Fil-Am Gisele Thompson kicks off higher soccer career with Angel City FC

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Setting a goal and preparing to take the next kick in her soccer career just shy of her 18th birthday, Filipina-American prodigy Gisele Thompson is set to join the ranks of the Angel City Football Club.

The Los Angeles-native defender becomes the latest young prospect to join the club, leveraging the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) under 18 mechanism, which allows the signing of youth players with parental consent.

This strategic move follows the club’s acquisition of her older sister, Alyssa Thompson, as the top draft pick straight out of high school last season.

Her sister, at 18, currently holds the title as the youngest player ever signed by ACFC, and Gisele is set to follow in her footsteps, making them the first sibling duo on the team and the youngest sister duo to play on the same team in NWSL history.

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“I’m thrilled to be joining Angel City to take this next step in my soccer career,” the younger Thompson stated in an article released by ACFC, expressing her excitement about the move.

“It’s such a great organization with an awesome fan base. Being from Los Angeles, I’m really looking forward to trying to bring a championship to my hometown. Having been able to watch Alyssa’s pro transition this past year, I’ve been able to really see what it takes to succeed at that level. I’m confident I can come in and contribute, and am also excited for all the growth and learnings ahead.”

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ACFC General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano praised Thompson’s potential, saying that the athlete’s success on the field in her youth career speaks volumes.

“While she will be joining her sister on our squad, Gisele will no doubt make her own impact on our environment and among the team,” she added.

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Currently a senior at Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City, California, Gisele Thompson, along with her sister Alyssa, made history as the first high school student-athletes to partner with Nike in 2021. Before committing to ACFC, Gisele had previously planned to compete for Stanford University’s women’s soccer team upon her graduation in the fall of 2024.

Gisele’s recent achievements include a bronze at the Pan American Games, silver at the 2023 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship, and gold at the 2022 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship. Notably, she competed in the 2022 FIFA U-17 World Cup.