The reason soccer is known as a team sport is clear. While individual magic from a star player can make a difference in crucial moments, nothing surpasses the power of teamwork. And when it comes to supporting a teammate who is struggling, there’s no better feeling in the world. So it’s merely a surprise Christen Press described Alyssa Thompson scoring her first-ever goal last year as her ‘favorite moment.’

Perhaps that’s one advantage of having a veteran in a locker room. Youngsters may show all kinds of potential and talents on the pitch but in the end, it is the experienced ones that count. Lucky for some Angel City starlets, Press is not only aware of their talents but also clicks with them much better. “In our particular locker room, we have so much young talent,” began the 36-year-old during a presser.

Naming the likes of Thompson sisters Alyssa and Gisele, as well as Kennedy Fuller and Casey Phair, the veteran striker insisted that each of these players has different strengths. She explained that some of them resonate with her more because of similarities in position, body type, or mentality, but emphasized that there is always something to ‘give and receive.’

“The beauty of, and my favorite moment for the whole season last year was when Alyssa scored her first goal. It was because [in] goal-scoring, people always think, ‘Oh, it’s mental.’ I swear to you, I thought it was technical,” continued Press. “I thought she was taking a bad touch before she shot the ball and I just told her that and she changed her touch and she started scoring. I love that.”

The end result? Alyssa Thompson could finally break her deadlock for the USWNT. She netted a brilliant goal against Iceland back in October. Additionally, the domestic front saw her bag 5 goals and 7 assists in over 26 games for Angel City. Of course, this doesn’t mean Press is taking all the credit.

She knows the young forward is mature enough to realize her own shortcomings, truth be told. “Obviously, Alyssa is a fantastic player. She would have found her way no matter what but it’s a cool thing to think about how something small and technique. Then, she had confidence. So all those pieces go together and that’s what’s beautiful about sport,” concluded Press.

It’s good to hear how small advice from Christian could help Thompson achieve what she was desperately hoping for. Luckily, thanks to the latest development, the talented forward has more time than ever to gain all the knowledge she can from the old geyser!

Alyssa Thompson follows in the footsteps of Christen Press to please Angel City fans!

Looks like ardent ACFC fans will see more from Alyssa Thompson for the foreseeable future. That’s because the forward has officially signed a four-year contract extension which keeps her at the club until 2028. In fact, Alyssa’s sister Gisele, who plays as a right-back, has also been given a chance to stay, having penned a two-year extension.

Notably, this news comes shortly after Christen Press announced her long-awaited return to action. The veteran forward has signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles-based club, marking her comeback after a prolonged absence because of an ACL tear that sidelined her for over two years. Expressing her excitement, Press shared, “LA, it was always you,” as she reflected on her return.

Meanwhile, Angel City has also made headlines with the unveiling of its state-of-the-art performance center, one of the largest training facilities in NWSL history. Spanning 9 acres, the facility includes a full-sized training pitch, space for a smaller half-sized pitch, and an impressive 50,000 square feet of indoor amenities. People say the Los Angeles Rams previously used this site.

A new training center and three contract extensions of star players—expect Angel City to cook this season.