of women's professional soccer.
The investigation was led
by former deputy attorney general Sally Yates.
- The report finding rampant verbal, emotional,
and sexual misconduct
in the National Women's Soccer League.
- And lays out in disturbing detail
the misconduct of three past coaches.
- You're reading over and over the failure.
I mean, every layer that could have stopped it
never did.
I think I felt it along with them,
because I've experienced similar things,
but then saddened to know that it's still happening.
but then empowered to know that I could affect the future,
and it starts with my team
and then to have a voice
within the National Women's Soccer League
so it doesn't happen to anyone else.
We are being birthed out of "time's up."
No other club has had that as their origin story.
It was one of the eye-opening things in this report
is, if you don't have the resources to make this better,
then get the hell out.
Following the Yates report, there are two teams
selling their majority ownership.
Building a new kind of culture
and a new kind of way of doing things
around women's sports,
that's really what brought us all here.
Like, it sounds corny, but it's, like, genuinely
where we are and why we're here.
One of the things that I believe deeply is,
when you find something that breaks your heart,
turn towards it.
That, to me, is what Julie and Kara and Natalie did.
They're like, I'm not gonna just hear the sad story.
I'm gonna actually try to figure out
what I can do,
what I can create,
what I can reimagine
to solve for this heartbreak and to fix it.
[indistinct chatter]
[rain pattering]
So good. How are you? Oh, I'm so glad you're here.
The last time I was at a Women's National Team game
was when I first started thinking
about having our own team.
I got my shirt too, so I will put this on over.
And now we're here, and things are changing.
- Oh, hi! - Welcome.
I think this is a hundred-year journey.
And we really do see this as a brand
that we believe will be worth as much as, you know,
a Manchester United someday.
Oh, Trinity. Oh, come on!
This is Michele Kang from Washington Spirit.
- So nice to see you. - Natalie Portman.
So she's the unbelievable woman
that came in and took over Washington.
I know. We're so excited.
Pulled off an incredible coup.
We're so excited to be colleagues.
Oh, my gosh.
You too, you too.
I mean, we're all--
we're all, like, rising together, I feel like,
and we've gotta--
We're a group of female owners
trying to make the best conditions
for our players,
and there's no playbook.
We have to write our own.
How big is Wembley, you guys? Michael, how big's Wembley?
- It's 80,000 or 90,000. - 80,000 or 90,000, right?
I mean, we can pack this.
I told Freya, after we win the championship,
we'll come here and play a match and sell it out.
So soon as we win a championship,
we're coming to Wembley.
[upbeat music]
♪ Shout when you wanna get off the ride ♪
♪ 'Cause it crossed my mind, it crossed my mind ♪
♪ Made my blood thump seven, eight, nine ♪
♪ Made my heart beat double time ♪
♪ Now I'm the only sour cherry on your fruit stand, right ♪
And the first pick
in the first round of the 2023 NWSL Draft,
Angel City FC select Alyssa Thompson.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- There is Thompson, so, so positive.
So positive, and she scored!
What a talent!
♪ Shout when you wanna get off the ride ♪
♪ 'Cause it crossed my mind, it crossed my mind ♪
♪ I'm a penny in a diamond mine ♪
♪ Oh, we could be movers ♪
♪ Oh, oh, we could be shakers ♪
♪ Oh, oh, if we could just shake something ♪
♪ Out of the blue ♪
♪ And get off the ride ♪
♪ Now I'm the only sour cherry on your fruit stand, right ♪
♪ Am I the only sour cherry on your fruit stand ♪
♪ If I'm the only sour cherry on your fruit stand, right ♪
♪ Am I the only sour cherry on your fruit stand ♪
♪ G-g-g-go home, go home ♪
♪ It's over ♪
♪ G-g-g-go home, it's over ♪
♪ G-g-g-go home, go home ♪
♪ It's over ♪
♪ Go, go home, it's over ♪
♪ G-g-g-go home, go home ♪
♪ It's over ♪
♪ Go, go home, it's over ♪
[bright tone]