Alyssa and Gisele Thompson became the third sister pairing to be called into a U.S. Women’s National Team camp earlier this month for the SheBelieves Cup.
On Sunday, they became the second sister duo to start in a match. Alyssa was subbed out in the 62nd minute and Gisele, who made her senior national team debut on Thursday against Colombia, went off in the 77th minute of Sunday’s 2-1 win against Australia.
“It’s amazing. We’ve always dreamed about doing this together and being able to do it here is kind of surreal. It doesn’t feel real,” Alyssa told U.S. Soccer following Sunday’s game.
The Mewis sisters (Samantha and Kirstie) are the only other duo to have started together. They did it three times.
“It was kind of hard to think about it until we were on the field,” Gisele said. “Once we were playing together, it felt comfortable, so natural. I knew she had my back and I had hers.”
Gisele started at right back and Alyssa on the right wing.
“It’s amazing being out here with her,” Gisele said. “I’m so proud of just getting here at this level.”
The Thompsons will return to Angel City after Wednesday’s USWNT game against Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
Busy international window
Aside from the Thompson sisters, Angel City has six other players with their respective national teams.
Forward Julie Dufour is with France, forward Claire Emslie is with Scotland, defender Alanna Kennedy is with Australia, defender Miyabi Moriya is with Japan and defender Megan Reid is Canada.
Defender Savy King is also with the American squad, but she is on the training roster.
Angel City continues preparation
Angel City faced Seattle Reign FC in a preseason game on Saturday in Indio. Casey Phair scored a second-half equalizer in the 1-1 draw.
Angel City’s remaining preseason games will be behind closed doors. The regular season opens March 16 at BMO Stadium against San Diego Wave FC.
Mark Parsons gives coaching update
Angel City is less than three weeks away from the season opening. The club still doesn’t have a permanent coach. Sam Laity was brought before preseason training camp as the interim coach.
Mark Parsons, the club’s Sporting Director told Meg Linehan of The Athletic, that “we’ll have someone on March 1 or we’ll have someone in June or July.”
He added that the search is down to four candidates.
“It’s been a very detailed and thorough process,” he said.
Angel City fired coach Becki Tweed after the team missed the NWSL playoffs in her one full season at the helm. The new hire will be the club’s third coach since the club debuted in 2022.
Angel City signs Colombian Maithé López
Angel City acquired 18-year-old forward Maithé López from Real Santander for an undisclosed transfer fee.
López joins on a four-year contract. Angel City will send her out on loan to Lexington Sporting Club in the USL Super League. Angel City says López will return to Los Angeles in the summer months to train.