July 26, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
LOS ANGELES – Angel City Football Club (ACFC)’s Player 22 Future Program, first introduced in October of last year, has cleared its initial funding goal and will open the application process for former NWSL players interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry soon. This major milestone for the program is possible due to revenue generated from the sale of the club’s No. 22 jersey, 22-themed merchandise, and donations made by ACFC partners Curateur and ComfyGo via the Angel City Sponsorship Model, as well as a donation from PNC Bank.
In recognition of this accomplishment, ACFC will host a special ceremony prior to the club’s home match against OL Reign on Saturday, July 30 at Banc of California Stadium. The ceremony will be hosted by ACFC VP of Operations and Player Development and former US Women’s National Team member Angela Hucles Mangano. Former pro players and ACFC front office members will attend the ceremony, where the No. 22 jersey will be officially retired. It will hang in Banc of California Stadium for each ACFC home match moving forward.
ACFC has partnered with the California Community Foundation to manage the application and selection process to fulfill and oversee the fund’s distributions. The application process will open soon. Whether it be coaching, refereeing, media, or front office roles, the ultimate goal is to help prepare players for entry into the workforce. The program will continue taking contributions through merch sales and partner funds, and will be accepting direct donations from individuals and organizations soon.
“The support for the Player 22 Future Program has been overwhelming since we launched last year,” said Hucles Mangano. “Between our incredible partners and fans around the globe, we will be able to truly create pathways for life after sport for these athletes. This is something that didn’t exist when I ended my playing career, nor did it exist for my former teammates. This is just the beginning and we look forward to accepting applicants and getting the ball rolling.”
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