As the NWSL season comes to a close, so too do eras end. Today marked Christen Press and Ali Riley’s last home game as Angel City players after they announced they’ll retire following this season; its significance drew fans and supporters alike; among which was Alyssa Thompson from USWNT fame who made an emotional appearance back at Angel City as part of her farewell visit.
Thompson made her return from Chelsea with a record transfer fee of $1.4 million but instead as an observer and supporter on Sunday when Portland Thorns played at BMO Stadium – not as an attacker but in support of ACFC teammates, showing their solidarity and mutual admiration towards one another. Spotted among spectators there, it came as quite an surprise. Following the match she joined them all for celebratory on-field reunions adding poignancy.
Demonstrations of support and friendship highlight the deep bonds formed within professional soccer that go far beyond teams or leagues. Thompson’s gesture during her hectic UEFA Women’s Champions League schedule perfectly showcased this. Her kindness marked how deeply players were bound together through shared histories; Press and Riley could celebrate this touching reunion among teammates, fans and friends of theirs!
(This story is still evolving…)