Modesto native Tisha Venturini-Hoch is an investor in new NWSL team in Los Angeles
Modesto native and 1999 World Cup Champion Tisha Venturini-Hoch said she read the names of those who were involved with the investment group that was trying to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to Los Angeles and it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
“I’ve been apart of a lot of great teams in my life,” Venturini-Hoch said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “I got an email from (Julie) Foudy and Mia (Hamm) and anytime I can be associated or involved with anyone I played with, I am in.”
Along with Foudy, Hamm, and Venturini-Hoch, some of the other investors in the new Los Angeles team the league awarded on Tuesday include: actresses Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, and Natalie Portman, and tennis star Serena Williams.
“Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group,” Portman said in a statement. “I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles.”
The team, which will be called “Angel City” until a permanent name is announced later this year, will begin competition in 2022.
“It’s a great city for entertainment and all these people are coming together to promote these women ... it’s a home run hit,” Venturini-Hoch said. “We are trying to help and expand the league.”
There are currently nine teams in the NWSL with Racing Louisville FC joining next year.
Venturini-Hoch, who resides in Orange County and won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1996 Olympics, said Southern California is a “soccer mecca” and her 13-year-old daughter was fired up when she heard the news. The two have watched all of the NWSL games since the league resumed on June 27.
The former Davis High and North Carolina star is an assistant coach for Newport Harbor High School’s girls soccer team and also a founder of Team First Soccer Academy with Hamm and Kristine Lilly, who were also on the 1996 and 1999 teams. The coronavirus pandemic has shut down a lot of activities in the programs.
“I’ve been training some kids in the neighborhood and keeping them involved and staying positive,” Venturini-Hoch said.
In an interview with US Soccer earlier this month, she said soccer today at the youth level is “all about winning” and the forgotten part is kids just having fun.
“We encourage the kids to get out of their comfort zone and work hard,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to make a mistake because all these kids are worried about is making mistakes and they’re going to get pulled out of the game or they’re going to get yelled at. That’s no way to develop as a player or have fun.”
Venturini-Hoch said she tries to visit Modesto whenever she can and her parents and brother still live in the area.
“I was up there three weeks ago,” she said. “It’s always a great place to go and spend few days and relax.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 1:08 PM.
