Training for the 2023 season kicked off this week at Angel City’s practice facility at California Lutheran University, under clear blue skies that belied less-than-ideal weather: it was windy. Very windy.
The gusts were so strong at one point that a regulation-size goal perched at the edge of the field rolled on its wheels into the parking lot.
But that didn’t dampen spirits, or blunt the feeling of intra-team competitiveness, on day one of preseason. “I think the drills we did in the training session were planned perfectly for day one, and also fit well with the wind since everything was short, sharp, on the ground,” said team captain Ali Riley.
“It's so exciting,” Riley continued. “I think we finished last season really proud, but wanting to do more, which I think is a good place to be in. I think we do have the personnel, from players to staff to leadership. We've learned from last year and have new people coming in to make improvements, and that's everything you want.”
Those new faces include two players who arrived via trade in the last two weeks, defender Merritt Mathias and midfielder/forward Katie Johnson, as well as Angel City’s two 2023 draft picks, goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, out of Cal, and 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson.
“Being from L.A. and going to the same high school, I've been hearing about her for so long,” Riley said about Thompson. “I was able to do an off-season training with her, and I think she fits right in. I think it's going to be a good challenge for her, just like it is for all of us every season we come in. I think just making her feel comfortable and welcome and valued, which she is—I see her having an incredible first season and the start of a very long and successful career.”
Also joining the team for preseason are eight trialists, including two players—Taylor Aylmer and Domi Richardson—with NWSL experience, as well as Thompson’s younger sister, Gisele.
Riley says the team is looking forward to building on what they achieved last year. A big part of that is working on areas where the team fell short. “I think reflecting on the moments in games that could have shaped the season, it wasn't losing 3–0,” she says. “It was when we were on top and then we let it go at the end.”
“That comes to discipline, that comes down to clarity, to communication,” she continues. “That's where I think we're going to use this preseason to make sure that we have a plan, that we have the players to do what we want to do on the field with our style of play—keeping possession, high pressure defense—and then if something goes wrong, how are we facing adversity, how are we overcoming challenges? If we do go down, how are we coming back?”
For Riley, this offseason was a little unusual, as she first had to work on rehabbing a couple of nagging injuries she’d picked up over the course of the season. As soon as she was healthy, it was time to start ramping up for the two January friendlies New Zealand hosted against the US. “I didn't have any time to go on vacation, but I had a lot of time to set my goals and try to get my body right and my mind right for what's going to be hopefully one of the most exciting years of my life,” she says.
Those two friendlies presented a new learning experience for Riley: the veteran left back played at center back in both matches. “For the first time and probably the last time,” she laughs. “I have more appreciation for the center backs, for sure. I think any time where you're getting exposed to playing against top forwards, it will help you as a defender.
“I also think it made me realize what the center backs see, in terms of my positioning as a fullback—definitely when I was stepping forward and my fullbacks weren't tucking in behind me, it wasn't great! So I really know what I need to do.”
As far as her personal goals this year, Riley says she wants to contribute on both sides of the ball. “I want to be productive in the attack. I want to get assists. I want to get higher up the field,” she says. “And I want to keep improving my one-v-one defending skills. We have great wingers in this league, and I'm going to be facing very, very top wingers in the World Cup.”
Last season, she adds, “I got a taste of the goalscoring life, so I'd like to score more goals.”
Looking ahead to the season, Riley says, the club’s goals haven’t changed. “We want to make the playoffs. We want to play at home in the playoffs. The goal, again, is to win a championship,” she says. But with a year of experience under their belts, the team is in a new position.
“I think we're coming into this year with a plan. And then we also know what plan B and plan C would be, because we did have to go through these unexpected challenges last year.”
“You have to build on the year before,” Riley says. “It feels like opportunity. Of course there's pressure. There's always going to be pressure on Angel City. There will always be eyes on us. There will always be expectations. When we do have this big following, we want to make sure that we are making everyone proud, because we have the most amazing loyal fanbase in our supporter groups. And it sounds like everyone is just so excited for season two.”
