Julie Uhrman’s Post

It started with three unlikely partners – an actor/activist, a venture capitalist, and an entrepreneur, who believed women’s football deserved more. More investment. More visibility. More equity. We had a bold idea: bring a professional women’s soccer club to Los Angeles. But it quickly became something bigger. A belief that mission and capital could coexist. A commitment to lead with equity. An ambition to build not just a team, but a global brand and platform for change. On July 21, 2020, Angel City Football Club was born. We questioned everything. We listened before we acted. We were unapologetic, undeniable, and unstoppable. We had no playbook, so we wrote our own. We promised to set higher expectations on and off the pitch and support our community, players, and the former players who built the game that came before us. We launched the Angel City Sponsorship Model, putting 10% of each dollar we received from our sponsors into our community. We launched the Player 22 Fund to support former players after they hung up their cleats. We compensated our players for their work to drive ticket sales through our Fan-Fueled Player Fund. We held two Angel City Equity Summits (2023 FIFA WWC & 2024 Summer Olympics), bringing together leaders from 14 countries, 16 industries, 23 brands, & 14 int’l sports orgs to learn from each other & drive equity. We invested in the fan experience & in storytelling. We valued our players, & the market followed. Today, Angel City Football Club is the most valuable team in women’s football globally, leading the game in both revenue and attendance. Six and a half years later, I don’t think Natalie, Kara, and I fully understood what we were starting. What Angel City has become is extraordinary, not because of me, but because of all of us: - The owners who believed before there was proof. - The players who gave everything. - The staff who were relentless, passionate, and fearless in breaking and building. - The partners who bet on purpose. - The fans who showed up, stood up, and built this club with us. YOU are Angel City. A dear friend once told me, if you want something to last forever, at a certain point, you have to hand it over. So today, I’m transitioning from CEO to Principal Advisor and Board Member, not stepping away, but shifting seats. I will remain actively involved in shaping Angel City’s long-term vision, brand, & sporting ambition while supporting its continued growth. Willow Bay & Bob Iger will lead this club into its next chapter, and there are no limits to where they can take Angel City. Kara Nortman & Natalie, there are not enough words. We ran through walls for each other and with each other, and I would do it again. To every player, coach, and team member, it has been the honor of my life to stand alongside you. And to our fans, I’ll be in the stands, cheering right there with you. We are bigger than the game. We always have been. We always will be. Together, we are Angel City.