Hollywood magic is coming to women’s football

As if it were the premiere of a great Hollywood movie, Angel City FC began its journey on National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the dream came true Natalie Portmann, who, leading a group of entertainment stars, brought women’s soccer to Los Angeles.

With nearly the entire Banc of California Stadium (22,000 capacity), Angel City enjoyed a perfect debut when they beat North Carolina Courage 2-1 amidst a stunning and party atmosphere.

“I know it’s just the first fight, but this is the moment I’ll never forget,” the Angel City captain said after the fight, Ali Riley.

“No matter what happens this season, no one can take this night away from us and this crowd. To feel that was incredible,” she said, very emotional and on the verge of tears.

vanessa giles using a header and in the 3rd minute he scored Angel City’s first goal (Japanese Jun Endo scored the second just 10 minutes later), but that’s not the only historic thing tonight.

In a city more focused on soccer (there’s the LA Galaxy from Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and LAFC by Carlos Vela), Angel City has caused a sensation since the project was announced in July 2020 with a small founding group with Natalie Portman in the head.

“Watching my son idolize the female players Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan in the same way as Leo Messi or Karim Benzema I realize that supporting sportswomen can quickly make a cultural change, ”the actress told The Guardian in March.

With a clear feminist and anti-racist vocation, Angel City is among its investors, with so many women, Hollywood and music stars (Eva Longoria, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Chastain or Gabrielle Union) and sports figures (Serena Williams, Lindsey Vonn, Mia Hamm, Candace Parker or Abby Wambach).

Fans responded enthusiastically as more than 15,000 season tickets were sold before the season began, but it’s still unclear what Angel City’s first day on the Banc of California pitch will look like.

“A new sunrise”. That was the message read on the tifo displayed at the north end of the stadium to receive the team coached by Freya Coombe and that the star on the field was the striker Christen Press.

Before the game started, Angel City organized a festival for fans around the stadium and also had a “pink carpet” (the color that, along with black, dominates the team’s brand) where investors of the team like Jennifer Garner, Billie Jean King or Becky G.

“Angel City! Come on LA! I’ve cried at least four times today,” Becky G joked on Twitter.

With a spectacular California sunset and the skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles in the background to complete the postcard from the stadium, the Los Angeles team players came out to warm up with big smiles and crossed a corridor that made some girls happier than soccer players.

Additionally, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and Tia P. performed the team’s song, “Running with the Angels,” live.

Fans also made their debut with Angel City’s “three clap” (three clap, in English) intention to make their rallying cry before starting their fights.

This seemed to have an impact on his debut, as Giles ’early goal drove madness in the stands and paved the way for the first victory for a team that also wanted to make a mark off the pitch.

“My teammates were screaming (after the game) and crying with joy, and that was all for me,” midfielder Dani Weatherholt said.

“So many women and so many men from this community that admire us is something really special (…). I think this organization is more than just a sports team and I think at that moment it felt that this is something bigger than a game, ”he concluded. .