A Week of Change

Chicago – Plenty of changes have happened over the past week for Chicago. Long time Red Stars players Taylor Comeau, Sofia Huerta and Sam Johnson were all traded, while Lauren Kaskie was waived.

While dropping four players, the Red Stars have not “given up” or “moved on to next year,” and have added a strong veteran utility player in Brooke Elby and a U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder in Morgan Brian. On top of that, two high-class players in Casey Short and Vanessa DiBernardo have been activated off the DL and received their first minutes of play two weeks ago.

“I think this (Chicago vs. Portland) was an important game for the group because of all of the talk during the week about us throwing in the towel and moving on to next year,” said head coach Rory Dames. “We’ve got the U.S. Player of the Year in the locker room, the Australian Player of the Year in our locker room, a pretty good goalie in our locker room, some World Cup winner winners besides them in our locker room. I think they took that to heart.”

What other team is adding two U.S. WNT players halfway through the season? None. How about a co-captain that is one of the most dominant midfielders in the league? None.

The starting lineup for Chicago looked like this on Saturday:

The team has come together to get the results that are needed in this part of the season. Currently sitting in fifth place, just out of playoff contention, Chicago has needed the points to continue to stay in the pack. Since the announcement of the trade, Chicago took a 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns and a 2-0 win against Utah Royals FC. Four massive points at home.

“We are still one of the best teams in the league no matter with the draws and results we’ve had,” said Sam Kerr.

We aren’t done and we have not given up.

Ten more games. 900 minutes before playoffs begin. It’s about desire. It’s about the locker room feelings that have grown closer. The fight has never left the locker room. It’s never leaving, Chicago.