Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min may be dazzling fans on the pitch. However, when it comes to pure spectacle, LAFC’s most dynamic duo might always be Olly the Falcon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Olly, a female Red-naped Shaheen Falcon with a top speed of 214 mph, has been LAFC’s winged mascot since 2018. Abdul-Jabbar, of course, is a 7-foot-2 NBA legend and cultural icon. The two crossed paths in 2019, when Olly perched on the Hall of Famer’s arm before being launched skyward for her traditional pre-game flight at BMO Stadium. “When he was ready for Olly to take off, he timed it perfectly and launched her up, I swear, like 20 feet in the air,” LAFC falconer Jason Miknuk recalled. “And you can see the expression on her face like, ‘Oh, crap.’” Since debuting with the help of LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell, Olly has become a staple of the matchday experience. Before kickoff, she soars across the stadium before divebombing a lure branded with the visiting team’s logo — a ritual equal parts intimidation and entertainment. While she can cruise at under 100 mph during these performances, Olly occasionally hits top gear, leaving fans gasping as she blurs across the Los Angeles sky. The falcon, named for the city’s historic Olvera Street, is joined occasionally by fellow falcons Fig and Mel, but she remains the star of the show. With Hollywood flair and a predator’s precision, Olly embodies LAFC bold approach to soccer culture: dramatic, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.
