It all came together for Angel City FC.
Angel City’s draft plan played out exactly as they had hoped. Having acquired the top selection in Thursday’s entry draft last week, Angel City saw the next phase of the plan come to fruition, as they selected teenage phenom Alyssa Thompson.
“This was the hardest decision that I’ve ever had to make, but in the end, I decided that it was the best for me,” Thompson said in a statement. “I worked really hard to get to the place that I am right now. Training with the full team and being in that environment [last preseason], I thought, ‘Wow, I can do this.’ And being able to play against the best in the world every single day—I couldn’t pass that up right now.”
Thompson is on stranger to the local soccer scene, let alone Angel City. Thompson, regarded as one of the top high school players in the country, played for Harvard-Westlake school, located in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley and won Gatorade player of the year honors in 2021 and was good enough to make the USWNT senior roster at age 17. Thompson had committed to play her college soccer at Stanford University and even had an NIL deal lined up with Nike, but Thompson chose to turn pro, partly to improve her chances of making the USWNT squad for next Summer’s Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand. Thompson makes history as the first player out of high school to be drafted No. 1.
“Being able to play in front of my family and friends is something that’s really important to me,” Thompson said. “I’m walking into an amazing organization where the fans are, I think, the best in the NWSL. They show up at every game and are just amazing. I know that this organization will make me a better player and continue to develop my skills.”
Angel City is looking for Thompson to bring an infusion of youth and energy to a mostly veteran squad. Heading into its second season, the Los Angeles-based club is looking to make the playoffs, as they will feature the likes of Sydney Leroux, Savannah McCaskill, Ali Riley, Jun Endo, Cari Roccaro, Jasmyne Spencer and keeper Did Haracic. Angel City will also be looking forward to the return of Christen Press, who tore her ACL midway through last season, but is expected to return during this season.
Angel City FC
