Angel City FC star forward Alyssa Thompson signed a $1.3 million contract with Chelsea on Friday.
Thompson was the second-leading goal-scorer and fourth in assists for the team. Her presence on the field kept Angel City’s attack powerful and created frequent goal-scoring opportunities.
The loss is massive. Not only will the team have to regroup and figure out the rest of the season’s outlook, but so will the Angel City community and NWSL fandom. Some fans even brought posters to the last game, begging Thompson to return.
Recently, the team also lost defender Alanna Kennedy and midfielder Katie Zelem to the London City Lionesses, other crucial players to the franchise’s success.
Now, as Thompson makes her way across the pond, and with the transfer window closing on Aug. 25, Angel City is left to pick up the pieces and try to get into the NWSL Championship tournament.
The team is currently in 10th place, two ranks below the tournament qualification line. The gap for a run continued to close, though, after its tough 3-1 loss to Gotham FC on Sunday, bumping Angel City down from ninth.
The question many fans have pondered is whether the season is effectively over for Angel City FC and if there is enough talent and grit amongst the newly disheveled team to pull through for a tournament run.
The major loss of Thompson will have head coach Alexander Straus looking to use the talent Angel City has to rebuild and recenter their roster.
The team needs veteran support. The NWSL’s competition is fierce and if Angel City wants to stay afloat, older players like Christen Press and Claire Emslie will have to guide the team through the losses and keep everyone level-headed. Discouragement is not an option for the remaining group, which means channeling that grief into grit should motivate it to advance..
Forward Riley Tiernan and midfielder Kennedy Fuller will need to make up for Thompson’s departure and continue to score goals. Both add great value to the offense, especially with Alyssa’s younger sister and young star, Gisele Thompson, assisting them with a great passing game.
The upcoming schedule is tough for Angel City. With No. 2-ranked Washington Spirit on Sep. 18 and No. 1 Kansas City Current on Oct. 6, Angel City must increase its work rate and find a new groove through practice and gameplay.
With four games left in the season, Angel City still has a chance to compete for the tournament, but it is going to take the entire squad’s effort to pull it off. From the youngsters to the veterans, they need to produce and display their best soccer in the finale of the regular season. That means playing the ball to feet, faster ball movement and better decision-making.
Despite the rest of the season’s outlook, one thing is for sure. The morale and support of Los Angeles have backed its Angel City women through thick and thin.