Oscar winner joins Serena Williams to launch US soccer club ‘Angels’

A new majority female-founded National Women’s Soccer League club are launching in Los Angeles, backed by A-list celebrities including Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Oscar winner Natalie Portman and tennis legend Serena Williams.

The group - the first women majority-owned club in American sport - led by actress Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman, media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman and tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian, is aiming to bring a professional women ’ s NWSL team to Los Angeles in spring 2022.

Currently called Angel City, the club’s official name will be announced before the end of the year.

They promise to “write a new playbook” and “reshape exceptions and think differently about ownership, ticketing, partnerships and community collaboration.”

In response to fan-driven demand for an NWSL team in the region - there has not been a professional women’s football team in California for over a decade - the group applied to secure the exclusive rights to bring a professional team to Los Angeles.

This model is not unprecedented for football in the United States: there are parallels with men’s club LA FC, whose owners and investors include actor Will Ferrell and Magic Johnson.

Mia Hamm is also a member of LA FC’s ownership group, while Williams controls a small share of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

“The difference is that this ownership group, which has more than 30 people in it, is majority women,” former Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl said.

“There is a social movement aspect to it, definitely, but the owners also want to make sure that people know it’s not just a social movement. They think this is an investment that can make money, as well.”

It’s a big moment for women’s soccer in the US. ”In the middle of a pandemic, when the economy is not doing well, the NWSL is getting new investment from a pretty remarkable ownership group.”

There has not been a professional women’s football team in California forl over a decade