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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Adam Elder

Natalie Portman wanted to shift football culture. So she founded Angel City FC

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is one of nascent NWSL club Angel City FC’s cadre of celebrity investors. Photograph: D Robert Franz/D. Robert Franz

There are few better places to hold a preseason training camp than at Malibu’s Pepperdine University, whose football pitch seems to hover over the shimmering Pacific Ocean. It makes a memorable opening scene for Angel City FC.

A typical American expansion team’s start is often rocky: Fighting for decent players, for fans, for attention, for a shred of dignity following lopsided defeats. But Angel City FC, who debut in the National Women’s Soccer League this year, are far from typical. Although they don’t play their first match until Saturday in the NWSL Challenge Cup, things already look quite different around here.

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