Beloved Angel City captain and longtime New Zealand international Ali Riley will retire at the end of the season, the club announced on Tuesday.
She is one of just eight remaining players from ACFC’s original
roster in 2022, and has been the captain of the club since its founding. She is known for her leadership, dedication, and positive spirit.
The defender has been dealing with a chronic nerve injury in her leg since 2023, and was placed on the season-ending injury list in mid-2024. She only recently came off the SEI list this past July, when she started training with the team again, although she has not yet played in a match.
“Getting myself back on the field was my singular goal after my injury last year, and I am so proud to have achieved that,” Riley said. “Being on the pitch every day, supporting my teammates, pushing my teammates, showing up in the way I know I can has been amazing.”
Riley is proud of her career, and her impact as both a teammate and a player.
“Now, as I reflect on what this game has given me these past three decades, since I started in the Palisades here in LA, I know that I have truly given my all, both physically and emotionally,” she said. “As a player, I strived to be the best teammate, a positive influence in the locker room, and compete on the field every day. For my entire career, I never took a day when I got to play soccer for granted.”
Riley hopes to play again before the season ends. Angel City has three matches left, all home games.
“It’s something I desperately want. And it would be such an amazing final milestone to achieve,” she said in an interview with the LA times. “To be in that team huddle, to wear the jersey again, that is where my head has been for the last probably five weeks.”
Riley has played in 54 games for Angel City across all competitions.
Before signing with ACFC, she played for the Orlando Pride, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Rosengård, and the Western New York Flash.
Her long international career with the New Zealand Football Ferns includes playing in five World Cups and four Olympics. She holds New Zealand’s record for appearances in major tournaments, and has the second-most international caps in the team’s history. She has also been named the New Zealand Player of the Year five times.
Riley is grateful for the her friends, family, teammates, and fans.
“I want to thank my family, friends, the teams that I have played for, the teammates I have played with, and the fans who have rooted for me here at home and all over the world,” Riley said. “I am leaving with my head held so high and feeling so much support and love. This chapter may be closing, but I know there is so much more to come.”
