This was always going to be a tough match for Angel City, and very few reasons had to with their opponent on the other side of the pitch. As NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman was gallivanting around in celebration of the league’s newest, and controversial, partnership with a company that shall not be named here, players for both Bay FC and Angel City FC took the pitch with a more somber tone. Every player wearing a black t-shirt with ‘SK3’ on the front, in support of Angel City defender Savy King, one time Bay FC player as well, after her medical event last weekend. With a match to play and three points to go after, it was clear from the start, the team was still struggling with everything that happened.
Always behind you, Savy King đź–¤ #AngelCityFC | @wearebayfc pic.twitter.com/4wokmlXnca
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) May 18, 2025
Whether it be emotions, missing a key player in the center back position, a very aggressive Bay FC attack, or all of the above, it was painfully apparent early that it would be a long night for Angel City. The home side was doing everything they wanted in attack, threatening early and often behind the pace and dribbling skills of Rachael Kundananji. In the 22nd minute of the match, Bay FC struck first  behind some solid passing and unfortunate ball watching from Angel City. Passes along the right side, opened up tons of space on the left, where Penelope Hocking waited with no one around her, getting the ball, and wasting no time in taking the shot, putting it away for the early lead.
Penelope Hocking makes no mistake tucking the ball into the far post đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/pD92lmyUMi
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 18, 2025
Just five minutes later, Bay FC were awarded a penalty and were set to take the kick from the spot. Caroline Conti stepped up for the home side, and put the penalty kick past Angelina Anderson, who guessed the right direction, but couldn’t get to the low shot as it got past her for the second goal of the night, doubling the lead for Bay FC.
Caroline Conti BURIES the PK 🎯 pic.twitter.com/QKC3JnT5lg
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 18, 2025
Perhaps most frustrating is the fact Angel City held far more possession (65%) than Bay FC in the first half, and even put together more shots (9). However, it was another one of those matches for the attack where a force field seemed to be protecting the goal. Even with the first start of the season for superstar Christen Press, the team couldn’t find a way past the Bay FC defense. Just one of their nine shots found the target, but it was far from threatening. The one positive the team could take away from this one, is that despite going down two goals in the span of minutes, and with over 80 minutes of regulation to play, they were able to keep Bay FC at bay, with the first half goals being the only ones on the night.
It wasn’t like Bay sat back either. The home side, in particular Kundananji, was all gas the entirety of the match, hunting for a third, fourth, and maybe more. Despite the aggressiveness, Angel City was able to limit Bay to just three shots in the second half. While we never enjoy discussing the mentality, the heart, desire, etc of a player, it was clear the team was still struggling with all that has happened this week and after the match Angel City Captain and defender, Sarah Gorden, confirmed as much. “We’re pretty emotionally tired. The group did a great job this week showing up to practice and tuning in and getting ready” said Gorden when speaking to media after the match. “We need a day or so off to emotionally just get away from everything. It’s been a really tough week with everything that happened and trying to move forward and pretend like last week didn’t happen isn’t possible. It kind of all hits you at one time. I’m still really proud of the group. We’ve put everything into this week. Even though we fell short today, it doesn’t represent who we are and what we’ll do the rest of the season.”
After the match, the team provided another update on Savy King, announcing that she has been discharged from the hospital and is home with family as she begins the process of recovering, healing, and focusing on just getting back on her feet after the dramatic events of last weekend.
An update on Savy King đź–¤ pic.twitter.com/q8EZlYTcCL
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) May 18, 2025
King herself also provided an update on her status as she took to Instagram to thank fans and her teammates for all of their outpouring of support and well wishes, as well as thanking the Angel City and hospital medical staff who “saved my life.”
Message from Savy King after her collapse on the field during a game and a successful heart surgery that followed. We’re with you every step of the way, Savy 🫶
📸 IG savymking
— The Women’s Game (@womensgamemib.bsky.social) May 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
As much as results matter in this sport, this was one of those matches that if you’re Angel City, you crumple up into a ball, throw it away, and move on to the next one. As Sarah Gorden said, this team could do with a day or two off to just deal with their emotions and mental health after all that has gone on. That said, this league, as we unfortunately know all too well, doesn’t stop and the team will be right back in action this weekend as they host Racing Louisville.
Thoughts on the loss to Bay FC? Leave a comment below!