Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, earned National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors, the league announced today.
Seven minutes into the eight minutes of added time in the second half of the Red Stars season opener against Utah Royals FC at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, Utah’s Ally Sentnor sent a free kick from outside Chicago’s 18-yard box. Royals forward Ifeoma Onumonu received the kick with her head, redirecting the ball towards the upper right of the goal. Naeher, already moving out into the field of play, quickly reversed course and jumped towards the shot. It seemed likely that Naeher would just miss connecting with the ball, but the keeper miraculously managed to brush the shot with the tip of her glove just before the ball crossed the line. The touch tipped the shot mere millimeters over the crossbar, sending the ball bouncing off the top of the netting and out of play.
The last-minute save effectively ended the match and kept Chicago’s 2-0 shutout result alive while bringing Naeher’s save count in the match up to five. In addition to clinching the win for Chicago, the clean sheet marked Naeher’s 44th perfect regular-season match of career.
Naeher is no stranger to Save of the Week honors, receiving the award six other times since 2016, most recently in 2019. Former Red Star Casey Krueger also earned the title in October 2023 following a goal-line clearance in Chicago’s match versus Racing Louisville FC. Krueger’s save also, coincidentally, occurred seven minutes into the allotted eight minutes of stoppage time and secured a clean sheet for the Red Stars against Louisville.
Naeher and the Red Stars return to Chicago for the club’s Home Opener match March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The match will stream live on NWSL+, with kickoff set for 3:00 PM CT. Fans can purchase tickets to the match at chicagoredstars.com/tickets. The first 1,000 fans in attendance at the Home Opener will receive an exclusive 2024 Home Opener scarf.
The Chicago Red Stars today announced the club’s partnership with nonprofit organization KultureCity to provide sensory inclusive stadium accommodations for fans at SeatGeek Stadium during Red Stars home matches.
KultureCity is a leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs. All fans with sensory needs attending home matches during the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season will have access to sensory bags, with noise canceling headphones (provided by Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools and verbal cue cards; weighted lap pads and quiet areas provided by KultureCity. The Red Stars will also operate a sensory room at SeatGeek Stadium.
As part of the partnership and the club’s commitment to inclusion, Red Stars staff will also receive sensory inclusivity training to better serve fans, players and staff with varying levels of sensory needs. The KultureCity certification process, conducted by leading medical and neurodivergent professionals, will equip staff with the resources to recognize guests and fans with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions; age is no factor in this. The Red Stars and KultureCity understand that Individuals might become overwhelmed from the crowds, lights, sounds, smells or other external stimuli at SeatGeek Stadium. With the club’s new certification, the Red Stars will now be better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities and help them have the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when welcoming fans at SeatGeek Stadium.
Fans seeking sensory accommodations when at Red Stars matches can find the resources and accommodations available to them by visiting the Chicago Red Stars Season Ticket/Guest Relations Tent atop section 124 on the main concourse or by asking the nearest Red Stars associate. The Chicago Red Stars take on Seattle Reign FC in the club’s home opener March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium. Tickets are now available at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
Chicago Red Stars president, Karen Leetzow, appointed Kay Bradley as the club’s new Chief Marketing Officer, the club announced today. Bradley joins the Red Stars from U.S. Soccer where she served as vice president of marketing and led integrated marketing, fan engagement and loyalty, content, brand development and creative.
“I am thrilled to join the Chicago Red Stars as the club enters a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Bradley. “I’d like to thank Karen for entrusting me with this position, and I look forward to working with our amazing athletes, fanbase and key stakeholders in Chicago to tell their stories and grow the Red Stars brand and fanbase.”
“I could not be happier to welcome Kay to the Red Stars,” said Leetzow. “During my time at U.S. Soccer, I had the pleasure of working with Kay and saw some of the incredible initiatives she implemented, along with her department. I look forward working with Kay again and to can’t wait to see what she has in store for our players and our club.”
At U.S. Soccer, Kay led the development and execution of the marketing campaigns for the men’s and women’s national teams. Ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, U.S. Soccer launched ‘Always Possible / Todo es Posible’ which represents not being limited by predefined boundaries and taking the initiative to write one’s own future. The campaign represented the many voices of athletes and fans and the cyclical relationship of both inspiring each other.
During Bradley’s tenure at U.S. Soccer, she was responsible for growing soccer in the United States with a focus on connecting U.S. Soccer, its partners and key soccer stakeholders with current and prospective multicultural, next generation fans of the Women’s and Men’s National Soccer Teams. Growing the fan base and generating fan engagement at scale were among her key priorities and achievements during her time with the Federation.
Bradley was named a 2023 Game Changer by Sports Business Journal for her work with U.S Soccer. In October, Sports Business Journal honored their 13th annual class of Game Changers, which they described as leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers at organizations across sports, from teams and leagues, to networks and agencies, and more.
As CMO of the Red Stars, Bradley will lead all marketing initiatives for the club to increase the awareness of the Red Stars and grow the club’s brand.
The Chicago Red Stars announced today their final roster ahead of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. The club’s roster is bolstered by an array of experience brought not only by the decorated veterans of the team, but also by the young talented players who are returning to the club this season or joining the team and the league for the first time.
Among the new faces around the club this season are the Red Stars’ 2024 NWSL Draft picks Hannah Anderson (31st overall), Bea Franklin (41st overall), Jameese Joseph (15th overall) and Leilanni Nesbeth (10th overall). Joining the cohort of draftees are Ally Cook and Nádia Gomes who joined the club as non-rostered invitees.
Cook, who was eligible for the NWSL Draft but not selected, joined the club in the preseason and worked to earn a contract with the club. The California native spent her collegiate career at Oregon and UCLA where she cemented her experience as a goal scorer. Gomes rejoins the NWSL after being drafted by the Orlando Pride in 2018, taking time away from the game and then restarting her career last season with USL W club, San Francisco Glens SC. With the Glens, Gomes became the 2023 USL W National Player of the Year after scoring 17 goals in 15 appearances.
Among the returning Red Stars this season, fans can look forward to seeing the familiar faces of two-time World Cup Champion, Alyssa Naeher, 2019 World Cup Champion, Mallory Swanson, two-time NWSL Champion, Cari Roccaro and 2022 NWSL Best XI Second Team Honoree, Tatumn Milazzo. Some new Red Stars – who are highly decorated in their own right – include 2021 NWSL Champions, Sam Staab and Camryn Biegalski, 2022 NWSL Champion, Natalia Kuikka, and Frauen-Bundesliga league winner, Maximiliane Rall.
Below is the Red Stars’ final roster for the 2024 season:
Goalkeepers (3): Alyssa Naeher, Sydney Schneider, Mackenzie Wood
Defenders (8): Hannah Anderson, Camryn Biegalski, Sami Feller (SEI), Natalia Kuikka (INT), Taylor Malham, Tatumn Milazzo, Maximiliane Rall (INT), Sam Staab
Midfielders (8): Julia Bianchi (INT), Jenna Bike, Chardonnay Curran, Bea Franklin, Sarah Griffith, Sophie Jones, Leilanni Nesbeth, Cari Roccaro
Forwards (8): Ally Cook, Ava Cook, Nádia Gomes, Shea Groom, Penelope Hocking, Jameese Joseph (DRAFT), Ally Schlegel, Mallory Swanson
INT – International Slot
The Chicago Red Stars have signed forward Ally Cook to a one-year contract with a one-year option, the club announced today. Cook joined the Red Stars as a non-rostered invitee at the beginning of preseason training camp.
“I am truly honored and excited to join the Chicago Red Stars, taking my soccer journey to the next level,” said Cook. “I am grateful for the unwavering support of my incredible family, friends and the talents God blessed me with. I am excited for this new chapter with the Red Stars and ready to give it my all!”
“Ally came into preseason training with the club undeterred by not being drafted, and proved she belongs at this level,” said Red Stars general manager, Richard Feuz. “We’re excited to see what Ally can do in the NWSL after an impressive collegiate career.”
Cook joins the club from UCLA where the forward played in 44 matches, starting in 34, over two seasons with the Bruins. The southern California native scored 14 goals and made four assists for UCLA, earning her PAC-12 Third Team honors her first season and PAC-12 First Team Honors her second season with the Bruins. Cook finished her last season at UCLA ranked second on the team in goals scored and fifth in the PAC-12 with nine goals. After scoring two goals, including a game-winner against Colorado, Cook was named College Soccer News Team of the Week and the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Prior to becoming a Bruin, Cook played for the University of Oregon where the forward played in 54 matches and started in 52. Across three seasons, Cook scored 17 goals and notched six assists. Cook led the Ducks with eight goals and 20 points in her junior season at Oregon, making her the seventh Duck in program history to have a 20-point season. Cook helped Oregon secure their first back-to-back winning seasons in 15 years after scoring against Oregon State.
The Chicago Red Stars travel to Sandy, Utah to take on the Utah Royals March 16 for the start of the 2024 NWSL Season. The team then returns to Chicago to take on Seattle Reign FC in the club’s home opener March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium. Tickets are now available at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
The Chicago Red Stars have signed midfielder Bea Franklin, the club’s second third-round draft pick in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft. The Seattle native joins the club on a one-year contract with a one-year club option.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I’m ready to work hard and do my best to make Chicago proud,” said Bea.
“Bea is an outstanding athlete, and we look forward to seeing how she can contribute to the club on and off the pitch as well as how she can develop and adapt her game to thrive in the NWSL,” said Red Stars general manager, Richard Feuz.
Franklin joins the Red Stars from the University of Arkansas, where the midfielder played for three seasons. Over those three seasons, Franklin played in 62 matches and started in 53 while scoring 15 goals with 12 assists. In Franklin’s second season at Arkansas, the midfielder was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Franklin ended her career with the Razorbacks as a United Soccer Coaches All-American, Top Drawer Soccer Best XI, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, All-SEC First Team and SEC Midfielder of the Year.
Prior to playing for Arkansas, Franklin played for the University of Notre Dame where the midfielder scored her lone goal for the Fighting Irish in a 3-2 double overtime win against Wake Forest. At Arkansas, Franklin was a dual sport athlete, playing basketball as a point guard and shooting guard with the Razorbacks.
The Chicago Red Stars travel to Sandy, Utah to take on the Utah Royals March 16 for the start of the 2024 NWSL Season. The team then returns to Chicago to take on Seattle Reign FC in the club’s home opener March 23 at SeatGeek Stadium. Tickets are now available at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
