Latest news with #ACFC
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Angel City's veterans can help shape the team
Head coach of ACFC, Alex Straus, talks to Meg and Tamerra about the important role veterans can play in shaping the team's evolution.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How the NWSL is approaching its first season without a draft: 'This opened up a door'
The 2025 NWSL season marked a milestone: For the first time since the league was founded in 2013, the NWSL began the season without a draft. Last summer, the NWSL ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with a number of key changes. But one of the biggest changes was the league's decision to eliminate the drafts, both for entry-level players and for expansion teams. At the halfway point of the season, as the league heads into a lengthy international break, Yahoo Sports spoke with some key figures who either played a part or were affected by the draft change. Advertisement NWSL senior director of strategy Carlin Hudson said that the NWSL held a draft because of its roots in the United States, where that's the norm for most professional sports leagues. 'We always had this interesting balance between the global soccer game and the American way by being an American soccer league,' Hudson said. 'We had an entry draft for our entire existence, and we decided that we didn't have to do the same thing that everyone else does in America.' Similar to the WNBA, the NWSL is a relatively small league with limited spots. Unlike the NBA, MLB and MLS, which have layers of farm teams that feed into the senior team, or NFL, which has expansive rosters, NWSL teams didn't have enough room for all of their draftees, and draftees don't have much to fall back on when they get cut. Riley Tiernan played at Rutgers before signing a preseason contract and then a long-term deal with ACFC. (Photo by Ian Maule/NWSL via Getty Images) (Ian Maule via Getty Images) Now, the new system allows teams to sign players directly, factoring in the needs of both the player and the team. The result, Hudson said, is a lot more agency for the players, who can 'take the future into their own hands.' Advertisement One of the motivators for this change was the influx of young talent through the NWSL's Under-18 Entry Mechanism, a system put in place in 2021 following an antitrust lawsuit from Olivia Moultrie. Unlike the draft, the under-18 process gave players much more control to choose their teams, something that Hudson called 'incentive misalignment.' 'We didn't want to encourage players to come out as soon as possible. We want to make sure the players are coming into our league at the time that's right for them,' she said. 'Playing in college is really important, and we see players really achieve and grow a lot in college, and then, when the time is right, they can come into the league.' Part of this year's success has been due to what Hudson calls an 'incredible rookie class,' some of whom have started for their teams from the jump. Advertisement Angel City rookie Riley Tiernan is a quintessential example: The forward, who spent four seasons at Rutgers, signed a preseason contract with ACFC before eventually signing a long-term deal with the club. She now has seven goals this season and is in the running for the NWSL's golden boot. Tiernan told Yahoo Sports that her initial goal was just to prove her place on the team during preseason. 'I knew that it was a small opportunity and that there was a lot that could come from it, and it was like my time to prove myself, that was it, I needed to show myself. I think my mentality was just to show up every day and work my butt off and do as much as I could to prove to them that I deserve to be there,' she said. 'And it ended up paying off.' Portland Thorns defender Jayden Perry, another dominant rookie, said she was able to 'advocate' for herself more, but said that the lack of a draft came with plenty of obstacles. Perry, who has been starting center back in eight of the 13 games this season, signed a one-year deal out of UCLA before eventually signing an extension last month. Advertisement 'Everyone's process is so different,' Perry said. 'There's just so much unknown with it all because it's the first year having it.' Building a community Seattle Reign rookie Maddie Dahlien has had a strong start to the season. The 20-year-old forward, who joined Seattle after three seasons at the University of North Carolina, has three goals and two assists, and has started 12-of-13 games. Dahlien's decision to leave UNC a year early was deliberate, based on the Reign offering her a three-year contract. 'For me, I wasn't going to leave school unless I got a contract, so I think those were in the conversations pretty early,' Dahlien said. 'I knew Carolina was gonna be an amazing place for me to develop, so if I didn't have the opportunity to develop elsewhere, then I don't think that would've been a reality for me.' Advertisement Though she said she didn't think about it much at the time, Dahlien said that the elimination of the draft was a major factor in her decision to go pro a year early. 'The draft is definitely an intimidating process. You don't know where you're gonna end up, and you kind of have to think about where you're gonna be selected in the draft, and then you also don't really get to talk to the teams on if they see you getting a contract right away,' Dahlien said. 'For me, this opened up a door of being able to have conversations with clubs, seeing how they wanted to develop me, seeing where they thought I was in their future.' Location is an important factor as well. As players sign with teams, they're also able to choose where they want to live and start their careers. 'It can be very challenging to not know when your life is going to be uprooted as a professional athlete, and we're really proud of the fact that players get to decide where they want to live and build their lives around a location,' Hudson said. 'We don't think that that's something you have to sacrifice to be a professional athlete.' Advertisement Dahlien added that getting to work with different teams allowed her to get a better sense of where she was committing — she was able to see how the Reign operated before signing with the team. 'You were able to explore all the pieces, location, all the factors that you wouldn't really get to explore in the draft. And I think that's so important just because it's the next three years of my life, depending on the deal,' Dahlien said. 'I think it's just really important for players to have that decision going forward.' Perry, who signed her extension through 2028, said that she is excited to keep 'building more of a community' in Portland now that she knows she'll be there for the long term. 'I'm excited to try new food places and just explore Portland more, now that I'm locked in here,' she said. Maddie Dahlien left UNC a year early when the Reign offered her a three-year contract. (Photo by) (Ryan Sun via Getty Images) Wading through uncertainty Hudson has a unique perspective on the NWSL draft: Prior to joining the league office, she was drafted out of Yale and spent time with the North Carolina Courage and Washington Spirit on short-term contracts. Advertisement 'In some ways, the draft can be helpful to players who are more like me, where I was essentially throwing my hat in the ring by declaring for the draft,' she said. 'I was drafted second to last, went into the training environment. I didn't have a contract and was competing for a contract.' Hudson said that the league is hoping to find ways for players to 'self-identify' their interest in the league moving forward, to replicate that effect. As an alum of Rutgers — a Big Ten school, but not a typical women's soccer powerhouse — Tiernan said she felt that some players tended to get missed in the recruiting process. 'A lot of the time, the bigger-name schools, they get more of the attention,' Tiernan said. 'But I think that there's a lot of talent within the schools that get overlooked. I think everyone should be given a fair chance.' Advertisement Still, the NWSL has a problem with space, and can't sign every player that gets drafted. 'That piece of it, the fact you could get drafted and still not be signed, exists in some leagues but doesn't exist in every American league. So I think that that occasionally can be really confusing for players,' Hudson added. Some of that confusion still exists, even in the current format. 'There's just so much uncertainty, cause you could go to a team and they don't sign you and then you're kind of left out to dry,' Perry said. 'I was lucky enough that the Thorns reached out, took a chance on me.' Jayden Perry has scored three goals in eight games this season for the Portland Thorns. (Photo by Jack Gorman/NWSL via Getty Images) (Jack Gorman via Getty Images) Tiernan, the only player of the three who started on a trial basis, said that she didn't have any changes for the current process, but noted that her journey to the NWSL was a hard one. Advertisement 'It was definitely a very mentally challenging time for me, probably one of the toughest things I've had to go through mentally. Just the in-between of not knowing where I stood and having really no idea of whether or not I was gonna be a part of the team,' Tiernan said. Tiernan, who didn't get her contract offer until four weeks after the tryout process began, said that the stress of not knowing whether she would get a spot was difficult. But all of that changed when the process was finally over. 'I literally was crying the night before they offered me a contract, just because I was so overwhelmed and it was such a long process,' Tiernan said. 'It was all worth it once I got pulled into the office, and they offered me a contract. I forgot about all the tough stuff I had to go through and just focused on the good.' Looking for ways to 'innovate' As with any major change, there are some drawbacks. Eliminating the draft meant no ceremony, something that Perry said was especially disappointing. Perry attended last year's draft while supporting UCLA teammate (and now Thorns teammate) Reilyn Turner, and was hoping to get her own this year Advertisement 'Selfishly, I wanted there to be a draft,' Perry said. 'I wanted to hear my name called and go through all of that, and I've always kind of been picturing that since I knew I wanted to play pro.' Hudson said that's something the NWSL has thought about: 'We still have that question of, how do we make sure that our fans are introduced to the new players coming into the league?' Part of that is also finding a distinction in the players coming into the league — like rookies coming from college, as opposed to U-18 players or players entering from other leagues. The NWSL Rookie of the Year Award, for example, has always been given to players coming from college. (Nearly all of the previous Rookies of the Year have been first-round draft picks; only one, Bethany Balcer in 2019, was undrafted.) 'Even the term 'rookie' is something that's based out of the draft class,' Hudson said. 'I think that we're probably going to continue to use the word rookie, and we'll see how that evolves, but it's just inherent to the American landscape.' Advertisement Despite the lingering challenges of the new system, Hudson and the rookies are all optimistic about the new process going forward. 'It's provided the teams with as much flexibility as the players,' Hudson said. Teams have to focus more on scouting, while also trying to make their programs more appealing to incoming players. Hudson said that the shift is allowing clubs to 'innovate' when it comes to recruitment. Not having a draft also allows teams to find players that fit well into their current lineups, rather than drafting players in positions that a team might not really need. 'I think the Reign had a little bit of trouble on the attack last year, and so just being able to hopefully try to help and contribute this year was definitely something that went into my decision,' Dahlien said of her ability to fill in on Seattle's roster. (The Reign scored 27 goals last year; they are already at 17 halfway through this season.) Advertisement Tiernan echoed that, saying that Angel City 'definitely needed some more forwards,' specifically a striker. Perry, meanwhile, was a great fit for Portland after longtime center back Becky Sauerbrunn retired. 'That's obviously a major role to be filled, cause she's such a great player, and they also had some other girls leave. So I knew that coming here I would have a good chance to be able to prove myself,' Perry said. 'That definitely played into my decision.' Without the draft, the onus is on teams to attract players, rather than the draft being a 'crutch,' per Hudson. 'We're starting to see clubs really be able to flex their muscles in the areas where they believe they are best, and it has led to our clubs creating more of a player-friendly environment as well to make themselves as attractive as possible to players,' Hudson said. 'They are competing with one another. They don't have rights to the No. 1 draft pick anymore.'
New York Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Angel City FC players wear ‘Immigrant City Football Club' shirts amid ongoing immigration raids
Angel City FC responded to immigration raids and the resulting protests in Los Angeles during Saturday night's home match against North Carolina. The NWSL club printed 10,000 t-shirts which read 'Immigrant City Football Club' on the front, and 'Los Angeles is for everyone / Los Ángeles es para todos' on the back. Advertisement The shirts were distributed to supporters and fans entering BMO Stadium. Some ACFC players wore the shirts during player arrivals, and new head coach Alexander Straus also sported the shirt along with the rest of the club's technical staff and players on the bench. The club distributed cards with a new statement from the club, following their initial statement released on June 7. The cards read in part, 'The fabric of this city is made of immigrants. Football does not exist without immigrants. This club does not exist without immigrants.' Recording artist and founding investor Becky G read that message from the field before player walk-outs. Angel City worked with supporters groups in the lead up to Saturday's match on the messaging and larger action. Earlier this week, the NWSL Players Association released a statement in conjunction with the WNBA Players Association regarding the ongoing immigration raids. 'We stand with all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity, no matter where they come from or where they hope to go,' The statement read. 'Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We know not every situation is simple. But offering compassion should never be up for debate.' A post shared by WNBPA (@thewnbpa) The league itself has not issued a statement of any kind addressing the immigration raids or in support of immigrants. Some individual clubs, including Angel City and Chicago Stars FC, have released brief statements pointing to relevant resources. Statement from Chicago Stars FC. Resources: • IMMR: • The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights [image or embed] — Chicago Stars FC (@ June 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM Angel City's coordinated action on Saturday night is an elevated response following the events of the past week. Last weekend at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles FC supporters remained silent through the MLS club's 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City. They also took up six rows of seats in the supporters' end of the stadium for a large banner reading: 'Abolish ICE.' Advertisement That banner, and others, technically violated both the MLS Code of Conduct and stadium policies, but it appears no action was taken. Angel City, as a tenant of BMO Stadium, may not have the same ability to prevent stadium staff from removing banners or other signage that may violate stadium policies or NWSL's Code of Conduct. BMO Stadium rules reference MLS's guidelines, rather than the NWSL's. The list of prohibited items per stadium policies include 'flags, banners, or signs which in any way reference current conflicts or countries involved therein (in accordance with MLS Guidelines)' as well as 'flags, banners, signs, clothing, or other accessories or adornments that reference any political party, candidate (current or former), or measure in any Federal, State, or Local election.' Angel City's regular season match is happening on the same night as a Concacaf Gold Cup match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium, as well as the opening match of FIFA's men's Club World Cup in Miami. Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol removed a social media post referencing its presence at the Club World Cup games after FIFA expressed concern. BMO Stadium is currently outside of the area of Los Angeles under a nighttime curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rainbow Ryders to Unveil Hot Air Balloon Banner Designed by Arizona Pediatric Cancer Warrior's Family
PHOENIX, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rainbow Ryders, the Southwest's premier hot air balloon company, will proudly unveil a one-of-a-kind hot air balloon banner created by the cousin of a local pediatric cancer warrior during a special sunrise flight on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The inspiring design was selected through Rainbow Ryders' expanded partnership with the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children (ACFC), a nonprofit devoted to supporting families navigating childhood cancer. As part of the heartfelt collaboration, children supported by ACFC were invited to submit original artwork with the chance to see their vision take flight. Dozens of imaginative, colorful, and courageous submissions were received. One young girl's design, filled with vibrant hope and strength, was chosen to be transformed into a custom banner that will now soar above the Valley on one of Rainbow Ryders' signature 12-passenger balloons during daily sunrise rides. "It's an honor to bring this young artist's vision to life and to continue our work with the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children," says Lindsay Mayer, Director of Operations at Rainbow Ryders. "Her design will serve as a symbol of strength, hope, and imagination - qualities these children embody every day." To mark the occasion, Rainbow Ryders will host a special sunrise balloon flight for the winning artist and her family on June 21, where the custom banner will be revealed in the sky for the very first time, turning a simple drawing into an unforgettable moment of wonder. "For our families facing the unimaginable, moments like these are everything," shares Chrisie Abramo, President and Founder of ACFC. "Rainbow Ryders continues to be an incredible partner in helping us create lasting memories filled with joy, adventure, and hope." Following the success of this initiative, Rainbow Ryders plans to expand the "Design a Balloon" program into a quarterly campaign, giving more children the opportunity to share their creativity and see their artwork lifted into the clouds offering hope where it's needed most. To learn more about Rainbow Ryders or to book a flight, visit For more on Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, visit Media Contact: Robyn Patterson 480-242-8001 396538@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rainbow Ryders
NBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Angel City defender Savy King discharged from hospital following heart surgery
Angel City's Savy King was discharged from the hospital Saturday following heart surgery after a mid-game collapse on the soccer pitch that stopped a match and left her teammates visibly shaken. The team said King, a 20-year-old defender, was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is now home with her family and "resting comfortably" following heart surgery. It thanked the medical center for the expert care King received and added that it is prepared to support King and her family as she recovers. Earlier this week, the team said her prognosis is "excellent." It was not immediately clear whether and when King will return to soccer. "I'm still finding the words to express just how much your love and support have meant to me over these past few days," King wrote on Instagram. "What I do know is that I wouldn't be getting through this without my incredible family by my side, my amazing teammates who have shown up for me and prayed for me, the fans, the entire soccer community, and the outstanding medical team here at ACFC who saved my life and cared for me every step of the way." King collapsed on the field in the 74th minute of Angel City's May 9 National Women's Soccer League match against the Utah Royals. Trainers rushed to her side before she was taken off the field on a stretcher and then to the hospital. While being evaluated, doctors discovered a heart abnormality, prompting surgery Tuesday to remedy the problem, the team said earlier this week. No other information about the specific abnormality and surgery have been revealed. The team asked for respect for King's privacy as she continues to recover.
