It’s that time again—buckle up, soccer fans! The NWSL season is officially back in action, and what better way to kick things off than with an absolute banger of a rivalry? The Southern California showdown between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC is set to light up BMO Stadium on Sunday, March 16, serving up all the drama, intensity, and edge-of-your-seat action we’ve been craving. But this matchup is bigger than just soccer. Following the heartbreaking fires that tore through SoCal earlier this year, Angel City launched their Seats of Strength initiative, allowing fans to purchase tickets for first responders and those affected by the devastation.
And now? Their rivals down south are stepping up too, making this more than just a battle on the field—it’s a movement. But just when the excitement couldn’t get any higher, plot twist! Hours before Angel City’s huge home opener, one of their biggest stars just made a game-changing mental health decision that’s got the soccer world buzzing.
Angel City’s star, Sydney Leroux, just dropped some major news, and it’s got fans feeling every emotion. Taking to Instagram, the Angel City FC star got real about her decision, saying, “THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I’VE EVER HAD TO SAY OR ADMIT TO MYSELF. BUT AFTER A LOT OF REFLECTION, I’VE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO STEP AWAY FROM SOCCER FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH.” If there’s one thing everyone knows about Sydney, it’s that she’s a fighter. She’s always been the one to push through, to show up, to give everything she has—no matter what.
But this time? She’s choosing herself. “RIGHT NOW, I OWE IT TO MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND TAKE CARE OF ME.” And because she knows how people love to speculate, she made sure to clear things up before the internet could run wild. In her caption, she wrote, “Taking a break from soccer to focus on my mental health was a really tough decision but I know it’s the best choice. Also I know some of you can get a little carried away so I wanted to squash the pregnancy rumors right away ”
But don’t get it twisted—this isn’t goodbye. Sydney made that very clear: “I’VE ALWAYS PRIDED MYSELF ON BEING HONEST, AUTHENTIC, AND TRUE TO WHO I AM BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, AND THIS MOMENT IS NO DIFFERENT.” And just to drive the point home, she ended with a promise: “I WILL BE BACK, JUST LIKE ALWAYS. IN TRUE SYD FASHION.” No doubt about it—when Sydney Leroux says she’s coming back, you know she means it.
This story is developing…
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