Copa Angelina has fans in LA’s Mexican-American community reckoning with split loyalties. Do they cheer for the women’s club many have been hoping would land in LA since the Sol folded in 2010? Or do they stick with the national team they’ve been supporting their whole lives?
Among those fans is 14-year-old Sophia Tovar, who also happens to be the newest addition to Angel City’s Rising Star class. Tovar comes from a Mexican family who have wholeheartedly embraced Angel City—and she also happens to be a youth prospect for the Mexico Women’s National Team.
Two weeks ago, Tovar’s SoCal Select team won the 5v5 tournament that Angel City presented alongside Alianza de Fútbol, a national organization “dedicated to the support and development of amateur Hispanic soccer in the United States,” according to their website.
Alianza runs tournaments, clinics, and other programs for Latinx soccer players in multiple cities. Among those programs is Sueño Alianza, a free tryout and game attended by scouts from professional clubs and national federations. It’s an invaluable opportunity for young players hoping to play at the college or professional levels; Tovar tried out in LA and made the All-Star team.
“If a scout liked you,” explains Tovar, “they gave you a scarf. So I got the Mexican national team scarf, I got two Mexican club teams—America and Pachuca—and then I got the [Angel City] Rising Star, which I was so excited about.”
In addition to the pride and excitement that came with being recognized as a top player, getting shouts from America, Mexico, and Angel City was especially meaningful, as Tovar has a connection with all three.
The Club America scarf has a special meaning for her dad, a longtime supporter of the Mexico City club. “My family's kind of divided,” she explains. “My dad likes America, but then my mom likes Chivas. So they’re like, Sophia, you’ve got to pick! I’m still deciding.”
When Tovar got that scarf, she says, “you should have seen my dad. He almost cried, he was so excited for me. I felt really happy that I got that scarf because when I put it on, it really reminded me that I'm basically here because of my dad and my mom.”
Tovar started playing soccer when she was four years old; she was the family’s new hope after her older brother quit soccer in favor of American football. It wasn’t a hit right away. “At first I didn't really like it because it was just so tiring,” she remembers. She also played with boys starting around age six, which she says was intimidating. “I always got nervous when I practiced because they would always be harsh,” she remembers.
But she stuck with it, thanks in part to her parents’ encouragement. “My dad really pushed me to become the player I am,” she says. “We always went training early in the morning, and he's always just inspired me. He's giving me constructive criticism, and he's just really helped me a lot.”
At age ten, she switched to a girls’ club. “When I played with girls,” she remembers, “it was a much more comforting environment and it was a lot more fun. That's when I really started to love soccer.”
The rest of Tovar’s family is also a big influence. “My mom is always there for me when I have bad games,” says Tovar. “She's just telling me what I need to do better and she's just always pushing me, too. Same with my brother. He's been there for me and he's always supporting me on social media, and I love him a lot.”
Though the family is divided when it comes to club support, they’re united in being Mexico fans. Tovar has been on the federation’s radar since the spring, when she was called in for the U-15s. After performing well in that camp, she went with the team to Alicante, Spain, where they played three exhibition matches against local clubs.
“It was so cool,” she says. Between video sessions and daily trainings, the team got to relax on the beach and enjoy the local cuisine. Best of all, though, was getting to represent Mexico.
“Obviously, my family's Mexican,” she says. “I always dreamed of putting on the jersey… I was very proud and happy because I had a lot of supporters behind me, all of my teammates and all my friends. I've come a long way and I didn't expect it to happen at only 14. I almost cried. It was amazing.”
Then, of course, there’s Angel City: the first women’s professional club in LA in Tovar’s memory. “I was pretty excited when I heard about Angel City, because we never really had soccer in L.A., or when we did, I wasn't old enough to really understand it,” she says. “I was really happy because now I could support my own team instead of my parents fighting over me!”
Tovar got even more excited when Christen Press, one of her favorite players, signed with the team. With Press injured and out for the season, she hesitates to pick a favorite—”I like all of them,” she says—but she names Savannah McCaskill as one player she especially enjoys watching.
And not only are her parents no longer trying to convert her to their respective club teams, but the whole family have become ACFC fans. They are season ticket holders and come to every game that doesn’t conflict with one of Tovar’s tournaments. “Even my grandma, she's an Angel City fan too,” she says. “We always watch the away games and it's so much fun.”
So where does that leave Tovar and her family for Copa? “You stumped me with that question,” she says when asked who she’ll support. “Maybe I’ll wear a Mexico jersey and an Angel City scarf.”
As far as the scoreline, she very diplomatically predicts a 1–1 draw. “It’ll be a good game.”