LOS ANGELES — In their season opener, Angel City and San Diego Wave ended with a 1-1 draw in the National Women’s Soccer League. Alyssa Thompson managed to even the score for Angel City shortly after halftime, striking from the corner of the box in the 54th minute. Her goal was celebrated by Angel City’s newly involved owner, Disney CEO Bob Iger, who watched the match alongside NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.
During the previous season, Thompson was a standout performer for Angel City, recording five goals and seven assists. However, it was San Diego’s rookie sensation, Gia Corley, who made an early mark in the game by netting a goal in just the fifth minute. Corley, who joined the NWSL in the offseason from the German club Hoffenheim, became the fourth player in NWSL history to score within the first five minutes of her debut as a starter.
In a turn of events the night before the game, Angel City forward Sydney Leroux revealed on social media her decision to take a break from professional soccer to focus on her mental well-being. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m a fighter — I always have been,” Leroux shared in her heartfelt post. “I take pride in pushing through, in showing up, in giving everything I have. But right now, I owe it to myself and my children to take a step back and take care of me.”
At 34, Leroux has not specified when she plans to return to the pitch, leaving both fans and her teammates to wish her well during her time away.
