Actress Natalie Portman leads Los Angeles NWSL expansion team

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman is heading up a consortium of actresses, sports stars and business people to launch a new Los Angeles-based franchise in the National Women's Soccer League.

Although the team is yet to be formally named, the consortium is called Angel City and will be the first professional women's side to play in LA for 12 years. Fellow Hollywood stars Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria and Jessica Chastain are amongst the investors, as are Serena Williams and US soccer legend Mia Hamm.

The NWSL was the first American professional league to return following the Covid-19 pandemic. The Angel City team is expected to join the expanded league in early 2022. 

"We wanted to make sure that we brought in incredible partners who were from the soccer world, who are leaders in sport, in tech and business and entertainment because that’s really so much what our city is about," said Portman. "Each of us has our special ability to bring to the team.” 

She joined the Angel City project following the success of the US national team at the World Cup last summer.