US franchise president urges Australia to sort out women’s domestic league

Angel FC boss Julie Uhrman, the president of the most valuable women’s football franchise in the world, said it is ‘critical’ Australia gets its national women’s competition right to capitalise on the Matildas’ boom.

Boss of L.A’s $381m soccer team urges Australia to sort out women’s domestic leage. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The president of the most valuable women’s football franchise in the world said it is “critical” Australia gets its national women’s competition right to capitalise on the Matildas’ boom.

President of L.A soccer club Angel FC Julie Uhrman says the Matildas, who attracted an extraordinary viewing audience of nearly 12 million for a World Cup semi-final and have sold out stadiums for their last 14 matches, have provided a crucial opening for the sport domestically in Australia, that is yet to be capitalised on.

“It’s the domestic league that carries the enthusiasm, excitement and commitment for three years in between a massive global sporting event whether it’s a World Cup or an Olympics,” Uhrman told News Corp.

“You need the strength domestically to develop your players, grow their identity, their personality, create a connection with the fans.”

“I think it’s critical for the fans at home if you’re a young girl or a young boy, right? Those are your idols, right, and you want to be able to see them every single weekend.”

Angel City FC co-founders Kara Nortman, Natalie Portman and Julie Uhrman.

Angel FC recently announced that Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger and his wife executive Willow Bay acquired the controlling stake of the National Women’s Soccer League L.A team at a value of $381 million.

The team is founded by Academy Award-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman, media and gaming entrepreneur Uhrman.

Australia’s women’s A-Leagues players are the lowest paid football players in the country (the minimum wage for players is $25,000) - while the league itself burnt through $140m of private equity money with little impact to show for it.

The Matildas can be paid far more overseas with Sam Kerr (Chelsea FC) and Mary Fowler (Manchester City) choosing to play in the Super League in England while Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold signed with NWSL club Portland Thorns, after spending four seasons at West Ham United.

Sam Kerr plays in the Super League in England for Chelsea FC. Picture: Izhar Khan/AFP

US women’s soccer has seen pay records broken - recently US women’s coach Emma Hayes became the “highest-paid female coach in world football” on a $2.4m-a-year contract.

Angel City’s ambition is to become the first women’s sports franchise valued at $US1 billion.

Uhrman says the US’s domestic league has also had difficult times.

“But the NWSL wasn’t strong for many years when we were building Angel City and talking to investors in 2020, the number one question wasn’t, how is Angel City going to be successful? The number one question is: Is the league going to make it next year?” Uhrman said. “And our response was; ‘well, we will now have a seat at the table’. And for Angel City to be successful the league needs to be successful.”

At the end of last season the NWSL signed the most lucrative media-rights contract in the history of women’s team sports. The four-year, $366 million contract was a major upgrade from the NWSL’s previous deal, which was worth just $2.29 million a year.

Last year it generated the highest revenue of any women’s team in the world, led the NWSL in attendance, sponsorship revenue and total revenue, and has the largest season ticket membership.

Uhrman says Australia’s home World Cup showed there was a ‘huge opportunity’ for those with a ‘big vision’. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Uhrman says Australia’s home World Cup showed there was a “huge opportunity” there for those with a “big vision”.

“I had the most amazing time when I was down there for the World Cup in both Sydney and Melbourne…it has a huge football culture,” Uhrman said.

“There’s a ton of support for women’s football, specifically the Matildas. I had the pleasure of visiting the new Matildas training centre which is exceptional. And I definitely took a lot of notes from when Angel City builds our own practice facility. But I think there’s a huge opportunity and you just need people with big vision and the willingness and the intentionality to invest to build from the beginning.”

The second ever Angel City Equity summit was held in Paris on Monday.

Angel City co-founders Natalie Portman, Uhrman, and Kara Nortman, as well as International Olympic Committee Commission chair Kirsty Coventry and other leaders, discussed ‘gender equity, pay equity, media rights and exposure to women’s sports’.

“It’s overwhelming but what’s so beautiful is the number of people that really want to affect pure equity that really want to change the narrative and drive towards real gender equity and pay equity,” Uhrman said. “We can’t do it alone. We have 200 individuals from 14 different countries from different sports, including rugby and rowing and cricket, and football coming together and say that we want to affect change together.”

On Monday the club announced the Angel City Impact Fund a “non-profit arm” which is “committed to leveraging the power of sports and entertainment to create a more equitable and inclusive world”.