University of Tennessee Athletics
Angel City FC Signs VFLs Cousins and Vignola
December 10, 2021 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Two VFLs are set to reunite on the pitch in Los Angeles as Angel City Football Club announced the signing of Katie Cousins and MA Vignola this week. Â
The pair played together for three seasons at UT from 2017-2019, compiling a record of 40-13-8 over that time and making the NCAA Tournament twice, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2018. Â
Angel City FC is a newly formed expansion team in the National Women's Soccer League that was announced in July of 2020 and will begin competing during the upcoming NWSL season. The team was founded by a majority-female ownership group led by actress Natalie Portman and includes notable investors from the sports world such as Mia Hamm, Serena Williams, Candace Parker, and Abby Wambach along with a host of former U.S. Women's National Team members. Â
"Angel City is getting two amazing players and people in Cousins and Vignola," said Tennessee head coach Brian Pensky. "They are two of the best to ever wear the orange and white at the University of Tennessee. We first saw both of these women when they were young girls in eighth grade, and the chase for them to come to Tennessee was on. Congrats to them, and congrats to Angel City."Â
Vignola signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year after a trade deal was made with the Washington Spirit. She has been playing internationally in Iceland for two seasons, suiting up for Thróttur Reykjavík in 2020 and Valur in 2021. Â
Cousins also signed a two-year contract with an option for a third-year extension and heads to L.A. after a successful 2021 season for Thróttur Reykjavík in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild Women's League. Â
Cousins, a midfielder from Forest, Va., finished her career on Rocky Top having started 72 matches, playing a total of 5,607 minutes while accumulating 27 points on seven goals and 13 assists. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America third team in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018 and earned All-SEC honors all four years. She was also a member of U.S. U-20 Women's National Team that competed in the 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup.Â
Vignola, a defender who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, was a four-year starter for the Vols, earning United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-SEC accolades in 2018 and 2019. During her time at Tennessee, she appeared in 76 matches and tallied 17 goals and 13 assists. Â
The upcoming season will mark the 10th season of the NWSL. Â
