Angel City FC

Embracing the Excitement

In 2015, Kara Nortman, a venture capitalist from Los Angeles, brought her family to Vancouver to witness the US Women’s National Team compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Amidst the exuberant crowds cheering as the US women defeated Japan in the final match, Nortman found herself reflecting on a troubling question: why do women’s sports receive far less attention, funding, and backing than men’s sports?

That moment ignited a resolve in Nortman to drive significant change in the realm of women’s professional sports. Once back in LA, she shared her vision with her friend and fellow soccer enthusiast, Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman.

As days went by, the two exchanged numerous texts about their ideas until one day, Portman sent Nortman a game-changing message: “We should bring a team to LA together.”

Creating a New Standard

From its inception, Angel City FC aimed to become a groundbreaking professional sports team. Nortman and Portman initially connected through their involvement with Time’s Up, a movement championed by influential women in Hollywood to address issues like sexual harassment, gender inequality, and wage disparity. The duo was committed to cultivating a strong, inclusive community in soccer. They envisioned a professional team that would synergize mission-driven principles with financial backing.

“Kara and Natalie realized that if they wanted to effect change, they needed a seat at the decision-making table,” states Urhman.

Moreover, they were keen to fill those seats with women, understanding that this was essential to challenging stereotypes and fostering meaningful, lasting change.

Men also played a role—Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian was an early supporter and co-founder of Angel City. However, through their connections in LA, Nortman and Portman gathered a formidable roster of influential women to invest in their vision, including sports legends like Billie Jean King, Lindsey Vonn, and Ohanian’s wife, tennis icon Serena Williams, alongside actors Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Uzo Aduba, and Sophia Bush, as well as 14 former US Women’s National Team players such as Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Abby Wambach.

“There’s a significant movement underway that no one wants to overlook,” notes Eniola Aluko, a former professional soccer player and sporting director for Angel City. “Investors are drawn to our organization due to its genuine community impact.”

“It astounds me that we sold so many season tickets before our first game,” she adds. “Typically, a team must establish a rapport with fans before they commit, which makes the support we already enjoy even more extraordinary.”

Making an Impact

Even before the expansion team’s new players arrived in LA for training in early February, Angel City FC had already established itself within the realm of women’s soccer and the city of Los Angeles.

With a commitment to donating 10 percent of their proceeds to the community, the club and its 25 partners had organized over 150 events. They partnered with Sprouts to create eight school gardens focused on teaching children about nutrition and wellness while distributing over 10,000 pounds of produce to families facing food insecurity. Collaborating with DoorDash, they delivered more than 75,000 free meals. When they introduced their first player, Christen Press, they celebrated the occasion by donating 1,200 hygiene kits to the Downtown Women’s Center, which serves women facing housing instability.

In mid-March, poised for a competitive season with a robust roster filled with experienced players globally, Angel City turned its focus to a preseason tournament. This, however, didn’t mean an end to their community initiatives.

“Every action we take is intentional,” explains Uhrman. “We have twelve to fourteen games during the regular season, but our community impact is a year-round commitment.”

The players share the enthusiasm for the team’s mission. “No matter the outcomes of our games—win or lose—we’ll achieve victories and advancements beyond the field,” remarks defender Ali Riley, who returned to her home city of LA to play for Angel City after extensive international experience.

Goalkeeper Dijana “DiDi” Haračić echoes this sentiment: “I’m thrilled to be part of this club because it signifies more than just a game. This team prioritizes the well-being of both the players and the community.”

While Angel City FC stands as the first women-majority owned and led professional sports team in the US, their ambition extends beyond being the sole entity of its kind.

“For women’s sports to flourish, it requires heightened visibility and awareness,” Uhrman asserts. “Change is on the horizon, and we aim to be a catalyst for that transformation. We aspire to ignite a spark here that will spread far and wide.”