It was a pretty busy 2025 for Angel City FC‘s do-it-all defender Gisele Thompson. The year started with the LA Native originally signing a two-year extension in January, tying her down in Los Angeles through the 2028 season. We will get to why we say originally later, but the fun didn’t stop there as in February Gisele got her first senior team cap with United States Women’s National Team. It was a great lifting point for the season ahead as the young defender was set to take on more responsibility and play a much larger role for her hometown side, Angel City.
Homegrown hero 📈 LA’s own Gisele Thompson, putting on for the city! pic.twitter.com/3VFotyKONP
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) September 11, 2025
As one of the more offensive-minded defenders in women’s soccer, it was no surprise to see Gisele up the pitch more times than not, especially given that with her speed and quick reaction time, tracking back to defend any counter attacks weren’t a major issue for the youngster. She made 23 NWSL Regular Season appearances for Angel City in 2025, with 21 starts, logging a total of 1,668 minutes. In attack, she finished the season with five assists, one goal, had 434 successful passes (84% success rate), 15 successful dribbles, made 50 touches in the opposition’s box, created 26 chances, won 19 fouls and was dispossessed 20 times with 967 touches. The lone goal Gisele scored wasn’t just a milestone, it was historic as it not only marked her first professional goal, but with the assist coming from her older sister Alyssa Thompson, it was the first time in NWSL history that saw sisters combine for a goal, a moment that was thought about and anticipated from the moment both signed on with Angel City.
A connection 19 years in the making 🥹
Alyssa Thompson assists her sister Gisele Thompson on her first pro goal, AND they become the first sisters in NWSL history to combine for a goal! pic.twitter.com/bsFjL9zR8L
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 3, 2025
Defensively, Thompson was everywhere across the backline, usually playing on the outside either right or left, there was also a few occasions where she was deployed to secure the middle of the backline once fellow defender Savy King was out. Thompson showed she was far more than just a pacey defender with attacking prowess as she finished the season with 52 tackles, won 88 duels (56% win rate), had 18 interceptions, blocked three shots, won possession in the final third six times, made 80 recoveries and was only dribbled past on one occasion.
📰 Angel City FC has signed star defender Gisele Thompson to a new contract through 2029.
Full details here:https://t.co/x7Gk6XVMSW pic.twitter.com/zY0fhSWf0N
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) September 5, 2025
In the summer, the club made the shock decision to sell Gisele’s sister, Alyssa Thompson, to England powerhouse Chelsea FC, leaving many asking the question about the defender’s future in Los Angeles. Those questions were shortly answered when it was announced that, despite signing an extension earlier in the year, Gisele and the club reached an agreement on a new three-year contract that would keep the younger Thompson in Los Angeles through the 2029 season. It was a move that spoke volumes to how the club view the defender, with her not only being one of the premier young talents in the league, but being a player that Angel City will undoubtedly want to build a defense around going forward. Now, as the team undergo a bit of a revamping with the roster, Gisele will be looked at no longer as the young starlet with loads of potential, but as the young veteran who will be asked to play an even greater role for the club in 2026. If her prior seasons are anything to go by, this should be no problem for the LA native, as she continues to develop and only get better as time goes on.
Thoughts on the season Gisele Thompson had? Drop a comment below!