Angel City FC hoping to make the playoffs

Alright, Angel City FC is hoping to do something it hasn't done since 2023, make it to postseason playoffs. So what's crucial to getting in there? Their final two regular season games. They need to win, and to secure those victories, the team needs your help. A packed house for this Saturday's game at BMO, and fans turning out for the November 1st season finale at Dignity Health Sports Park could make all the difference. So here to talk more about it is retired Angel City FC captain, New Zealand national team, World Cup player and Olympian, Allie Riley. Where's the cheering? We don't have sound effects here. Oh my gosh, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for having me. I get to talk about my favorite thing, Angel City. Oh my gosh, and we love watching you. You are out on the field. Thank you. You're talking about You're the biggest hype girl. Of course. You're everywhere. Of course. Alongside your daughter. Oh yeah, she's hyping you up always. so tell us all about this season this is really spectacular because Angel City is in a great spot here the push to the playoffs is on it's on it is so close now so we'll all be watching on Friday night because there is a chance that Angel City could qualify before the game on Saturday but to clinch at home we want to pack the stadium it would mean so much to sell out and then there's a chance the team could get a home playoff game as well which we have never been able to do and the team is playing so well it's so exciting so I really hope to see everybody there on Saturday and then the following week at Dignity Health we've never played there before I know there's so much going on and it's such an exciting time and you're you were there from the beginning of all of this and as a fan I've been watching from the beginning of all of this so thank you tell us all about because this team is different and it took a lot to get to this point we saw coaches changed players changed the sport has changed so how how do you see things I just see this team being in a position I think Leif has come in the interim manager and done a great job but we're seeing players contribute all over the field captain Sarah Gordon is playing her best football for the club a rookie like Taylor Suarez four four goals in five games Evelyn Shore is setting the single season assist record so far for the club and then players like Maya and Spendys who are just clearly settled into the team into the league have the the single season goal records now for the club so there's just contribution happening everywhere and they just look so confident and they're playing with so much joy and resilience going down 2-0 at Denver coming back 3-2 this is a team that everyone can get behind they're so inspirational and I know they're going to do it and you having that experience on the pitch obviously with the team and then seeing it from this perspective now what is it like what makes the chemistry work for this team it takes a lot of hard work and i know these players especially a little bit how last season went and how the beginning of the season may have looked it takes everyone coming together the locker room a lot of that is the leadership like again Sarah, Angelina, Claire Emsley coming back from giving birth and having her baby so i just think it is the effort and knowing the history having the pressure of representing this great city of Los Angeles and putting everyone on their backs and really trying to be different than the last two seasons and finally make playoffs again so I'm just so proud and again the fans who show up, our supporter groups, they mean so much to us and I just want everyone to rally now and show up for the players hopefully not the last home game because again we could play at home but the girls deserve it yeah absolutely And this fan base is special. You go to a game, BMO Stadium, it lights up. Everyone, their families, they're just supporting the sport. And the sport has grown so much. How do you see the sport in terms of how it's grown? Especially for women, right? It has changed completely from when I started playing as a little girl a very long time ago and then to when I was playing in college and getting drafted. The league folded when I was playing. And so now to see the success, the growth of the NWSL, to see the resources, the salaries we still have a very long way to go in women's sports but i do think the investment has increased so much and you see it happening in the game the the quality on the field the resources they're still again i'd love to see more research on women's bodies we need to talk more about women's health there are some things i would love to see still increase in women's sports but we have come so far and Angel City is a perfect example of that being founded by women led by women and look at these amazing players leading the way and supporting women supporting you and your journey after the fact as well and and you supporting the sport in so many ways it goes beyond the pitch it really does and your heart and soul is definitely in it we see it tell us about how we can support as fans as LA the impact of the team here we need to show up saturday and November, we'll be there, yes we will be there so tell us about November 1st because that's a big one at Dignity, yes, so 2 p.m. so on November 1st all the teams across the league will play at the same time, it is decision day, so even if we qualify this coming weekend, that is where Angel City could get that home game and so for us to play at Dignity Health it will be iconic and it's a cultural event, there's going to be so many activations and tickets are still available So you will be there and you're always so great and gracious to the fans. We need to support and this team has made such an impact here in LA, right? We could do it. Absolutely. All right. We're doing it. All right, we're gonna do it. Okay, both games. Again, tickets are available Saturday versus Bay FC at BMO and the season finale Sunday, November 1st against Boston. Let's go. Let's do the three clap. Okay. Ready? You lead the way.