Angel City FC faced severe sanctions on Thursday following an NWSL salary cap investigation that uncovered multiple violations of league rules, as announced by the league.
Primarily, the NWSL revealed that Angel City exceeded the salary cap by $50,000 for four weeks during the 2024 season. Additionally, the club engaged in five side letters, undisclosed agreements with players that extended beyond a single year, resulting in unreported excess benefits that pushed the team over the cap.
Consequently, the league imposed the following penalties on Angel City:
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A $200,000 fine
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A three-point deduction in the 2024 standings, effective immediately
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Suspensions for president and CEO Julie Uhrman and general manager Angela Hucles Mangano for the remainder of the 2024 calendar year, effective immediately
The NWSL also announced plans for regular investigations and audits of clubs to prevent future violations.
In the words of the NWSL:
“The NWSL remains committed to maintaining fairness and transparency across all clubs, reinforcing the importance of adhering to established rules and upholding the competitive balance within the league.”
The deduction of three points essentially eliminates Angel City from playoff contention. Previously positioned 11th on the NWSL table with a 6-4-12 record, the club now sits in 12th place, just one point ahead of 13th place after the penalty.
To secure a playoff spot, Angel City must win its remaining four games and rely on other teams’ misfortune to finish the regular season.
These sanctions compound the challenges faced by Angel City in what was already a transitional year for the league’s most valuable team. The club recently announced a majority stake sale to Disney CEO Bob Iger, valuing the team at $250 million.
Reporting contributed by Yahoo Sports’ Kari Anderson.