There was once a time when Angel City FC, co-founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, was such a breath of fresh air for women’s soccer. Yet here the club is now, looking like a drowning man. A sudden blow exposes its very foundation to the risk of fines and suspensions, leaving its future up in the air. How did one of the well-known clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League find itself here?

The National Women’s Soccer League has fined Angel City FC $200,000 and deducted three points from their current league standings recently. But what exactly triggered such a harsh penalty? Let’s find out.

On Thursday, NSWL announced the punishments after discovering that Angel City had exceeded the pay ceiling by $50,000 for four weeks in 2024. The league has also barred Angel City President and CEO Julie Uhrman and General Manager Angela Hucles from “duties related to any player transactions.”

The league found that Angel City had “side letters” with five players who signed in 2023, which they didn’t disclose. Crossing the league’s usual contracts, these agreements went above the current wage cap in terms of the players’ perks and remuneration. The dean of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School, Willow Bay, and her husband Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, purchased a majority stake in Angel City this past summer. The purchase put the valuation of the club at $250 million, the highest in the league.

With only four games remaining, Angel City moved to the 12th position in the 14-team league because of the points deduction. The squad is now nine points behind Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff berth. However, a request for feedback from Angel City FC was not answered. But what about the playoff now?

Can Angel City still make the playoffs?

Angel City would definitely need to win three of its last four games and hope that eighth-place Bay FC loses all four of its remaining games in order to secure a spot in the playoffs. Moreover, a goal difference will be needed in order to defeat the Bay in a tiebreaker or to win three games and tie one while the Bay loses all four.

If ACFC wins at least three games and ties the fourth, or wins three games and increases its goal differential enough to break a points tie, Angel City may also qualify for the playoffs. The Thorns, in seventh place with 28 points but an advantage on goal differential, would need to lose all of their remaining games.

Angel City will face the Seattle Reign (12th), North Carolina Courage (fifth), Utah Royals (13th), and Portland Thorns (seventh) to finish the regular season. What are your thoughts on their recent scandal? Can Angel City bounce back after that? Let us know in the comments.