Angel City Football Club started the season rewriting its young history books, winning the first three games of the season.
Angel City’s first loss came in its fourth game, a 2-1 defeat against the Orlando Pride, April 3. Now, after an extended international break, Angel City resumes its season Sunday at home against the Portland Thorns.
“I think there were good moments and it was moments that were not so good,” Angel City coach Alex Straus said of the first four games. “Like I’ve said many times, we can not get distracted by winning a couple of games and we also can not get distracted when we lose a couple of games.
“We need to stay on a path and work on what we need to work. We know we a have a lot of work to be done. This is a new beginning and it’s the next chapter in the history of this club.”
Angel City began the week in fourth place in the NWSL with nine points, but was one of only a few teams with just four games played. This is the best start since the inaugural season (2022), when Angel City had nine points through its first four games.
“We feel like now, the season’s going to start,” midfielder Ary Borges said. “We have a lot games the next few weeks and I think everybody knows how important it’s going to be in the next games.
“Everybody is looking forward to this game. We know how important it is to get the three points at home.
Including Sunday, Angel City has seven games before the World Cup break. Five of the seven will be at home and this clash against the Thorns is the first of three consecutive games at BMO Stadium.
Jun Endo on her way back
Jun Endo returned to action last season and made six appearances after sitting out the 2024 season due to an ACL injury.
This season, she suffered a setback during training camp and has yet to make her season debut. That could come Sunday.
“Jun will probably be in the roster for Sunday and be ready to play,” Straus said.
Sydney Leroux update
Leroux hasn’t made an appearance since the final game of the 2024 season. She has been on the season-ending list, but she went public last year on social media announcing she was diagnosed with anorexia.
“She is a little bit further away,” Straus said of Leroux, comparing her timeline with that of Endo. “She’s been out for a while and has been back in (training) and starting her return to play process. She’s doing fine, but we need to take … we need to run the protocol and process of getting them back on the field where it’s safe, so they don’t get (an) injury.”
Claire Emslie, who gave birth to a baby boy last December, has also recently returned to training.