A star-studded line-up of owners have officially secured the rights to set up a women’s football team in Los Angeles for the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League season.

The project, nicknamed Angel City, is being led by actress Natalie Portman and a star-studded consortium of owners including Los Angeles FC co-owner Mia Hamm. Despite the connection to LAFC, it is understood that the Angel City project has no connection to the club. In fact, it has been reported by the Los Angeles Times that the owners are discussing a partnership with LAFC’s rivals LA Galaxy although LAFC have also said they are supportive of a women’s team in the city.

Troubled times

The region of Southern California has been without a professional women’s football team for the last 10 years since the Los Angeles Sol folded in 2010. It is because of the Sol that the Galaxy are discussing a partnership with Angel City. Before they were disbanded, the Sol shared an owner and a stadium with the Galaxy.

This is despite the region having a clear appetite for football. The region has two current Major League Soccer teams in LAFC and LA Galaxy as well as playing host to Chivas USA before they were dissolved in 2014.

There was an attempt to secure an expansion for LA in 2013 with a collaboration between the LA Strikers and the Pali Blues. The pair officially merged in 2014 in preparation for the move before the Strikers’ partner, Chivas USA, folded and the Pali Blues shut down their women’s team.

Shoot for the stars

A consortium of 30 people, predominantly women, from across the sporting and celebrity worlds have come together to help secure the LA expansion.

Other members of the glittering cast of co-owners are Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, two-time Women’s World Cup winner Julie Foudy and USWNT legend Abbie Wambach. However, it is believed that Star Wars and V for Vendetta star Portman that is leading the project.

Julie Uhrman, who has been appointed president of Angel City told the LA Times that:

“L.A. is a city that has a fanatical sports fan base. And obviously, we’ve shown that we have the ability to support multiple teams and multiple different leagues”.