Williams, Portman lead all-star cast in historic female-founded NWSL franchise

Angel City will enter the National Women's Soccer League in 2022 after a slew of celebrities secured exclusive rights to bring the franchise to Los Angeles.

Serena Williams (L), Natalie Portman Source: AAP

The group features tennis great Serena Williams, her two-year-old daughter Olympia, actors Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria, along with several tech entrepreneurs and US women's team players.

"Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group," Portman said.

"I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women's soccer team to Los Angeles.

"Together, we aim to build not only a winning team on the field, but also to develop a passionately loyal fan base.

"Sports are such a joyful way to bring people together, and this has the power to make tangible change for female athletes both in our community and in the professional sphere."

Portman's plan came to fruition after she attended a national team match with Garner and co. in the lead-up to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"We started going to games and we just got so into it. And it was just kind of a revolution to see my son and his friends, these little eight-year-old boys at the time, wanting to wear their Rapinoe jerseys and Alex Morgan jerseys," Portman added.

"I was like 'wow, this would be a different world'. It wasn't unusual to them at all.

"I think it's so important to have role models and heroes that are women for kids — both boys and girls — to see.

"It's just such an incredible sport in that it really is a team sport.

"You see one woman's success and all the others are cheering her on because one woman's success is the whole team's success."