“Amplifying female athletes could rapidly shift culture” – Natalie Portman on co-founding Angel City FC


“Amplifying female athletes could rapidly shift culture” – Natalie Portman on co-founding Angel City FC

Natalie Portman

The Israeli-born and Academy Award-winning American actress Natalie Portman is part of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team’s ownership group. She joined this with the hope that they can facilitate a cultural shift within the sport. 

In a recent media interaction, Angel City FC owner Natalie says that she hopes the club can help achieve a dream to “shift culture” among the women’s game to draw it level with men’s football around the globe. 

She went on to share a personal anecdote of how her son idolizes only the men superstar footballers including the likes of Messi and Benzema. This sparked a feeling of lack of recognition for the women soccer players.

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Watching my son idolize players like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan the same way he did Lionel Messi or Karim Benzema, I realized that amplifying female athletes could rapidly shift culture,” Portman told The Guardian via email, while explaining how watching the U.S. women’s team during the World Cup inspired her to get involved.

“Much of [Wambach’s] speech inspired us to create a different model,” Portman explains.

“Got to point where we didn’t have to seek investors”

Julie Uhrman
Julie Uhrman

Angel City FC, co-founded and co-owned by Portman, commands a female-led ownership group that includes the likes of Becky G, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, and tennis legend Serena Williams. The club even sold over 16,000 season tickets and boasts six support groups even before playing a single competitive league match.

It got to the point where we didn’t have to seek investors,” Portman’s Angel City FC co-founded Julie Uhrman said. “They came to us because they wanted to be a part of Angel City, and understood the role they would have to play as an investor. That makes the best type of owner, because they care both about the purpose side and the profit side.”

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