The offseason has officially begun for Angel City FC. As the NWSL playoffs creep closer to the Championship match at the end of the month, Los Angeles have already begun the preparation for next year. The team has announced their end of season roster, giving us a glimpse at the players under contract going into next season, as well as the free agents set to hit the market. After another season that has left fans feeling underwhelmed at the performance, with two legendary players hanging up their boots and a new head coach set for his first full offseason, there is a real possibility this team looks a lot different going into next season. In a year where they will absolutely need to improve and show something fans can be excited about, that might not be a bad thing.
💬 Nealy Martin: “I think it’s really exciting to see what Alex is building here.”
Quote of the Match | @CarMax pic.twitter.com/qHcAB3mDn5
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) November 3, 2025
First let’s get into who we know for sure will be back for the 2026 season, with the list of players still under contract and on the roster, looking like this:
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Goalkeepers: Angelina Anderson, Hannah Seabert
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Defenders: Sara Doorsoun, Sarah Gorden, Savy King, Sophia Mattice, Evelyn Shores, Gisele Thompson
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Midfielders: Jun Endo, Kennedy Fuller, Macey Hodge, Nealy Martin, Lily Nabet (ON LOAN), Maiara Niehues, Hina Sugita
- Forwards: Prisca Chilufya, Claire Emslie, Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Sydney Leroux, Maithe Lopez, Casey Phair (ON LOAN), Riley Tiernan
Some quick math will show that the team is going into the offseason with 22 spots locked in for next season. What is perhaps most intriguing is the list of players set to hit free agency and the language the team used around those announcements. From the official release that was sent by the club:
“Players whose contracts expire at the end of the calendar year and will leave Angel City in free agency include defender Elizabeth Eddy, midfielder Madison Hammond, defender Miyabi Moriya, defender Megan Reid, and goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh. Reid and Hammond have been with the club since its inaugural season in 2022.”
Typically, even if a player is set for free agency, if the team is working on keeping said player we will see something along the lines of ‘contract talks are being had with…’ or ‘negotiations are ongoing with free agents’. However, this makes it sound like the players set to hit free agency this time around will almost definitely not be with the team. Of course, in free agency anything can happen and we can see any one or a couple of these players brought back, but language matters and this very much feels like the beginning of what could be a bit of a rebuild for Angel City FC.
Casey Phair is under contract until 2028, and the club states that she will remain on loan until the 2026 preseason, at which point she will rejoin the club. The other player to watch who is also on loan, is midfielder Lily Nabet who is only under contract until the end of this season, with no certainty of whether she will sign a new deal. Lastly, there is the retirement of club legends forward Christen Press and defender Ali Riley. The team has celebrated both with an incredibly heartfelt ceremony, marking what is truly the end of an era for the club. Now, the real work begins.
As we have mentioned, and will continue to mention, this is arguably the most crucial offseason in the club’s history. While they have done excellent in building community, luring in fans, and creating a support system that continues to raise standards for women’s sports, they have fallen well short of what Los Angeles sports fans expect from them on the pitch. With new Head Coach Alex Straus now set for his first full offseason with the club and roster space to work with, it is time for some difficult conversations, and even harder decisions to be made as the team begin preparing for what will be a very important 2026.
Thoughts on the offseason roster for Angel City FC? Leave a comment below!