NWSL

Angel City FC it is.

Actress Natalie Portman appeared on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and revealed the women's soccer team she is helping bring to Los Angeles in 2022 will be named Angel City FC.

"A group of us became really passionate about women's soccer because we have the best players in the world in the United States in the most popular sport in the world," she said. "So we got together and we are bringing Angel City FC, the women's soccer team for Los Angeles, to L.A. in 2022." 

It's hard to argue with her assessment of American players being the best in the world when it comes to women's soccer. The U.S. women's national team is four-time World Cup champions and took home the last two in 2015 and 2019.

Many of the team's players have become household names as a result of the success, including Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and more.

In July, the National Women's Soccer League announced there will be a professional women's soccer team in Los Angeles in 2022 thanks to a majority woman-founded ownership group led by Portman.

The ownership's group also included Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach, as well as actors Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria.

Angel City FC will be the 11th team in the NWSL, which currently has nine clubs. Racing Louisville FC will join the league in 2021 as the 10th team.

The National Women's Soccer League announced Tuesday it's planning to add an expansion franchise in Los Angeles that will join the league for the 2022 season. 

The team's ownership group includes Academy Award winner Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach.

Portman, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Uzo Aduba and Jessica Chastain all attended the United States women's national team's 6-0 defeat of Belgium on April 7, 2019.

The actresses were showing their support for the USWNT during its equal pay lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, and they've all since signed on to purchase a share of the NWSL ownership group.

In an interview with The Athletic's Meg Linehan, Portman said she met with Kara Nortman, another member of the group, who introduced her to USWNT Players Association director Becca Roux and USWNT players. That helped pique her interest in the cause and spread the message to her colleagues and other potential stakeholders.

The Los Angeles franchise will be the 11th team in the NWSL. The league is set to welcome Racing Louisville FC in 2021, adding to the nine organizations currently in operation.

The NWSL was the first sports league to resume action in the United States during the the COVID-19 pandemic, staging the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in Utah beginning on June 27.

Chicago Red Stars players are continuing conversations on systemic racism and police brutality following a protest before last Saturday's game during the national anthem.

Rachel Hill explained in an Instagram post her reasoning for not kneeling during the anthem as her teammates did, noting she will continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and commit to being "diligently anti-racist."

Hill was seen in a now-iconic photo of the Red Stars wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts while Casey Short and Julie Ertz embrace on one knee. To the right of Short is Hill, standing up with a hand on Short's shoulder.

Short referenced conversations she's had with Hill in her own post about the moment:

"I, Casey, can only speak for myself but the conversations I have had with players, specifically Rachel, have been unapologetically authentic. I have to ask where my hope lies. It lies in my faith and those types of conversations that have been long overdue. The types of conversations that are raw and uncomfortable, that can lead to real impactful change.

"... Our thought process is evolving daily. Where the pain is, our empathy goes. The emotion we feel is responsibility and we want to find our place in the cure together."

Since the beginning, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first knelt during the anthem in 2016, the message has been clear that the action is not one taken to disrespect the military or those who have lost their lives defending America. Rather the protest shines a light on the fact that not all receive the same treatment in this country—specifically those in the Black community. Systemic racism and police brutality exist across the nation.

In deciding to stand for the anthem, Hill said she was trying to balance her own feelings on the matter.

"I chose to stand because of what the flag inherently means to my military family members and me," Hill wrote. "But I 100 percent support my peers. I tried to show this with the placement of my hand on Casey's shoulder and bowing my head."

Hill admitted she struggled with the decision but in the end felt she had to be true to herself.

Prior to the opening game of the National Women's Soccer League season, players for both the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns took a knee during the national anthem. 

All players and officials wore Black Lives Matter shirts during the demonstration:

This isn't the first time the NWSL has seen protests against systemic racism and police brutality. Megan Rapinoe took a knee in 2016 before the Seattle Reign played the Chicago Red Stars in a show of support for then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 

Rapinoe's stance set off a chain of events, including one NWSL team playing the anthem early to avoid having a player protest and U.S. Soccer instituting a policy that all national players had to stand for the anthem. 

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced June 10 it had repealed the anthem policy. 

Sports leagues around the world have been doing their part to spotlight systemic racism and help bring change. 

The Premier League gave players approval to kneel before or during games and to wear jerseys with "Black Lives Matter" on the back where a player's last name would normally go. 

The NWSL is the first major American sports league to return, with Saturday marking the first day of the Challenge Cup in Utah. 

The Orlando Pride announced on Monday that they will not participate in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup after multiple players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

The announcement noted all those who tested positive were asymptomatic, but the decision was made with the health of the team and overall league in mind. 

"This was obviously a difficult and disappointing outcome for our players, our staff and fans, however this is a decision that was made in order to protect the health of all involved in the Challenge Cup," Orlando Pride EVP Amanda Duffy said. "While we were all excited to see the 2020 Pride on the field this weekend, our priority is now making sure our players and staff safely recover and providing any support wherever and however possible."

The announcement made clear all those who tested positive would be isolated for at least 14 days, while anyone who was in close contact with them would be monitored and undergo additional testing.

According to Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel, it was six players and four staff members who tested positive, although one team source said some of the results were inconclusive. Poe noted the Pride were scheduled to start the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Chicago Red Stars in Utah on Saturday.

As a result, the tournament will now feature eight teams instead of nine, leaving the Red Stars, Washington Spirit, Houston Dash, Utah Royals FC, North Carolina Courage, Sky Blue FC, Portland Thorns FC and OL Reign.

On June 1, the NWSL announced the schedule for the preliminary rounds of the tournament, which starts Saturday.

The Challenge Cup was scheduled to be 25 games with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals are scheduled for July 22 and July 26, respectively.

The Orlando Pride announced Wednesday that defender Toni Pressley underwent surgery Friday to treat breast cancer.

According to Julia Poe of Pro Soccer USA, Pressley has been placed on the 45-day disabled list and is set to continue undergoing treatment.

Pressley vowed to eventually return to the pitch:

The National Women's Soccer League also tweeted its support for the 29-year-old:

Per Poe, Pride general manager Erik Ustruck assured that she will receive quality treatment:

"We can't imagine what Toni is going through. On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to extend our unconditional support to Toni, her family and the members of our Orlando Pride family throughout the entirety of the treatment process. Toni's health and well-being is, of course, our biggest priority. We are happy to be able to provide her with the full backing of the Club, the NWSL and our partners at Orlando Health."

Pressley has been a member of the Pride since they selected her in the expansion draft in 2015. In 52 career matches for the club, the former Florida State standout has netted three goals.

Poe noted that Pressley is the second player under the Orlando City umbrella to undergo cancer treatment. Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar of MLS squad Orlando City was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer in 2017.

Stajduhar returned to action after six months of treatment and is out on loan with the USL Championship's Tulsa Roughnecks this season.

Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta has signed a deal to join NWSL team Orlando Pride.

Michelle Stile of Women's Soccer Weekly (h/t Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated) reported the iconic 31-year-old female player will arrive on a free transfer from the Swedish club Rosengard.

According to Wahl, Alex Leitao—the Brazilian CEO of the Pride—said:

As soon as Orlando City decided to bring women’s soccer to the city and acquire an NWSL franchise, the Pride, I thought it was important to have a player with the quality of Marta.

In my opinion, Marta is the greatest player of all time.

Rosengard agreed to terminate the player's contract, allowing her to sign a two-year deal in the United States' professional women's soccer league, per Stile (h/t Wahl).

Orlando coach Tom Sermanni expressed his delight at acquiring the superstar talent: "Just bringing Marta into the environment immediately lifts everybody player-wise. From a playing perspective, she's still a world-class player, as simple as that. To bring her here is a huge statement."

Marta's move to Orlando Pride means she'll be close to compatriot and Brazil men's national team legend Kaka, who plays for Orlando City in MLS.

The 31-year-old has played in the U.S. before, previously turning out for the Los Angeles Sol, FC Gold Pride and Western New York Flash.

For more news, rumors and related stories about Marta and the NWSL, check out the world football stream on Bleacher Report's app.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo announced Tuesday she won't suit up for the Seattle Reign for the rest of the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season.

The 35-year-old released a statement on Twitter: 

The move comes after the United States Soccer Federation suspended Solo for six months and canceled her national team contract. The federation was upset after Solo said Sweden played like a "bunch of cowards" following the U.S. women's national team's defeat to the Swedes in the 2016 Summer Olympics, per the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter.

Production company Fullscreen has been following Solo, along with fellow national team stars Megan Rapinoe and Crystal Dunn, as part of a documentary series titled Keeping Score. Fullscreen cameras captured Solo's immediate reaction to the news of her suspension and contract termination (Warning: video contains NSFW language):

Author George Dohrmann was among those arguing Solo's punishment was long overdue:

She earned a 30-day suspension from U.S. Soccer in January 2015 after her husband, former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens, was pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence. Solo was a passenger in the van, which U.S. Soccer owned.

According to USA Today’s Christine Brennan, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal was among many who criticized the national federation after it largely failed to act in the wake of domestic violence allegations against Solo last year. Solo's half-sister, Teresa Obert, said the national team star struck her and her teenage son in June 2014, per ESPN's Mark Fainaru-Wada.

Soccer fans may have seen the last of Solo on the pitch in any meaningful action. She's in the twilight of her career, and taking months off from competitive matches would make a return difficult.

The door is still open for her to rejoin the national team once her suspension is over, and she may decide to return to the Reign for the 2017 NWSL season. Still, either scenario is far from a guarantee.

On Monday, Canadian women’s national team head coach John Herdman named his 23-player roster for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. This summer’s tournament will mark the first time that Canada will host a major soccer tournament, and Herdman’s players are hoping the experience will do as much to boost the game in Canada as the 1999 Women’s World Cup did for women’s soccer in the United States.

In 1999, the United States hosted the World Cup and, in dramatic fashion, won the tournament in penalties over China in front of 90,000 fans in the Rose Bowl. The tournament made players like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy, Briana Scurry and Kristine Lilly household names, inspired a generation of players—many of whom now form the core of the current U.S. team—and helped lead to the birth of women’s professional soccer in America.

Canadian women’s soccer, however, has always played second fiddle to its southern neighbor, something the current team from Canada is aiming to change.

Speaking to the media after the Portland Thorns' 2-2 draw with the Chicago Red Stars in NWSL action this past weekend, Canadian captain Christine Sinclair and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc both said they see parallels between this summer’s tournament and the 1999 World Cup in the U.S.

“I’m excited,” Sinclair said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think back to the 1999 Women’s World Cup in the U.S. and how that tournament changed soccer [in the U.S.]. I think this [World Cup] has the potential to do that in Canada.”

LeBlanc—who will be playing in her fifth World Cup this summer and who has played in all three evolutions of women’s professional soccer in the United States—views the upcoming tournament in nearly identical terms.

“We’re embracing it,” LeBlanc said. “Whenever you get to host a World Cup, it’s an opportunity. As [Americans] have seen, it’s an opportunity to inspire a generation and a nation. We’re embracing it. We’re looking forward to it. It’s an absolute honor.”

Over the years, the U.S. and Canada have developed quite a rivalry, but the U.S. has been dominant. While the U.S. has won the World Cup twice and picked up Olympic gold on four separate occasions, the Canadians have never won a major tournament and failed to even advance out of the group stage in the 2011 World Cup.

But in the 2012 London Olympics, the Canadians came close to besting the Americans before the U.S. won their semifinal matchup in dramatic—and controversial—fashion.

Sinclair nearly willed her side to victory single-handedly that day, scoring a hat trick. However, the U.S. was able to capitalize on two fortuitous calls late in the match and equalized at 3-3 in the 80th minute. Then, Alex Morgan broke Canadian hearts with a 123rd-minute winner in extra time. The Canadians settled for bronze, while the U.S. went on to win gold.

Ironically, Sinclair—who has 153 international goals for Canada—has played most of her career in the United States, both collegiately and professionally. She was an All-American at the University of Portland where she led the team to two national championships and was twice named the Hermann Award winner as the nation’s top player. Playing professional soccer in the U.S., Sinclair has twice led her teams to championships, once in the WPS and in 2013 with the Thorns in the NWSL—where she is also a teammate with Morgan.

But Sinclair also said she thinks this summer’s World Cup could offer an opportunity to bring professional soccer to Canada, just like the 1999 World Cup did for the U.S.

“Hopefully some NWSL teams will end up in Canada in the near future,” Sinclair said. “That’s my hope.”

Canada opens up group play in the World Cup June 6 against China.

John D. Halloran is a writer for Bleacher Report. All quotations for this article were obtained via the press conference following the Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns match.

Follow me on Twitter @JohnDHalloran.

Stephanie Roche, who came second to James Rodriguez for the FIFA Puskas Award in January, will make another piece of history when she becomes the first Irish player to play in the National Women's Soccer League in America.

One of the best goals I've seen. Steph Roche kills it. #soccer #football #fifa http://t.co/UAcKR3n99o

— Elias Jureidini (@ejureid) January 15, 2015

Roche's goal for Peamount United brought her to prominence, but the 25-year-old has already earned 35 caps for her country and has now joined Houston Dash.

"I am so excited about the signing of Stephanie, we are getting a player that has great technical ability, a superb left foot and possibly the best goalscorer to come out of Ireland since Olivia O'Toole," said Houston coach Randy Waldrum, reported by FIFA.

Advice to those who play against her: Don't let her juggle the ball anywhere near the penalty area. 

[FIFA]