Sidney Leroux signs new three-year contract with Angel City

Veteran NWSL forward Sidney Leroux has signed a new three-year contract through 2027 with Angel City, the club confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

Leroux, 34, joined Angel City midway through the inaugural 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season after being traded from the Orlando Pride. It has competed in the NWSL since the league’s inception in 2013.

“The older I get, the more my role changes,” Leroux told ESPN. “I feel like I’ve really progressed this year. I was able to show myself that I could still do it. I was thinking about retiring from my career. And my children want me to play. I’m doing this for them, and I’m doing this for myself, I want to finish what I started, and here it is.”

“My career will definitely end in Los Angeles.”

During the 2024 regular season, Leroux scored seven goals in 24 matches, the most in her NWSL career since 2012, when she scored eight times for Orlando. In his last two years at Angel City, Leroux scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 2,513 minutes played in 42 matches across various competitions.

During her 12-season NWSL career, Leroux scored a total of 48 goals in 160 regular season matches. She currently ranks eighth on the NWSL’s all-time leading scorers list.

In her first season with ACFC, Leroux played just 182 minutes in three games before suffering an ankle injury that required surgery. She returned to action in June 2023, scoring her first goal for the club in the 88th minute against the Chicago Red Stars.

“As a seasoned professional and an icon of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Sydney played a critical role in the growth of the league and provided our fans with unforgettable moments during her time in the City of Angels,” technical director Mark Wilson said in a statement provided to ESPN. “We are thrilled that she will continue her career in the City of Angels as we continue to lay the foundation for a resilient and successful team for the upcoming season.”

Prior to joining the City of Angels, Leroux spent four years with the Orlando Pride, followed by time in Kansas City, Western New York, Seattle and Boston. In the inaugural NWSL season, Leroux made history by scoring her first NWSL goal for the Boston Breakers and the league’s first hat trick.

“I can’t believe it. I’m very glad that they (ACFC) still believe in me. I feel like I still have a lot to give,” Leroux said. “Help as much as I can. I love working with younger players and this has been the highlight of the year for me. We have an amazing group.”

In addition to being a staple in the NWSL, Leroux made a name for herself in the US from 2011-2017. Leroux has 35 goals for the US national team. In 2012, Leroux helped the national team win a gold medal at the London Olympics. Three years later, in 2015, she was part of the team that won the Women’s World Cup.

Leroux began her professional career when she was selected first overall in the 2012 Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL) draft by the Atlanta Beat after a standout collegiate career at UCLA from 2008-2011.

“I think it was really important to just be somewhere for a while and know that you’re going to be there for a while,” Leroux said. “I’ve moved around all my life, so it’s nice to be home. I went to UCLA, so this is my home. It’s very nice to feel at home.”

Leroux spent one season in the WPSL before joining the NWSL.