Three players to watch: Angel City FC

(image via John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune)

Each week we’ll be looking more into the Houston Dash’s opponent, talking to media that covers the team, digging into what we can expect from that squad, and in this series, taking a look at three players to watch from the upcoming opponent. The Dash return to play tomorrow after a week off for the international break. Here are three players to keep an eye on from Angel City FC in tomorrow’s match.

Alyssa Thompson

A phenom who’s spent her post-high school career in the pros (and as a college student writing this, I’m still amazed), Alyssa is a speedy winger who’s recently taken her finishing to the next level. She’s scored two goals in three NWSL games this season and is looking to keep her red-hot form going against a Dash team that’s faced constant challenges all season. Thompson has the skill to find the back of the net—and without a doubt, she’s Angel City’s biggest threat this season.

Gisele Thompson

What’s worse than one Thompson sister? Two. Gisele is a strong defender who can push the ball forward and contribute to the attacking style Angel City thrives on. With an assist in the first three games of the season, she’s already making her mark—and she’s only going to get better and more defensively solid. In just her second NWSL season, this could be a chance for the Dash’s veteran players to give her a proper “welcome to the league” moment. Still, I wouldn’t sleep on her—she’s more than capable of making an impact.

Riley Tiernan

Tiernan is a striker who’s kicked off her pro career on a strong note. She’s been on fire since her days at Rutgers, and she’s shaping up to be a dangerous second option—giving Angel City a potentially lethal 1-2 punch up front. She’s excellent at making runs into the box and using her technical skill to generate scoring chances. It was one of those well-timed runs into the 18 that set her up for the game-winning header, her first pro goal, in Angel City’s 2-1 victory over Seattle Reign.