Is Angel City cleaning house? Plus, College Cup final preview

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Welcome back to Full Time! We’ll have a year-in-review newsletter later this month, but first, we have news on NWSL offseason moves and a College Cup final to preview.

Emily Olsen here with Meg Linehan, Steph Yang and Melanie Anzidei. Stick around to see what FIFA’s latest idea of “growth” is.

NWSL Offseason

A transformational moment

The confetti has finally settled in Orlando, which means the NWSL offseason is upon us. It will be a major test for all 14 clubs following the elimination of drafts in the latest collective bargaining agreement.

College and expansion drafts are the basic mechanisms for populating rosters in most American sports. Now, teams in the NWSL will have to attract players on their own merits while still functioning under the salary cap, which has been set at $3.3 million for 2025, although teams can still spend over the cap through allocation money. There’s also the matter of player consent required for trades.

The general managers who adapt quickly to the new rules will have the advantage for 2025, which may also prove instructive for expansion teams scheduled to arrive in 2026. Related: A team making changes quickly under new management is also one of the leaders in global valuations …

Angel City ownership not wasting time

Gaining a controlling stake in one of the highest-valued NWSL clubs is an ambitious move, and new Angel City owners Willow Bay and Bob Iger have made their intentions clear after taking over the club in July. On the field, Angel City has yet to match the sparkle of its brand power — something Bay and Iger are clearly trying to remedy (and quickly).

The team recently announced it was taking over the LA Rams’ former training facility, giving Angel City a permanent training ground. And earlier today, the club announced it is parting ways with head coach Becki Tweed after missing the playoffs for a second time in three years of existence.

The news comes less than a week after the club also moved on from general manager Angela Hucles, who was previously suspended amid the team’s salary-cap violation sanctions.

Ownership is making moves. The question now: Will next year be all about rebuilding, or contending?

Meg’s Corner

Boston’s NWSL journey hits another bump

The BOS Nation FC saga continues.

Following its apology for the “Too Many Balls” launch campaign, the team finally posted again the week before Thanksgiving.

“We want to assure you that we have heard your feedback and are actively listening,” the post said.

Hopefully, at some point, they hire someone who can tell them to cool it with the overly corporate language. BOS Nation needs engaged supporters, not “brand advisers” like they’re asking for. There was no promise of a new name, not yet anyway, but the post certainly felt like the first step on the way to a rebrand.

In better news, the club has found its first general manager in FC Barcelona’s Domènec Guasch, a strong international hire from the best club in Europe. But that news was almost immediately followed by another negative story around White Stadium, the team’s potential home, where costs have ballooned. Public sentiment around the stadium renovations remains divided, and Boston’s ownership may face new headwinds now that taxpayers will be on the hook for $91 million.

I keep going back to their post, which starts, “Over a year ago, we announced the return of women’s professional soccer to the greatest sports city in the country — Boston.” They have so little to show for a year’s work. I hope in 2025 they’re ready to get aggressive, make some good hires with more women’s soccer experience, and remember there’s a club at the heart of this — not a brand.

Notables

Players pick their best XI

With the end of the year comes the exhaustive and exhausting list of accolades during awards season. Today it was FIFPRO’s turn. The worldwide player representation organization released its World 11, voted on exclusively by 7,000 players based on performances between Aug. 21, 2023, and Aug. 10, 2024.

While two NWSL champions — Marta and Barbra Banda — made the cut, no USWNT players appeared in the World 11 despite the team’s Olympic gold medal performance within the voting window.

I’m a firm believer that players typically know more than outsiders, but did the group get it right on this one? Let us know your thoughts by emailing fulltime@theathletic.com.

An emotional return to the pitch

After 303 days away, English goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck made her debut for Barcelona in a 4-1 win over Real Betis in Liga F on Saturday. But the victory was a lot more special than a few points in the Spanish side’s already league-leading season.

Saturday marked Roebuck’s first minutes since suffering a stroke last year. The 25-year-old joined Barcelona over the summer from Manchester City, though she didn’t feature in City’s 2023-24 season due to the medical incident. The goalkeeper announced she avoided lasting brain and vision damage.

After the game, Roebuck said her return at times “felt impossible,” adding that “to do it for Barcelona is a dream.”

Wales qualifies for first Euros

Wales Women qualified for their first major tournament, booking a place in the 2025 European Championship after a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland last week.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson, who previously coached the Portland Thorns, said her side have provided “a generation of football that’s going to change everything.”

Welsh veteran and Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock spoke to before the team’s qualification and explained just how important having Wales in the Euros will be.

What to Watch

College Cup final is tonight

Move over, Bill Belichick; there’s bigger news happening in North Carolina. All eyes will be on the Research Triangle and WakeMed Soccer Park when Wake Forest and North Carolina meet in the College Cup final tonight in Cary.

It will be the first time since 1992 that the Division I women’s soccer championship features two North Carolina-based teams. It marks Wake Forest’s first showing in the national title game, while the Tar Heels are making their 28th appearance and vying for their 23rd national crown.

The Demon Deacons advanced to the final round after defeating Stanford 1-0. Senior midfielder Emily Morris scored off a cross from redshirt freshman Sierra Sythe in the 73rd minute, marking the latest opening goal scored in a national semifinal since 2018.

Meanwhile, UNC is a stalwart in collegiate women’s soccer, having won 21 of the 42 NCAA titles. They also have a 1981 AIAW title to their name. The Tar Heels breezed into the championship round after topping Duke 3-0.

The ACC teams last saw each other in conference play in September, with UNC defeating Wake Forest 1-0 in Chapel Hill. The championship match will air at 7 o’clock ET tonight on ESPNU.

Full Time First Looks

Is bigger better?: FIFA is open to exploring expanding the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams — with some member associations lobbying for it to happen. The competition most recently increased from 24 teams to 32 for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Switching roles: Jill Ellis has left her role as San Diego Wave FC president to become chief football officer at FIFA. Ellis had been the Wave’s president since the club’s first season in NWSL in 2021.

A little bit longer: Chelsea does not expect to have Sam Kerr back for “at least two or three more months” as she continues her recovery from an ACL injury.

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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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