A very Happy New Year to all of you wonderful readers out there! As we turn the page on the 2024 calendar, and begin the preparations for the 2025 season ahead, we feel it’s still poignant to look back at the season that was. After a year hiatus, the Angels on Parade Player Postmortem is back! This is where we take a look at the performance of the players in the previous season, as well as a brief look at what can, and should, be expected of them in the new campaign. While most players will get their own feature, we thought we would start with a group of players. Specifically, those that saw less than 500 minutes on the pitch for Angel City FC*. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
Jun Endo – SEI
This one is a bit of an honorary mention, except nobody really sees this as an honor. Midfielder Jun Endo looked poised for a big 2024, as the midfielder came in as one of the centerpieces for the side. However, in what has become a painful tradition for Angel City, Endo never got the chance as she was hit with the injury bug before the season began. In February it was announced she suffered an ACL injury that would keep her out all of 2024. To say her presence was missed would be an understatement, as the team struggled all year with a meteor-sized hole in the midfield that they struggled to fill all season.
Angelina Anderson – GK
The 2024 campaign looked like one that would heavily feature the young keeper. After a phenomenal showing to end the 2023 season, Anderson continued that work in training and came into the season as the team’s number one. However that would be short lived. Anderson featured in just three matches, tallying 270 minutes and making 17 saves in her short time. Despite not suffering from any known injury, she was relegated to the bench and not seen again. The first two matches of the season may not have ended in wins, but Anderson showed her ability making several massive saves to keep Angel City in the matches. Only conceding a single goal in each of the first two matches, it looked like the team needed to just find the scoring boots and the season would be something special. Then came that fateful trip to Kansas City, where the home side Current put four past Anderson and ACFC in the 4-2 loss. That was the last we saw of the young goalkeeper for the 2024 season, with DiDi Haracic regaining the starting role and never relinquishing. Coming into 2025, Angel City will once again be on the search for their number one option between the posts, so time will tell if we see an even more refined, more motivated, Anderson this spring.
Elizabeth Eddy – Defender
Not every player is a superstar. Not every player is a regular starter. Not every player is the first name off the bench. Some players, like defender Elizabeth Eddy are more for veteran presence and used only in emergency circumstances. The veteran defender appeared in three matches with only 29 minutes logged for the season. Eddy was more the voice of experience inside the locker room and with a handful of young talent, a couple being in defense, Eddy was there to provide insight, assistance, and help nurture the youngsters. As it stands, the defender is set to return for the 2025 season, and the last year of her contract. It can’t be overstated how important players like this are to helping build a solid team. Some players will have to see more bench than pitch, and a lot of those players lack the ability to continue to lead in ways that matter off the pitch when not seeing game time. Eddy has been able to do just that, being a leader for the kids to look up to and lean on.
Merritt Mathias – Defender
Another player that fits into the, veteran presence and leadership category, is defender Merritt Mathias. While her minutes may not be plentiful at 364 this season, she did provide a lot of solid depth throughout the season in defense. Making 13 appearances, Mathias was able to finish with a 72% pass completion percentage with 170 passes, made seven tackles, had three interceptions and won eight aerial duels. As for what is to come? Well, shortly after the season Mathias announced her retirement from football. Mathias enjoyed 12 incredible seasons as a true NWSL original, having played in the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL) before being among the first to join NWSL in its creation in 2013. “I didn’t go into my 12th year believing it would be my last,” said Mathias in a statement on her retirement. “But as the season went on, I’ve struggled a lot with illness and injury. That’s part of sport, and I’ve come back from injuries before, but with my diagnosis [of type 2 diabetes], it takes longer for my body to heal in the way that it needs to. I do not want to continue to do the thing that I love and only get to do it a minimal amount of time because the rest of my time is spent rehabbing or coming back from something.” We wish her all the best in her future.
Ali Riley – Defender
Coming into this season, team captain Ali Riley was looked at as one of the true leaders on the team. Not just someone players on defense could look to, but someone the entire team, young and veteran, looked up to and leaned on. While her minutes were always going to be on the lower side this season, she was still expected to be one of the first defenders off the bench, with the occasional start when necessary. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance to see that all the way through. In August, it was announced Riley suffered a knee injury that would keep her out for the remainder of the season.
“This is something I have been dealing with for quite a long time and it just is not a straightforward injury with a predictable timeline,” said Riley in a statement at the time of announcement. “I know that if I keep training at this level and pushing myself, I could do more damage than good. I want to get back to the pitch doing what I love pain free and am now taking the time to do that. That doesn’t make this any easier or less frustrating, because all I want to do is play this game with this team for these fans at the highest level possible. In the meantime, I am going to provide support however I can for my teammates, Becki, and the rest of the staff.” Riley finished the season with five appearances, making two tackles, winning three aerial duels and coming away with three interceptions. Again, the expectation for Riley this season was never to play all the minutes, but to be a leader. A player that was an extension of the coaching staff, someone the younger core could turn to and by all accounts, Riley had been that and so much more. Which makes it no surprise that as of now, Riley is set to return to the team in 2025. With what role, remains to be seen, but a veteran like this is one you absolutely want to keep around as long as you can.
Clarisse Le Bihan – Midfielder
The French midfielder looked to be a great depth piece in the 2024 season. As we mentioned, the middle of the pitch was a concern all season for Angel City and while not a superstar Le Bihan provided a lot of solid minutes for a team that needed them. Making 10 appearances, Clarisse was able to tally a goal on just two shots on target, maintain a 75% successful pass percentage, securing seven tackles with five interceptions this season. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t see the finish of the season with LA, as her and the club agreed to part ways in July, in the middle of the season. “I couldn’t dream of a better first experience abroad” said Le Bihan in a statement during her departure. “I grew as a player and as a human. I found in this club not just football, but a community and family.”
Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, @katieajohnson33. 🖤
📰 Katie Johnson has announced her retirement from professional football after an 8-year career in the NWSL. pic.twitter.com/OirZO7Lp4A
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) December 20, 2024
Katie Johnson – Forward
It’s no secret Angel City has a bit of a bottleneck up top. With plenty of attacking options, it’s been hard for a lot of players outside of what has become the “regular starters” to get some game time. One of those players that seemed to not be able to breakthrough was veteran forward and Mexican International, Katie Johnson. Making just five appearances, the forward nearly finished with a match’s worth of minutes, tallying 85 for all of 2025. Another veteran presence that spent more time this year being an ear and helping out where she could off the pitch, than actually playing on it. While not shocking, it was a bit surprising not to see Johnson more as there were a handful of matches that felt like could use a bit of a different look up front. Shortly after the season Johnson announced her retirement from football, after eight seasons in the NWSL racking up over 6500 minutes and scoring 15 goals in her tenure.
Casey Phair – Forward
Last, but certainly not least, the young phenom that was Casey Phair. The 17-year-old arrived to Los Angeles with plenty of fanfare. Phair was the youngest player to ever play in the Women’s World Cup when she made her debut for South Korea in 2023, and from there made the move to NWSL and Angel City. However, she was never played. At all. Outside of friendlies, where she barely hit 100 minutes combined, we never saw Phair on the pitch for Angel City FC. Again, there was a bottleneck in attack but given how the season went, there were absolutely times where everyone felt Phair could, at the very least, provide something different. Even more curious, despite not seeing the pitch for her club, Phair continued to get call ups for her Country, featuring heavy in the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024. She scored a goal in that competition, continuing to flash her immense, if raw, talent. The expectation for 2025 is to, hopefully, see a lot more of the young star on the pitch, but first the club need to solidify a coach, preferably one that sees Phair as part of the future for the team.
Thoughts? Leave a comment below!
*All statistics and minute tallies are from the NWSL official website.