Red Stars defender to join U.S. WNT for tournament
CHICAGO (February 8, 2021) — Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Krueger has been called up to the U.S. WNT SheBelieves Cup roster. Krueger will be part of both the training camp and tournament roster.
Krueger has 32 caps for the U.S. WNT. She was part of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup roster, coming in as a substitute for the team’s 3-1 win against Japan in the tournament’s final match.
U.S. Women’s National Team 2021 SheBelieves Cup Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 4), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 65)
DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City, ENG; 63/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 27/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 107/24), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 32/0), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit; 133/2), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC; 4/1), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 179/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 48/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 105/20), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 88/20), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City, ENG; 48/13), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnaise, FRA; 2/1), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 18/3), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City, ENG; 70/21)
FORWARDS (6): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 296/123), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 170/107), Christen Press (Manchester United, ENG; 139/58), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 170/54), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 31/10)
TRAINING PLAYERS: Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 4/0), Jaelin Howell (Florida State; 1/0), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 63/18)
CHICAGO — The Chicago Red Stars has waived defender Hannah Davison, the club announced today. The mutual decision allows Davison to pursue a playing opportunity overseas.
Davison was selected in the fourth round, No. 33 overall in the 2019 NWSL Draft. Davison made two appearances for Chicago in 2020 throughout the NWSL Challenge Cup and Fall Series.
“We would like to thank Hannah for her contribution and time with the club,” Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames said. “The entire Red Stars organization wishes her luck in the next chapter of her career.”
Tierna Davidson, Julie Ertz, and Alyssa Naeher named to the tournament roster
CHICAGO (February 1, 2021) — The United States Women’s National Team (U.S. WNT) named their 23-player roster for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup taking place February 18-24 in Orlando. Chicago Red Stars Tierna Davidson, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher will represent the U.S WNT in the SheBelieves Cup as part of the tournament roster. Mallory Pugh has been invited to the tournament training camp.
Davidson, Ertz, and Naeher were previously selected for the U.S. WNT’s matches against Colombia back in January. Ertz started both matches, playing the entire 180 minutes throughout both games. Naeher joined Ertz in the first match and earned the start, recording her 38th international clean sheet and extending her international clean sheet streak to a career-high eight matches.
All three players were also members of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup-winning squad. Ertz earned her 100th international cap against England in the team’s opening match. She would score the game-winning goal in the 87th minute against Spain in the following match and start in the final match against Japan. Naeher earned two clean sheets over two starts in the tournament. Davidson would start for the U.S. in the final match of the tournament.
The U.S. begins the SheBelieves Cup on February 18th against Canada at 6pm CT. The following match for the reigning World Cup Champions will be against Brazil on February 21 at 2pm CT. The U.S. WNT will finish the SheBelieves Cup on February 24 against Argentina at 6pm CT. All matches will be broadcasted on FS1 and TUDN.
U.S. WNT 2021 SheBelieves Cup Roster (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 4), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 65)
DEFENDERS (8): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 2/0), Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City, ENG; 63/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 27/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 107/24), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit; 133/2), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC; 4/1), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 179/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 48/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 105/20), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 88/20), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City, ENG; 48/13), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnaise, FRA; 2/1), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 18/3), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City, ENG; 70/21)
FORWARDS (6): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 296/123), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 170/107), Christen Press (Manchester United, ENG; 139/58), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 170/54), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 31/10)
Training Players: Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 4/0), Jaelin Howell (Florida State; 1/0), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 63/18)
CHICAGO (February 1, 2021) — The Chicago Red Stars have announced their roster for the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) preseason.
Joining the Red Stars for preseason will be four non-roster invitees who suited up for the Red Stars in 2020. Defender Camryn Biegalski, midfielders Aerial Chavarin and Cassie Rohan, and forward Dani Rhodes will rejoin Chicago for the 2021 NWSL preseason.
Biegalski, Chavarin, and Rhodes each made appearances for the Red Stars in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. Rohan made an appearance for Chicago in a scoreless draw against Portland in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.
2021 NWSL College Draft pick Alissa Gorzak will join the Red Stars for the 2021 preseason. Gorzak was selected with the 35th overall pick in the draft out of the University of Virginia.
Goalkeeper Melissa Lowder, defender Tatum Milazzo, and midfielder Ena Sabanagic also join Chicago’s preseason roster as non-roster invitees.
Lowder earned the start for the Utah Royals against OL Reign in a 2-2 draw during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. Milazzo played her collegiate soccer at the University of South Carolina, where she earned United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team and All-SEC Second Team honors throughout her career. Sabanagic was one of six student-athletes to play every game for Purdue University in 2018. She finished the season tied for second on the team in goals with three.
Julie Ertz will join the Red Stars for preseason following the conclusion of the 2021 NWSL SheBelieves Cup. Alyssa Naher, Tierna Davidson, and Mallory Pugh will join the team at the beginning of preseason prior to their international duty.
The 2021 NWSL Preseason will feature the return of the groundbreaking NWSL Challenge Cup. The league’s Medical Task Force has approved play in home markets for the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup set to begin on April 9, 2021. Full details on the Challenge Cup format and the complete regular season schedule will be released at a later date.
2021 Red Stars Preseason Roster by Position
Goalkeepers (4): Emily Boyd, Melissa Lowder (NRI), Cassie Miller, Alyssa Naeher
Defenders (9): Camryn Biegalski (NRI), Tierna Davidson, Zoe Goralski, Sarah Gorden, Casey Krueger, Tatum Milazzo (NRI), Kayla Sharples, Bianca St.Georges, Arin Wright
Midfielders (11): Aerial Chavarin (NRI), Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, Julie Ertz (NYR), Morgan Gautrat, Zoe Morse, Cassie Rohan (NRI), Ena Sabanagic (NRI), Nikki Stanton, Ella Stevens, Sarah Woldmoe
Forwards (9): Makenzy Doniak, Alissa Gorzak (CDP), Rachel Hill, Katie Johnson, Sarah Luebbert, Alyssa Mautz, Mallory Pugh, Dani Rhodes (NRI), Kealia Watt
Key:
CDP – 2021 NWSL College Draft Pick
NRI – Non-Roster Invitee
NYR – Not Yet Reported
Former Utah Royals, Washington Mystics, and U.S. Soccer medical staffer joins Chicago
CHICAGO (January 29, 2021) — The Chicago Red Stars announced today the addition of Emily Fortunato as the club’s new Head Athletic Trainer.
“I am very honored and excited to join the Red Stars family,” Fortunato said. “They are a proven force in the league and compete for a title every year. They have an established history of excellence and I am committed to bringing that shared value to the organization in keeping the players safe and healthy.”
Fortunato, Athletic Trainer and member of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, the official medical partner of the Chicago Red Stars, is this season’s newest member of the Chicago Red Stars Medical Team. She spent three seasons with the Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) where she oversaw all day-to-day operations of the medical department and developed their concussion management protocol.
Prior to the Royals, Fortunato served on the athletic training staff for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA from 2015-2017. She also has experience in Division I athletics, covering women’s basketball, women’s soccer, baseball, and softball at George Mason University. Since 2013, Fortunato has been a network provider for US Soccer, assisting the federation’s full-time medical staff during various training camps, tournaments, and friendlies. She was recently on staff during the team’s World Cup run in 2019 and Olympic qualifiers in January of 2020.
Fortunato received her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from George Washington University in 2007 and her master’s in Exercise, Fitness, and Health Promotion from George Mason University in 2009.
“I’m excited to welcome Emily to our talented medical staff,” Red Stars head coach Rory Dames said. “She is a huge addition that will continue to help the players achieve the level of play we expect in Chicago.”
Along with the signing of Fortunato, the Red Stars have agreed to a multi-year renewal with Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) as the official medical partner of the Chicago Red Stars, CRS Academy, and the CRS Reserves
Programs including orthopedic care, sports medicine, team physicians, physical therapy, athletic training, and sports performance will all be led by the official team doctor, Dr. Roger Chams.
“IBJI has been a long-term partner of the Red Stars,” said Red Stars Owner, Arnim Whisler. “Their commitment to the health and safety of our players and staff has been nothing short of admirable. We look forward to extending and enhancing this strong, meaningful relationship.”
IBJI remains the team’s presenting partner for the CRS Academy and will become an official partner of the newly formed Chicago Red Stars Cares — a foundation established to provide programming and opportunities designed to empower and uplift members of the community. IBJI also returns as the presenting sponsor for the club’s annual CRS PRIDE celebration and accompanying game and their logo will be featured on both the club’s warmup tops and Supernova’s jersey.
“IBJI is excited to continue partnering with the Chicago Red Stars to help athletes reach their full performance potential,” says Medical Director of the Chicago Red Stars, Roger Chams MD. “We are proud to provide these world-class athletes with world-class orthopedic care from sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and performance coaches. We look forward to keeping these incredible athletes healthy, safe, and performing at their best during these challenging times.”
IBJI has locations throughout the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana.
CHICAGO (January 27, 2020) — The Chicago Red Stars acquired the NWSL playing rights to University of Arkansas defender Haley VanFossen and the University of Arizona forward Jill Aguilera, the club announced today.
VanFossen played all 90 minutes in nine of the Razorbacks’ 11 games this season. She played key roles in victories over two ranked opponents en route to an SEC Championship Appearance. She earned First Team All-SEC honors. VanFossen is no stranger to that honor, earning her spot on the 2018 and 2019 team. As a junior in 2019, VanFossen made history as one of the first All-Americans in the program’s history. She started all 23 games for the Razorbacks and was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Aguilera finished her 2019 junior season with her colligate career-best nine goals and two assists which earned her 20 points. She had three braces that season, one of which ended Stanford University’s eight-game shutout streak. Aguilera was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s All-Pacific Region Third Team and the 2017 & 2018 All-Academic Second Team.
