Through three seasons, Angel City FC has created a vibrant community and thriving brand, but consistent results on the field have yet to follow. With the introduction of a new training facility, the club is looking to match its on- and off-pitch achievements.
In a historic move that signals a new era for women’s professional soccer, Angel City FC unveiled the Angel City Performance Center, a state-of-the-art training facility in Thousand Oaks, California, setting a bold benchmark of excellence for women athletes in the global sport.
As one of the first of its kind not just in the NWSL but in any women’s soccer league globally, the facility represents a monumental leap forward, offering top-tier resources for training and recovery, enabling players to thrive.
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Two months after the facility’s grand unveiling, this groundbreaking development is proving to be more than just a space for athletes to hone their craft. It’s a symbol of progress, equality, and the growing prestige of women’s sports. The facility underscores a critical investment in the future of women’s soccer, helping elevate both the level of play and the overall quality of the league.
“Our founders set out five-plus years ago to create the best women’s sporting environment in the world,” said Christen Press, Angel City FC forward, two-time World Cup winner, and 14-year pro soccer veteran. “That’s an ambitious and challenging goal, but we’re gaining ground every year and this facility is a testament to all that hard work.
“In the long term, there will be a lot of benefits to the club and sport. But just in the short term, this facility has made our team and staff’s lives so much better. I think for most of our careers, we’ve been second fiddle to whatever men’s team was playing wherever we were, so it is quite special to have our own facility and our own fields.”
Press has seen just about everything throughout her illustrious career, and has spoken in depth about how the bar for pro women’s soccer has progressed from her chaotic rookie season with WPS side MagicJack, a club rife with controversy, to where it is today.
Designed to support the high-level training needs of professional athletes, the new facility boasts top-notch amenities including a 5,400-square-foot gym equipped with brand new performance and sports science technology, a 3,400-square-foot medical treatment and rehabilitation area, a private recovery room, a private doctor’s office with medical staff offices, three locker rooms furnished with custom lockers for players, coaches, and staff, a private outdoor relaxation lounge, a children’s playroom to support the families of players and staff, and a custom pre- and post-training nutrition and supplement area.
On top of training and staff resources, the new facility also offers an approximately 1,000-square-foot team meeting and film room, a content studio, and a dedicated press conference and media room.
“We have everything we need here to succeed, and to be able to experience this from the get go is really special,” said Angel City FC rookie midfielder Macey Hodge. “I’ve had more experienced players tell me about their first experiences playing on a professional team and how much things have changed since they first started.
“This team and the league has come so far as a whole, so to be a part of a major driving force in advancing the game for women is absolutely crazy to me. I feel extremely lucky to have my teammates’ mentorship and support and to navigate this together.”
The facility marks a new era of advancement and excellence, not just through the resources available to players, but also in the training staff’s ability to streamline communication and collaborate more easily on player needs, therefore creating a training experience focused on physical and mental wellness with an emphasis on recovery, which is an often-overlooked aspect of an athlete’s training regimen.
With such an all-encompassing environment, veteran players are able to continue competing at the highest level well into their careers, while those just beginning their professional journey have the best possible foundation to grow and increase their longevity and skills. This investment in recovery and player wellness is essential to enhancing the performance and future of the club.
“In comparison to our previous facility, where we were in separate buildings, we are now in one unified space where we’re right next door to each other,” said Angel City FC director of medical performance Sarah Smith. “We know from literature that when medical and performance staff can communicate more effectively, it increases our ability to support player longevity which is something we really care about.
“The design of this facility is thoughtfully laid out, keeping at its center what the day in the life of a player looks like and how to maximize the positive impact of staff on players. The players have the ability to go straight from the training room to the weight room, and then out to the fields, providing a better flow for players to access resources, whether that be facility amenities or simply asking a staff member a question. We really see this facility as part of a long term vision for the club to be a world class entity. So by having the best facility worldwide, with the best equipment, we can attract the best staff possible for the players and our club.”
For Press, her teammates, and Angel City staff, this achievement is not just about a state-of-the-art facility; it’s about the hard work that got them here and the potential for further progress in women’s sports.
“I graduated in 2011 and since then I’ve always said that playing soccer in college was the most professional setting I’ve ever experienced,” Press said. “With Title IX, women in sports in college have been given access to resources that aren’t available to girls and women around the world, and that’s true for professional soccer leagues at home and abroad.
“I think that this year is the first time I can say I’m in a more professional environment than I was at Stanford, from the staff we’re working with, the level of professionalism expected of us and our club, and of course this new facility and all its resources. And I think ultimately as the game grows and more resources are put into the athlete, whether that be increasing pay or designing facilities specifically for women athletes, the result will be a sport that just goes up and up. Healthy bodies and joyous players create a better product.”
By creating a world-class training facility specifically for Angel City FC, the club is not only shaping its future but also inspiring a new generation of female athletes and challenging the long-standing disparities in professional sports. The facility serves as a beacon of change, encouraging young female athletes to pursue soccer with the same resources and support as their male counterparts.
Historically, women’s soccer has been underfunded and lacked equal access to high-quality training environments. For Press, this new facility is another significant victory in the ongoing fight for equality in sports.
It also represents a major leap forward from the days of playing on turf fields — a notoriously hard surface that retains heat and increases the risk of injuries ranging from the dreaded turf burn to oftentimes avoidable ankle sprains. This inequality was something Press and other national team players raised awareness about during the 2015 Women’s World Cup, making this facility a tangible step toward correcting those disparities.
“For me it’s been 14 years, and this is nothing like anything I’ve ever known,” Press said. “So what I love is that for rookies this season, this is all they’ll ever know of Angel City and professional soccer. And when we’re playing at BMO, and I look up to our fans and see young kids in the stands, I think, this is all they’ll ever know too; men and women in the sport being equally celebrated and supported for being great athletes.”
As women’s soccer continues to gain momentum, the Angel City Performance Center will serve as a blueprint for future investments and the rising expectations of female athletes worldwide. With each new milestone, the sport inches closer to the parity it deserves, and the journey ahead promises even greater achievements. For the players, staff, and fans, this is just the beginning of a transformative era in women’s professional soccer.
It is a testament to the power of vision, dedication, and the ongoing fight for equity in sports rooted in the very foundation of the NWSL and all the great players who came before.
All photography courtesy of Angel City FC.
