Angel City's veteran player, Christen Press, continues to to lead by example as she steps into a senior role.
In a world where soccer legends aren't exactly a dime a dozen, Christen Press still stands out. Once an unstoppable force helping the national team secure back-to-back World Cup titles, Press is now on a different journey, one that still takes her back to her Southern California roots with Angel City FC.
The Tokyo Olympics marked the end of a remarkable chapter in Press's career, but a new one was soon to unfold as she became the first player signed by the expansion club, ushering in a new era for the NWSL. However, injuries—specifically her stubborn anterior cruciate ligament—disrupted her plans, causing her to miss more games than she'd have liked.
Now, Press is embracing a different role. At 36, she's traded in her wunderkind status for the title of elder stateswoman, finding comfort in her presence among the 13 Angel City players under the age of 25. "It's a different role," Press admits, "but I'm enjoying it."
One player who's benefited significantly from Press's presence is Alyssa Thompson, a 20-year-old Angel City player whose career trajectory mirrors Press's in many ways. Both are Southern California natives, raised in a soccer-loving environment, leading their teams to CIF titles, and earning national player of the year awards.
While Thompson is just starting her career, Press is winding hers down, but that doesn't mean she's ready to hang up her cleats just yet. Her wisdom, experience, and intelligence now find expression in helping her younger counterparts, leading by example, and mentoring her teammates like Thompson.
"The thing I'm good at is scoring goals," Press says, "and I'm now kind of showing Alyssa how I trained to become a goal scorer. How you can think about goal-scoring in a very nuanced and methodical way."
Thompson reciprocates, appreciating Press's guidance, especially as she's learning from a master. "She's definitely my mentor," Thompson says. "She's entering a new era of her career, but she still wants to continue to play and stuff like that. But when she's not playing, she's able to [offer] her guidance and support."
Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, the team's vice captain and a key member of Angel City's youth movement, also shares similar sentiments. Anderson credits Press for helping her improve, particularly her work with Thompson.
The Angel City locker room is filled with veterans who have played on multiple continents and in multiple international championships, making Press's unique insights and experiences all the more valuable. Her colleagues, such as Ali Riley and Claire Emslie, relish their role as mentors, passing on their hard-earned wisdom to the younger players.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Press's future in the game, she's making the most of her present with Angel City. For her, playing soccer with gratitude is the ultimate prize.
"There's only one thing I haven't done in soccer, and that's enjoy it," Press concludes. "All of my peers retired, and I'm still here. I'm still given this gift of being able to appreciate it, play with gratitude, and be a role model. And when I think about Angel City and my legacy, I think about 'wow, what an opportunity to show the next generation that this can—and should be—fun and rewarding, and it's a gift that we get to chase greatness.'"
From scoring goals to mentoring the next generation, Press continues to blaze a trail on and off the field, her legacy growing one day at a time.
In California, where Angel City FC is based, Press has transitioned from being a player to a mentor, guiding younger players like Alyssa Thompson who shares similar footballing roots. Despite her injuries affecting her gameplay, Press is focusing on her new role, passing on her knowledge and skills to the next generation of footballers. As Press continues to help her teammates, she is also enjoying the process of mentoring, finding satisfaction in making the game enjoyable and rewarding for those coming up behind her.
