Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will face Gotham FC at 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, Aug. 23, at BMO Stadium. The match will be televised on ION.
Last Time Out: ACFC Earns Draw Against Spirit
Midfielder Ally Sentnor scored her first-ever goal for Angel City with a late equalizer against the Washington Spirit, giving ACFC (7-4-7) another point in the league table with a 1-1 draw at BMO Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 16.
Sentnor received a pass from defender Savy King and dribbled laterally across the top of the penalty box before unleashing a rocket that curled into the top-right corner of the Washington net. The 85th-minute tally neutralized a goal by Spirit forward Trinity Rodman in the 65th minute.
Although Sentnor only scored once, she had several chances throughout the match and led Angel City with three shots on target.
“The way [Sentnor has] been focused on improving and working on what she can control has impressed me,” said Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud, adding, “She can shoot like very few players, and we saw it today. So she just has to keep working, and now she can relax a bit more. She’s had her first goal, and I’m 100 percent sure there will be plenty more.”
The match featured a pair of returns, with King seeing her first action since April 3 and attacker Sydney Leroux taking the pitch for the first time since the club’s 2024 season after being placed back on the active roster.
“It’s great to have Syd back on the field,” King said. “She is an absolutely incredible person and player, and it’s just been incredible to watch her journey. We’ve been training a lot as we both made our way back onto the field, so she’s been a huge part of my recovery as well.”
The ACFC defense stepped up to limit Washington to three shots on target. Making her 150th NWSL start, captain Sarah Gorden led the way with nine recoveries.
Angel City is 3-3-1 in seven matches under Smerud and is just two points out of playoff position with games in hand.
Next Up: Kerr and Gotham FC
Gotham FC comes to BMO Stadium in form, having won four consecutive matches. Most recently, the club defeated the Kansas City Current, 2-1, on Aug. 14 at Red Bull Arena.
The win streak has Gotham (13-4-3) at the top of the NWSL table, six points ahead of the second-place Spirit. Gotham has achieved success in part due to its stingy defense, which has allowed just 13 goals in 20 matches.
On offense, Gotham has been led by forward Sam Kerr. The Australian attacker scored against Kansas City and has three goals after joining the club this summer on a free transfer from Chelsea FC.
ACFC, which has momentum of its own after three consecutive draws, will look to continue to earn points against the league’s top teams.
In the Spotlight: King Royally Impresses in Return
Playing in her first match in over four months after recovering from a foot injury, King played a critical role on both offense and defense against Washington.
King came on in the 66th minute at left back and set up Sentnor for Angel City’s equalizer. The assist was the defender’s first-ever goal contribution for the club.
King also made a crucial tackle in the 90th minute, sliding to block a dangerous cross from Spirit defender Paige Metayer at the right post.
After the match, King credited her teammates and the ACFC staff for helping her get to this point.
“It's really hard going through recovery, especially one that’s long-term,” King said, adding, “Angel City, all the girls, all of our staff and all of our fans have just been incredible [in providing me] with the motivation to get back out there.”
King is in her second season with Angel City after she was acquired in a trade with Bay FC in February 2025. She was selected second overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft – just one spot behind Sentnor.
King and Sentnor played together at the University of North Carolina and took the field together for the first time as members of the ACFC roster against Washington.
“It was just amazing [to have] that connection back on the field,” Sentnor said. “I love playing with Savy, so it was really fun.”
King is also making a difference off the field with her organization, Savy King of Hearts. Their work has earned King a nomination for the 2026 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, recognizing an NWSL player for outstanding service and character.
On Sunday, Angel City will recognize King for her nomination at BMO Stadium. The winner of the Lauren Holiday Impact Award will be named during the NWSL Awards as part of NWSL Championship Week in mid-November.
This Week at BMO Stadium: ACFC Celebrates Homecoming
As Angel City welcomes Gotham to BMO Stadium, the club will celebrate Homecoming, welcoming ACFC alumni and fans for a full day of festivities.
Fan Fest will begin at 1 p.m., and the gates will open at 3:30 p.m. with a Carmax car freshener giveaway. The celebrations will include a segment hosted by Angel City alumna Ali Riley, a trading card experience and a yearbook superlative coloring wall. There will also be a special halftime recognition for member of the inaugural 2022 ACFC roster Cari Roccaro led by Riley and ACFC Co-Founder Julie Uhrman.