The upcoming weekend finally marks the start of the 2025 NWSL campaign. All 14 teams will once again rally together in a balanced 26-match schedule as they strive to win the prestigious title. As we get closer to kickoff, the pressure is mounting—not just for fans but for coaches and players alike. So one can only imagine the intensity for Alanna Kennedy, who is set to make her Angel City debut.

The Australian international joined the Los Angeles-based club earlier this pre-season from England-based Women’s Super League (WSL) side Manchester City. The defender penned a year-long deal that includes a mutual extension option for the 2026 season, thus occupying one of ACFC’s international spots. A signing made for an undisclosed fee, though Kennedy may not be a stranger to the NWSL, she still has every reason to feel a bit pressured ahead of her potential debut when the Angels take on the San Diego Wave on Sunday, March 16

But when she is surrounded by Gen-Z teammates like Alyssa Thompson, the 30-year-old has little to worry about. Thompson made sure that Kennedy felt right at home, and what better way to do that than to shoot a TikTok. Duh. And Thompson and Kennedy also ended up doing exactly that with teammate Katie Zelem.

It came through a 9-second TikTok shared by Zelem, where all three are doing the latest dance trend on a song titled ‘Anxiety‘ by Sleepy Hallow. The clip begins with Thompson dancing on the left side of the frame, doing back and forth shimmy step. Behind her, both Zelem and Kennedy also join to emulate what the forward was doing.

As the next dance move saw Alyssa jump and turn to the other side, Zelem and Kennedy did the same by turning their backs on her this time. Both of the former WSL stars do a unique dance step. As for Thompson, she stops and acts as if she’s grumpy over her two teammates. Zelem summed up the moment perfectly in the caption as she wrote, “She got us ‘dancing’.”

Honestly, it’s more surprising that Thompson is making TikToks with millennial teammates. Then again, it is quite a short yet side-splitting TikTok and all three Angel City stars nailed it. Even ardent fans seem to have liked it, as the clip has garnered close to 101.8K views and 14.2K likes.

But more importantly, the takeaway from this TikTok is the fact that the players don’t seem much stressed about the 2025 season kick-off. Additionally, it also showcases how seamlessly Alanna Kennedy is bonding with her new teammates. Though what truly matters is the on-pitch chemistry, that is rarely a concern, especially when looking at Alanna’s CV.

Alanna Kennedy will keep it covered for Angel City

“I am really excited to join Angel City and return to the NWSL,” said Kennedy after her signing. It certainly isn’t the first time for the Matildas center back in the US, In 2016, she played for the Western New York Flash, making 17 appearances and featuring in two playoff matches. Her efforts helped the club secure the NWSL Championship that year. She later spent three seasons with Orlando Pride, where she played 60 matches across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.

Ahead of the 2020-21 season, she joined Tottenham on a six-month loan before signing permanently in January 2021. That summer, she made the switch to Manchester City. Meanwhile, prior stints from 2010 to 2017 have seen her dominate in the Australian league. The veteran has represented revered sides including Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Perth Glory.

On the international front, Kennedy’s experience is nothing short of excellent. She has earned over 133 caps for the Matildas while scoring 11 goals. More recently, the former WSL star took part in the SheBelieves Cup where she faced her new domestic teammates Alyssa and her sister Gisele Thompson. It was a game where the USWNT secured a 2-1 win over the Aussies.

In short, it’s safe to say that Angel City has made a highly experienced addition to its roster. It remains to be seen whether Alanna will impress on the pitch as well—just as she did with her dance moves.