EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Despite losing their top defensive and top offensive players early last year to injury, Angel City FC (8-9-5) battled until the very end of their inaugural season. The expansion NWSL team, who finished just four points shy of a playoff spot, ran out of gas at the end of the year, winning just one of their final six games while being outscored 9-4.

Most fans and critics would deem the 2022 campaign a success for ACFC. The team, who was a legit playoff contender until late September, led the league in attendance (19,105), averaging over 3,500 more fans per game than eventual champion Portland Thorns and over 10,000 more per game than cross-town rival San Diego Wave.

On Thursday, Angel City traded for the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NWSL draft. ACFC traded their 2023 first-round pick (No. 5 overall), their 2024 second-round top natural pick and allocation money to acquire midfielder Yazmeen Ryan from the Portland Thorns.

Angel City then traded Ryan and allocation money to Gotham FC for the overall No. 1 pick in this year's draft, which takes place on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. PT.

“We were extremely proud of the product we put on the field in our inaugural season, but we have our sights set on making the playoffs and winning championships,” said ACFC General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano. “We know that in order to achieve these goals, we have to set ourselves up for on-field success for many years to come, which is why we wanted to be able to control our destiny with the No. 1 overall draft pick of the 2023 Draft. We are focused on making as big an impact on the field as possible, and we look forward to being able to do so in our second season.”

Here’s a refresher of other offseason moves the team has made.

ACFC re-signed veteran defender Jasmyne Spencer to a guaranteed two-year contract with an option for a third year.

Spencer, who battled through a knee injury last summer, started 10 games for Angel City and played in 15 total.

She is one of only 21 players who have played in all 10 seasons of the NWSL and is the only ACFC player to do so. Her veteran leadership is key to the team’s success, and her presence once again in the backfield will be a welcome sight to fans.

“We are building something incredible here in LA and there’s no place I’d rather be," Spencer said. "See you soon, ACFC fam—we’ve got unfinished business.”

ACFC re-signed defender Megan Reid to a new one-year contract.

Reid, who led the league in clearances (141) last season, played every minute of every regular season game for Angel City in 2022 and was a model of consistency and toughness for a team plagued by injuries. The former firefighter and EMT looks to follow up her rookie campaign with another strong season in SoCal.

"Having the security that Megan provided for us as a consistent presence in the back line, playing every minute in the regular season, established her role for us,” said General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano.

Defender Paige Nielsen agreed to exercise her club option, signing a two-year deal ahead of the 2023 season.

Nielsen, who started 14 of 20 matches, was a key piece to ACFC’s defense last season. She ranked second on the team in clearances (73) and blocked shots (30), fourth in interceptions (29) and ninth in minutes played (1,303), all after missing the first two games of the season recovering from surgery after a blood clot in her left arm in February.

Nielsen, who has averaged over 1,400 minutes per season the last three years, will most likely be tasked with a heavy workload again next season and once again be an important piece to the backline.

“I’m so honored to continue to play for this club, community and city," Nielsen said. "We have work to do and I’m excited to give it everything I have.” 

Christen Press, who was the first player ever signed by Angel City and face of the franchise, tore her ACL during the team’s 3-2 win at Racing Louisville in June of last year.

Recently, Press has shown some progress in her recovery. 

For a team that struggled to score, averaging less than a goal per game, Press’s offensive firepower would be a welcome site to the 20,000 ACFC fans in the stands next season.

Sarah Gorden didn’t even see the pitch last season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear in the preseason. Gorden, who was voted to the NWSL Best XI and played in every minute in league play the year prior, was going to be the key piece to the team’s defense.

Instead, she missed the entire year, and the team had to play a few players out of position to make up for it.

Fans hope that Gorden can return to the pitch in 2023, which would help take the pressure off of a backline that gave up six goals in their last three games.

You can watch the NWSL draft live on Jan. 12 on CBS Sports Network from 3-4 p.m. PT and on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ from 4-8 p.m. PT.

Statistics provided by: angelcity.com, fbref.com, nwslsoccer.com and soccerstadiumdigest.com.