Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park, Illinois, native, Tatumn Milazzo, earned National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors for the second consecutive week, the league announced today.
In the 59th minute of Chicago’s April 21 road match against Seattle Reign FC, a Reign corner kick was launched into the box, falling at the feet of rookie Seattle forward, Emeri Adames, stationed at the far right side. Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher moved down the right side of goal line to close off Adames’ angle, but Adames arced up a shot on her first touch, aiming to nestle the ball in the left side of the net. Tatumn Milazzo, covering the near post when the corner was taken, quickly read the ball and slid in front of the shot. After the ball took a bounce, Milazzo deflected the shot off the line. While the clearance was short and left the ball in a dangerous position, the reroute gave Naeher the time she needed to smother the ball and safely deliver the ball up the field.
Milazzo’s goal-line clearance kept Chicago’s 0-2 lead over Seattle for another 20 minutes, ensuring the Red Stars found themselves back in the win column at full time. While the Reign did make the final scoreline 1-2 with a goal in the 79th minute, Milazzo’s save meant the goal was not an equalizer, winning Chicago their second meeting of the season with Seattle. Milazzo’s second NWSL Impact Save of the Week award in just as many weeks comes on the heels of the defender’s first career NWSL Save of the Week honor. Coincidentally, Milazzo’s Week 4 Save of the Week win was for another goal-line clearance in the 32nd minute of Red Stars’ April 13 match against Angel City FC. Previous accolades for Milazzo include NWSL June Best XI honors in 2022 and 2022 NWSL Best XI Second Team honors.
Today’s NWSL Save of the Week award marks the third time in the five weeks of the 2024 NWSL season a Red Star has received the honor. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher won the Week 1 award after her miraculous tip pushed the ball just above the crossbar during Chicago’s 2-0 road victory over the Utah Royals FC in the club’s season opener March 16.
Milazzo and the Red Stars return home April 27 to host a second Pacific Northwest club, Portland Thorns FC. The first 1,000 Red Stars fans to enter April 27 will receive an exclusive Red Stars bucket hat. Tickets can be purchased at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
The Chicago Red Stars today announced the following health update on forward, Ava Cook:
Cook sustained a knee injury during Red Stars training this week. After further medical evaluation, it was determined that Cook tore her anterior cruciate ligament, and the forward will miss the remainder of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
“We are incredibly sad for Ava and will support her fully throughout her recovery,” said Red Stars general manager, Richard Feuz. “Everyone at the club wishes Ava a complete and speedy recovery and have full faith she will work as hard at recovering as she does on the pitch every day.”
Cook was drafted 18th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the the Red Stars in 2022 from Michigan State University. The Battle Creek, Michigan, native earned nine starts across 18 appearances in her rookie season, scoring two goals and a pair of assists. In 2023, Cook appeared in 20 of Chicago’s 22 matches, scoring three goals. Cook appeared in all four Red Stars matches so far in 2024, scoring Chicago’s second goal in the 77th minute of the team’s 2-0 season opener against Utah Royals FC.
Chicago Red Stars defender, Tatumn Milazzo, earned National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors, the league announced today.
In the 32nd minute of Chicago’s April 13 match against Angel City FC, Angel City’s Claire Emslie entered the 18-yard box and passed to Meggie Dougherty-Howard. Dougherty-Howard fired off a one-touch shot that sent Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher diving to the right, but Milazzo put herself in the ball’s path. The shot deflected off Milazzo and headed back to the left, now on a more dangerous path that Naeher would have been unable to save, as quick-footed Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson moved to put the ball in the net. Already tracking the ball back after the deflection, Milazzo was able to beat Thompson, heroically sliding to stop the ball from crossing the line without a second to spare.
The perfectly timed clearance from Milazzo held the score at 0-0 until the ball took an unlucky bounce off fellow Chicago defender Maxi Rall in the 40th minute, resulting in an own goal. Unable to recover an equalizer, the Red Stars fell 0-1 when the final whistle blew, recording the team’s first loss of the 2024 season.
The award is Milazzo’s first Save of the Week honor in her young career, but the defender is no stranger to league honors. Milazzo was previously named to the NWSL June Best XI in 2022 and subsequently to the 2022 NWSL Best XI Second Team because of her performance on the pitch throughout the 2022 season. This is the second Save of the Week honor awarded to a Red Star in the four short weeks of the 2024 NWSL season. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher received the honor in Week 1 after her miraculous tip pushed the ball just above the crossbar during Chicago’s 2-0 road victory over the Utah Royals FC in the club’s season opener March 16.
Milazzo and the Red Stars next travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on Seattle Reign FC in the two teams’ second and final meeting of the regular season April 21. Chicago then returns home to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, to host Portland Thorns FC April 27. The first 1,000 Red Stars fans to enter April 27 will receive an exclusive Red Stars bucket hat. Tickets can be purchased at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
The undefeated Chicago Red Stars announced today that they will host Bay FC at historic Wrigley Field Saturday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. CT making it the first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match to be played at one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. Having the nation’s best soccer players playing under the lights of the Friendly Confines will draw sports fans from across the Chicagoland area.
“Playing at Wrigley Field will be the event that fans of the Red Stars, Cubs and Chicago sports won’t want to miss,” said Chicago Red Stars President Karen Leetzow. “On behalf of the Red Stars, I’d like to thank the Cubs for inviting us to Wrigley Field and giving these elite athletes the stage they deserve. We look forward to representing our great city and showing Chicago fans and the country how talented this club is and the intense level of competition that exists on the pitch every week in the NWSL and in Chicago’s backyard.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Chicago Red Stars to Wrigley Field,” said Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney. “This is a historic first for both organizations. We’re proud to join forces with the Red Stars to bring this event to life for the players, fans and our city.”
Hosting the match at Wrigley Field is an effort to make women’s professional soccer more accessible to sports fans in Chicago.
“Wrigley Field is one of the most iconic sports venues in the country. This is a unique opportunity for us to bring further visibility to our team and women’s soccer,” said Red Stars team captain, Alyssa Naeher. “Chicago has always been an incredible sports town with such a rich history; I can’t wait to compete on the field, under the lights, in front of our dedicated Chicago fans from every part of the city!”
The currently undefeated Chicago Red Stars will take on Bay FC in their second meeting of the season. The team features four players who have been called up to represent their respective countries in international soccer competitions this April, including Julia Bianchi (Brazil), Nádia Gomes (Portugal), Natalia Kuikka (Finland), and U.S. National Team superstars, Alyssa Naeher and Mallory Swanson.
Bay FC is the Bay Area’s newest women’s professional soccer franchise in the growing NWSL and recently set a Bay Area women’s professional soccer record by selling out the team’s inaugural home opener Saturday, March 30.
Leading up to the match, the Red Stars franchise will create a high-energy atmosphere that engages local businesses, community groups and corporate sponsors to help rally Chicagoans together around women’s soccer.
Presale for Red Stars season ticket members begins Thursday, April 11, at 10 a.m. CT. Red Stars season ticket members will have their seats reserved for the match in accordance with their season ticket member package and will have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets for the match as part of the presale. On Monday, April 15, the Cubs will have a presale for their season ticket holders. Public on-sale of tickets begins Wednesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. CT.
Fans that are unable to attend the Red Stars versus Bay FC match live can catch all the action live on ION.
Since 2016, the Chicago Red Stars have played most of their home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Prior to SeatGeek Stadium, the club played at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois from 2013 to 2015.
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and has played host to a variety of events including college football games, concerts and now the Chicago Red Stars for the first-ever NWSL League match played at the Friendly Confines.
For more information about the match and tickets, please visit Cubs.com/Soccer.
Chicago Red Stars Nádia Gomes, Natalia Kuikka, Alyssa Naeher and Mallory Swanson have been tabbed to represent their countries during the April international window. Forwards Gomes and Swanson are set to make their returns to the Portuguese and United States women’s national team rosters, respectively. Veteran international stars Naeher and Kuikka will represent the United States and Finland, respectively.
Naeher and Swanson each join the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) camp for the second time in 2024, though this is the first time in 2024 Swanson is named to the full team roster. The forward previously participated in USWNT camp during the February/March international window but was not on the final USWNT roster for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, as she was still returning from injury. Naeher was invaluable to the United States during the W Gold Cup, advancing the USWNT to the final while making three saves and converting a penalty during the March 6 penalty shootout against Canada. The keeper also held Brazil scoreless in the Gold Cup final March 10 to help the USWNT win 1-0. The USWNT will open play in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup against Japan at 11:30 a.m. CT April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, before playing in the final or third place match April 9.
Gomes is named to Portugal’s roster for the first time in 2024. The forward previously earned call ups in 2023 and 2018, collecting two caps and opening her international account with a goal March 7, 2018. Portugal is set to open up group stage action of the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship qualifying play with Bosnia and Herzegovina April 5 at 2:45 p.m. CT. Portugal will then take on Malta April 9 at 11:30 a.m. CT.
Kuikka will represent Finland in 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship qualifying action. Kuikka and Finland will kick off the list of Red Stars in international play, taking on Norway April 5 at 11:00 a.m. CT. Finland will continue group play against Italy April 9 at 11:15 a.m. CT. A stalwart on Finland’s defense since 2013, Kuikka has won Finland National Player of the year four times over, in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Following the end of the international window April 9, Gomes, Kuikka, Naeher and Swanson will rejoin the Red Stars ahead of Chicago’s April 13 match against Angel City FC. Fans can watch the Red Stars take on Angel City FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available now at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
The Chicago Red Stars have signed defender and three-time National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Iron Woman, Sam Staab, to a three-year contract extension running through the 2026 season.
“I’m excited to be in Chicago and with the Red Stars for the next few years,” said Staab. “I haven’t been here a long time, but it’s already been such a great experience. Everyone has been so welcoming, and I already feel the commitment and vision to building a quality professional women’s soccer club and I’m proud to be part of that.”
“Sam’s skills and experience will be a cornerstone in solidifying our backline for seasons to come,” said Red Stars general manager, Richard Feuz. “We’re excited to extend her contract with the Red Stars, as it embodies our commitment to strengthening our team’s foundations now for the future.”
Staab joined the Red Stars January 13, 2024, after the club traded the third pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft to the Washington Spirit for the defender. In her first appearance for Chicago, the defender played a full 90 minutes, assisted Ally Schlegel’s goal in the 50th minute, had more touches than any other Red Star and recorded a team-high three clearances.
Prior to Chicago, the San Diego native spent five years with the Spirit after the club drafted her in 2019 with the fourth overall pick from Clemson University. With the Spirit, Staab earned Iron Woman status three times over as a stalwart on Washington’s back line. Over five seasons, the defender racked up 90 regular-season starts, four goals and four assists across 8, 015 minutes. Staab has also received NWSL Team of the Month honors three times, most recently in October 2021.
