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Angel City FC: Saying goodbye to a pair of hometown heroes

A powerful, emotional, celebratory sendoff for two Angel City originals and LA legends
Trebor TracyBy 8 Mins Read
Angel City FC forward Christen Press addresses fans during retirement ceremony. Photo courtesy of Angel City FC

Arriving to watch Angel City FC in Los Angeles, from the day they arrived in the NWSL, has always been a spectacle. The support from fans from day one has been tremendous, with parking lots filled, Christmas Tree Lane Park features supporter’s groups and fans mingling, pre-gaming and enjoying the infamous LA bacon wrapped hot dogs, donned in sol rosa and black kits and ACFC merch. In true Los Angeles fashion, it’s an event. Even with all of that on a regular match day, pulling up to BMO this past weekend was ten times that. The energy was palpable, the typical Angel City FC kits joined in unison by USWNT kits sprinkled in. Fans who perhaps never made it out to a match were racing to the gates, and even more young girls who arrive dreaming of one day taking the pitch at BMO, had arrived for this match.

No, this wasn’t a championship match or even the equally popular Hello Kitty night. Instead, the stadium was filled with those looking to say goodbye to two Los Angeles soccer legends. One last glimpse at two hometown heroes as they were set to take the pitch one last time in LA, before hanging up their boots and calling it on what has been very illustrious careers. Everyone was there to cheer on forward Christen Press and original Captain, defender Ali Riley, one last time.

On the day, the match was secondary. Purely a vehicle to see two players that had become more than just fan favorites, but embodied what the club strived to be. When Christen Press took the field in the 60th minute and Ali Riley in the 82nd, the scoreline was irrelevant as you could feel the energy in the stadium, you could feel the warmth, appreciation, admiration, the love, emanating from fans and players alike. It was a moment that, for both, felt very full circle. When an expansion team in any sport focuses on that first player signing, there are various factors that they could think about. Obviously, you want talent, a player that makes a statement about the team on the field you are building. Maybe you want to also look for a player that makes a statement about who you are as an organization off the field, perhaps you want a player that can connect to fans, draw in new fans. Never, in the history of first signings had there been a more obvious choice than what Angel City had. Christen Press didn’t just check one, or a few of those boxes, she checked them all and so much more. A player that had won World Cups with USWNT, a clinical finisher with incredibly technical ability, a person that was unafraid to speak truth to power and fight for not only what she believed in, but fighting for others. In Press Angel City had the perfect first-ever player, someone even casual fans recognized, someone that brought in new fans, a person that would excite on the pitch and inspire off of it.

During her speech addressing the crowd, Press, as she does with everything, got a bit raw and honest. “I feel that the last chapter of my career has not gone as anyone in this stadium wanted it to. I came to this club and they believed in me to be the first player that they signed and I only played maybe 10 games before I tore my ACL and it took me the remainder of my time at Angel City to come back.” She continued “I didn’t come back to the level of play, or goal after goal that I had dreamed of… I came back to something different. This club and this team and the people here, you all have made my comeback, worth it”

In some aspects she isn’t wrong, the CP23 era at Angel City was vastly different than many had imagined on the day she signed, but to hear Press express that showed just how unpredictable, and cruel, this sport can be. However, its the last part that really resonates with fans because despite the lack of trophies, the feeling that the injury took away what probably would’ve been an incredibly magical run with Angel City in her hometown, there was still a real sense of love and feeling of ‘thats OUR player’ when she did make her return. The fans, the team, the staff at the club, not once ever stopped believing in Christen and that’s what the club is truly about. Yes, we all want wins and silverware, but we also need a club that doesn’t forget the human aspect, that can celebrate and respect the greatness of the superstars they bring in, even if in the end things don’t go the way many had hoped.

Which is the same case with her fellow honoree on the day, defender Ali Riley. While not the first player signed with the club, she did arrive shortly after and has her own distinct honor of being named the first-ever Captain for the team when they began play in 2022. Before her injury in 2023, Riley had started 33 of her 38 appearances for Angel City, scoring three goals as a defender and providing two assists. Much like Press, her impact is far more than statistics or what she achieved on the pitch, it was how she was the perfect Captain for the club on and off it. Just look through any goal celebration video from the past two years and there’s a 99% chance that in background you will see a very thrilled, smiley, ecstatic Riley. Almost always opened armed and waiting to celebrate with her teammates.

A stalwart for the New Zealand Women’s National team, Riley helped lead them to some historically remarkable achievements, as Captain when the team won their first-ever World Cup match in 2023. She was not just a vocal supporter but leader amongst the Football Ferns, playing a key role in the shift that saw them go from perennial pushovers to a team that commands respect. Helping to raise the standard that will only continue to grow after her departure. For Angel City, she has been the perfect ambassador. A player that oozes passion for the club, that at every turn, made herself available to help grow the organization, even after her injury kept her off the pitch.

“Thank you for welcoming me home with open arms” Riley said when addressing the fans in her ceremony speech. “I felt your love every time I stepped on the field from Los Angeles, all the way to Auckland. I can’t wait to watch Angel City games with you, for many, many years to come….To everyone at this extraordinary club, thank you for celebrating with me in the great moments. Breaking records, making history, changing the game, and thank you for holding me in the hardest moments of my life. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this club, but I could never have done it without all of you, so thank you so much.”

It was, as many would expect, a very emotional sendoff for two of Los Angeles’ biggest soccer stars. So often in sports we celebrate the stats, the wins, the trophies, the championship moments, but this was so much more than that. So much more meaningful. As Press and Riley stressed several times, this was a moment neither ever really dreamed of as small girls when they played. This type of moment didn’t exist in women’s sports back then. However, as true legends tend to do, they paved the way. They made all of this possible and they are the reason that a stadium filled with young girls throughout, can all have that dream. They are the reason so many young people around Los Angeles can look towards BMO Stadium, watch an Angel City FC match, and even if for a moment think to themselves, this is what I want to achieve one day. Changing the game, making history, and opening doors for generations to come. That is the real achievement. That is what these two have embodied their entire careers. Thank you Christen Press and Ali Riley for all you have done for Los Angeles, and the sport of soccer on the whole.

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