Making their league debut in 2022, Angel City FC garnered significant attention due to its star-studded ownership group. The group comprises notable figures like Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, and Billie Jean King. The onus in the beginning however was taken by Natalie Portman who linked up with Kara Nortman and Julie Uhrman to launch the team in 2019. However, in a recent interview, Portman revealed that it was Megan Rapinoe & Co who lit the fire in her to take the plunge into the soccer world.

Natalie Portman reveals the story of how her son made her realize the inclusive nature of soccer

While watching the last edition of the Women’s World Cup, Natalie Portman’s son was showing equal excitement for female soccer players as he used to do for their counterparts. This opened Portman’s eyes to the inclusive nature of the sport.

“When I saw him wanting a Rapinoe jersey and an Alex Morgan jersey and a Christen Press jersey just as much as he wanted the Messi and Mbappe and Griezmann jerseys, I was like, ‘This is a way to change culture,'” revealed Portman. 

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This small act by her son made her realize that when even boys look up to women, things will get even more inclusive. This however was the kernel of an idea. It was Megan Rapinoe & Co however who lit it up the idea into execution.

Megan Rapinoe & Co’s fight for equal pay inspired Portman to launch Angel City FC

Natalie Portman has always been a trailblazer fighting for equity for women in professional settings. One day, while she was attending a session at Times Up [a group of women in various industries working towards equity]; her paths crossed with her now co-founder Kara Nortman. The duo over there met members from the USWNT who back then fighting for equal pay. The duo’s interaction with the Megan Rapinoe-led team made them realize that soccer was a joyous platform to preach equity.

“We then met some of the female players from the US National team and heard their fight for pay equity. It really helped us understand that soccer was an incredible opportunity to use something joyful to spread equity,” revealed Portman in the interview. 

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Kara then introduced Venture Capitalist Julie Uhrman to Portman and the trio then went on to set up what today is known as Angels City FC. Truly inspirational.