The Angel City Football Club (ACFC) recently celebrated the grand opening of the Angel City Performance Center, the largest dedicated training facility in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The Angel City Performance Center spans 5,400 square feet. The facility includes a family room, film room, staff locker room, outdoor dining space, and a state-of-the-art players’ locker room with their logo at its center. Additionally, it houses an equipment room, a high-performance weight room, a treatment room staffed with medical professionals, and a dedicated recovery space to support player wellness and peak performance.
“This is more than a place to train,” said ACFC President and Co-Founder Julie Uhrman. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to building a championship-level experience for our players and staff, removing all distractions and excuses so they can perform at their best.”
The Performance Center, located on the California Lutheran University campus, will be the home of ACFC for the next four years. The unveiling marks a significant step in advancing the standard of women’s soccer facilities.
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For ACFC captain Ali Riley, the moment was deeply personal. Reflecting on her journey in women’s soccer, Riley emphasized the importance of having a space where players can grow and thrive
“This isn’t just a facility; it’s a home. A place where we feel valued, safe, and challenged,” she said. “This beautiful custom locker room, this humongous world-class gym, these high-tech recovery tools—God knows I need them. But what matters most is the people inside this home. The love, the energy, the community—that’s what we take with us for life.”
ACFC forward and two-time World Cup champion Christen Press spoke passionately about the progress the sport has made despite persistent challenges.
“We’ve played through understaffed teams, inadequate facilities, turf so hot it melted the bottom of my cleats. We’ve played through investigations and abuse, without a players’ association, without the opportunity to collectively bargain,” she stated. “And we did it because we believed in a day like today.”
Press, who endured a two-year recovery from an ACL injury that required four surgeries, was moved to tears as she praised the Performance Center.
“To see this come to fruition, to witness the fight pay off, is beyond words,” she said.
The realization of the Performance Center was made possible through a collaboration between ACFC, California Lutheran University, and key stakeholders.
“We wouldn’t be here without the incredible hard work of so many people,” Uhrman said. “From our partners at CBRE, Champion Construction, and Lockhorn Lockers to our dedicated staff members who worked tirelessly to make this happen—this is a collective achievement.”
California Lutheran University President John Nunes echoed the significance of the partnership.
“Angel City FC is an organization of champions, and you inspire us,” he said. “This isn’t just about soccer; it’s about aligning values, pushing for equity, and building a future where women’s sports continue to thrive.”
Sporting Director Mark Parsons, who recently joined ACFC, emphasized that the new Performance Center would be a game-changer in recruiting and retaining top talent.
“With a facility like this, bringing in elite players and staff just got a lot easier,” he noted. “This club is setting the standard for how women athletes should be supported.”
With this cutting-edge facility, ACFC is poised to set new benchmarks for excellence in women’s
“We love this performance center,” Riley declared. “And now, it’s time to get to work.”
