2023 Angel City FC Season

The 2023 Angel City FC season was the team's second season as a professional women's soccer team. Angel City FC played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

Background

Coaching changes

On January 11, 2023, Angel City FC announced the hiring of NJ/NY Gotham FC assistant coach Becki Tweed to the same role, reuniting her with head coach Freya Coombe. Angel City then hired Melissa Phillips as first assistant coach on January 22.

Summary

March

Angel City FC hosted Club América in an international club friendly on March 8, 2023, winning 3–0. High-school draft pick Alyssa Thompson made her professional debut and scored her first professional goal in the match.

HBO announced on March 23 a three-party documentary series titled ''Angel City'' that covered the club's founding. The series aired in May.

As of March 24, Angel City FC reportedly had 16,000 season ticket holders.

Angel City played its season and home opener on March 26, against NJ/NY Gotham FC. The match featured Thompson's first regular-season goal, and the first use of video assistant referee (VAR) in the NWSL, which overturned a Jun Endo goal for Angel City scored from midfield. The club lost the match 1–2.

On March 29, Angel City announced the transfer and signing of Mexican national team forward and San Diego native Scarlett Camberos from Club América of Mexico's Liga MX Femenil for an undisclosed fee. Camberos had experienced persistent harassment from a fan while playing for América and requested the transfer for her safety.

April

During a match against Orlando Pride on April 2, Angel City forward Simone Charley suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. On April 11, the club placed her on its season-ending injury list. The 2–1 match was Angel City's first win of the regular season, but it would be their only win of the month, ending April with a record on the season in league play and a loss in the month's only match of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup.

On April 7, assistant coach Melissa Phillips accepted the role of manager at Brighton & Hove Albion of the English Women's Super League.

On April 17, Angel City announced the signing of United States national team midfielder Julie Ertz to a one-year contract.

May

On May 13, Angel City FC lost a match against Washington Spirit 1–0 after Ashley Hatch scored a penalty kick. Referee JC Griggs awarded the penalty as the result of a handball call, ruling the foul was a result of a deflection of the ball off Angel City defender M.A. Vignola's body and into her shoulder, which her arm movement had been made "unnaturally bigger, blocking the path of the ball". The call was reviewed and confirmed by VAR. Following the match, coach Freya Coombe obstructed club president Julie Uhrman from confronting officials on the pitch. On May 17, Uhrman was fined an undisclosed amount by the league for violating league policies against approaching officials.

On May 20, goalkeeper DiDi Haračić and the Angel City defense registered its first shutout in a 0–0 draw against North Carolina Courage. On the same day, Angel City announced that defender Vanessa Gilles's loan to Olympique Lyon would be extended to June 2024 from its previous expiration of the end of Lyon's 2022–23 season in June.

On May 25, ''Sports Business Journal'' named the club its 2023 sports team of the year, over the NFL's Buffalo Bills, NHL's Florida Panthers, and NBA's Golden State Warriors.

On May 27, Angel City FC suffered its worst loss since June 3, 2022, losing 1–4 to OL Reign in Seattle despite going up early on a Claire Emslie goal scored directly from a corner. The Reign outshot Angel City 25–7, and Megan Rapinoe assisted on all the Reign's first three goals. Angel City closed the month with a May 31 Challenge Cup loss at Portland Thorns FC, fighting back from a 0–2 deficit to equalize in the second half but conceding a goal in the 3rd minute of second-half stoppage time to lose 2–3.

June

On June 1, Angel City announced the signing of French midfielder Amandine Henry, formerly of Olympique Lyon.

On June 5, forward Sydney Leroux made her return from an ankle injury and scored in a 1–2 defeat against Chicago Red Stars.

On June 15, 2023, Angel City FC announced that it had "parted ways" with head coach Freya Coombe the previous day. A report by Meg Linehan in ''The Athletic'' published on June 14 claimed the team had fired her. Her firing followed a start to the season, and Angel City were in 11th place of 12 teams at the time of her exit. The team named assistant coach Becki Tweed as Coombe's interim replacement.

Following the departure of Coombe, in interim coach Becki Tweed's first official game as head coach, Angel City was able to comeback from a 1–0 deficit to defeat rivals San Diego Wave away in San Diego in a 1–2 victory with M.A. Vignola scoring the match winner.

On June 25, Angel City was able to keep their undefeated streak going in a 0–0 draw against Houston Dash in the last match before players who had been called up for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand departed. Four Angel City players, Jun Endo, Ali Riley, Julie Ertz, and Alyssa Thompson had been selected by their respective national teams to represent their countries at the World Cup. Due to the unavailability of those players during this period, Angel City announced on June 28 that they would be signing defenders Elizabeth Eddy and Kelsey Hill as National Team Replacement Players (NTRP).

On June 28, Angel City once again defeated rivals San Diego Wave in their first meeting of the group stage in the 2023 Challenge Cup.

July

On July 2, Angel City was once again held to a scoreless draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC in New Jersey.

On July 5, M.A. Vignola was selected in the NWSL Best XI for June.

On July 9, in the last match before a three-week break for the World Cup, Angel City was able to secure a 2–1 home victory against North Carolina Courage due to a late own goal by Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz to continue their unbeaten run under interim coach Tweed.

On July 29, Angel City returned to the pitch in the 2023 Challenge Cup in a match against Portland Thorns at home which was won 2–1 a brace from Savannah McCaskill as well as penalty save against Olivia Moultrie by Angelina Anderson in her first professional appearance to secure the win.

August

On August 2, the NWSL announced that Savannah McCaskill was selected as the Player of the Month for July and was also selected in the Best XI of the month along with Sarah Gorden.

On August 5, Angel City traveled to play rivals San Diego Wave in their final match of the 2023 Challenge Cup group stage which finished in a 1–1 draw. At the completion of the group stage Angel City finished second in the West Division overall, behind OL Reign with 8 points from a record. Despite being possibly eligible to possibly advance to the knockout stage by finishing second, Angel City was ultimately ranked third among the second-placed teams behind Racing Louisville FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC and were eliminated from the tournament.

On August 14, Angel City officially announced that defender Alyson Swaby who was already out on loan to Paris Saint-Germain, would not be returning to Angel City and be permanently transferred to AC Milan for an "agreed-upon fee".

On August 17, Angel City announced that they had re-signed NTR players Elizabeth Eddy and Kelsey Hill to new contracts that would keep them at the club until the end of the season.

On August 20, in the first NWSL regular season match since the World Cup break, Angel City traveled to play Racing Louisville FC which ended in a 1–1 draw. A week later on August 27, in the first home game after the World Cup break, Angel City defeated OL Reign for the first time in the clubs history in a 2–1 victory which also saw Madison Hammond score her first NWSL goal against her former club which eventually was the match winner.

On August 31, Julie Ertz announced her retirement from professional soccer and that she would not finish the remainder of the season.

September

On September 1, Angel City extender their unbeaten steak under interim coach Tweed to ten matches with a 0–1 victory against Kansas City Current which saw Jasmyne Spencer score her first goal for Angel City and Amandine Henry make her debut after recovering from a calf injury which also forced her to pull out from the French World Cup squad. On September 17, Angel City traveled to Chicago to play Chicago Red Stars which ended in a 2–2 draw.

On September 26, it was announced that Angel City would be extending Sydney Leroux's contract through December 2024.

October

On October 2, Angel City's thirteen game unbeaten steak came to an end with a 1–0 defeat against Orlando Pride after a goal from Adriana. On October 8, in a must win game to keep their playoff hopes alive, Angel City came down from a 1–0 deficit against Houston Dash to win the match 1–2 with goals from Alyssa Thompson and Savannah McCaskill.

On October 15, the final day of the NWSL regular season, Angel City had the chance to secure their first spot in the playoffs in their match against the defending champions Portland Thorns. Angel City went on to win the game 5–1 in their biggest victory ever and successfully secured a spot in the NWSL Playoffs as they eventually finished fifth overall with a record of despite being in 11th of 12th place when former head coach Freya Coombe was fired in June.

On October 18, it was announced that M.A. Vignola, Sarah Gorden, and Savannah McCaskill were selected in the NWSL Best XI of the month for September/October. Gorden also became Angel City's second Iron Woman after playing every minute of the 2023 regular season.

On October 20, Angel City competed in their first NWSL Playoff Match against OL Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle which ended in a 1–0 defeat after a late goal from Veronica Latsko.

November

On November 2, it was announced that Becki Tweed would officially assume the role of head coach after her successful term as interim head coach since her appointment in June.

On November 6 after the conclusion of the season, it was announced that defender Sarah Gorden was selected in the 2023 NWSL Best XI team with M.A. Vignola and Savannah McCaskill being named to the 2023 Best XI Second Team.

Style of play

Under head coach Freya Coombe, Angel City deploy a four-player backline with a focus on possession and building play from the back.

Stadium and facilities

Angel City FC continued to play in BMO Stadium, their home since the team's inaugural season in 2022. The stadium's name changed from Banc of California Stadium in 2022.

Broadcasting

On April 25, 2023, Angel City FC announced a partnership with Bally Sports SoCal to broadcast eight live matches on the regional sports network and Bally Sports app, and also to rebroadcast matches and feature Angel City on the Bally Sports website. Bally Sports SoCal also broadcast Angel City's preseason friendly against Club América on March 8.

Team

Staff

Squad

Transactions

2023 NWSL Draft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2023 NWSL Draft was held on January 12, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Contract options

Re-signings

Preseason trialists

Loans out

Transfers in

Transfers out

Retirements

Injury listings

Competitions

Preseason

NWSL Challenge Cup

Angel City finished fourth in the West Division during the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup and did not advance. Angel City FC returned to the West Division in the 2023 tournament.

Group stage

West Division standings

Results by matchday

Regular season

Matches

Regular season standings

Results summary

Results by matchday

Playoffs

Statistics

Goals

Assists

Clean sheets

Disciplinary cards

Awards

NWSL monthly awards

Player of the Month

Best XI of the Month

Rookie of the Month

NWSL weekly awards

Player of the Week

Save of the Week

References

{{2023 NWSL season by team

Angel City FC seasons
Angel City FC season
Angel City FC season
Angel City FC season