Gisele Thompson of Angel City Football Club is preparing for a pivotal season as she enters her third year as a professional player. Having made her mark on the senior U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) with four appearances last season, Thompson is now focused on enhancing her performance ahead of a busy 2026, which culminates in the 2027 World Cup.
During a training session at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, Thompson emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency in her abilities. “I know the coaches told me that I need durability, especially since there are so many games in such a short period of time,” she stated. The young athlete recognized that staying on the field is crucial, particularly after encountering injuries early in matches last season.
Achieving this goal involves significant effort beyond the pitch. “Weight room, nutrition. There’s a lot that goes into it,” Thompson explained. She expressed gratitude for her support team, which plays a vital role in her development. “When you go pro, especially at such a young age, you don’t really know how to kind of go through that. But I think as the years have gone through, especially this being my third year, I’ve learned a lot and learned from different players and different stuff,” she added.
The USWNT’s 2026 campaign kicks off with an exhibition match against Paraguay on Saturday, January 27, 2026, at 14:30 local time in Carson. Following this, the team will head to Santa Barbara to compete against Chile. Thompson, who opted to pursue a professional career instead of attending college—following in the footsteps of her sister Alyssa—played 18 games as a rookie and 23 last season. She recently extended her contract with Angel City FC through the 2029 season.
This training camp features only players from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The upcoming camp will serve as preparation for the SheBelieves Cup in March, where the USWNT will face Argentina, Colombia, and Canada. Thompson commented on the competitive nature of the camps, stating, “Everyone’s wanting their spot, so it’s super competitive. It’s always competitive, no matter where you are, whether at Angel City or in the NWSL; all the teams are competitive.”
In related news, U.S. Soccer will hold a pregame retirement celebration for Christen Press before the match against Paraguay. Press, who announced her retirement from professional soccer in October 2023, spent her final three seasons with Angel City FC. Over her illustrious career, she made 155 appearances for the USWNT, scoring 64 goals and providing 43 assists. Press was instrumental in the national team’s successes, contributing to the 2015 and 2019 World Cup championship teams and the bronze medal-winning squad at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
