League: NWSL Sport: Soccer Country: United States Category: Breaking News

Angel City fires head coach Alex Straus after disappointing season start

Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 17, 2026, 8:01 PM

Last updated Jun 17, 2026

Angel City fires head coach Alex Straus after disappointing season start

Summary

Angel City FC has dismissed head coach Alex Straus following a year in charge amid poor performance. The team has won only once in its last eight matches, currently sitting 12th in the NWSL standings. After finishing last season in 11th place with 27 points, the club's transition to a younger squad did not yield improvements. Interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerud has been appointed while the club searches for Straus’s replacement. Sporting director Mark Parsons praised Straus for his contributions and player development during his tenure.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Angel City sits 12th in the 16-team NWSL standings.
•The club won only one match in the last eight outings.
•Mark Parsons commended Straus for fostering player development.
•Leif Gunnar Smerud takes over as interim head coach.

Latest Updates

6:35 PMYahoo Sports — Angel City FC fires coach Alex Straus
8:22 PMYahoo Sports — NWSL's Angel City fires coach Alex Straus, names assistant Leif Gunnar Smerud interim coach
8:01 PMYahoo Sports — Angel City fires head coach Alex Straus after just a year in charge

What they're saying

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Angel City FC has fired head coach Alex Straus just over a year after appointing him. The Los Angeles-based team has won just once in its last eight matches, sitting 12th in the 16-team NWSL standings. Angel City finished last season in 11th with just 27 points and, although the club went through a period of transition ahead of the 2026 NWSL Season with an emphasis on younger players, results have not improved. The Norwegian coach was hired last summer from Bayern Munich, where he won three cons
— Yahoo Sports

"
Angel City fired coach Alex Straus on Wednesday after a little more than a year on the job. Angel City opened the season 4-6-1 and is in 12th place in the National Women's Soccer League standings. The NWSL is on a summer break for the men’s World Cup and resumes regular-season play on July 3.
— Yahoo Sports