Athletes, actresses, activists and more unite to launch a women’s soccer team in Los Angeles. On July 21, Natalie Portman and venture capitalist Kara Nortman announced a group effort to bring Angel City to the NWSL by 2022, increasing the league to 11 teams. Portman and Nortman are joined by Eva Longoria, Serena Williams, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Chastain, Lilly Singh and Uzo Aduba, as well as 14 former USWNT players, including Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach. Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian is the main investor, and Julie Uhrman is the president.
“Why don’t we start our own team and do it differently, with the respect, equality and celebration these women deserve?”
Wambach, a soccer legend in his own right, shared some background on how the team came to life on Instagram. Her speech at a Time’s Up event sparked conversations with Portman about “the inequity between the experience of men and women within professional sports.” This sparked a new idea: “Why don’t we start our own team and do it differently, with the respect, equality and celebration these women deserve?” His biggest obstacle was finding funds, but according to Wambach, Portman “reinvented this Old Boys Club system.”
“What if, instead of ONE wealthy man buying the equipment, a PACK OF WOMEN gang band together to start one?” Wambach wrote. Once everyone was united, Angel City came true. In addition to working on the field, the group also aims to enrich the lives of young athletes by partnering with the LA84 Foundation and supporting the foundation’s Fair Play Fund. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Angel City.
