The Chicago Red Stars (10-13-2, 32 pts) host their regular-season finale this Sunday, November 3, at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, taking on the Kansas City Current (15-3-7, 52 pts) at 2:00 p.m. CT. While the Red Stars hungrily search for victory after back-to-back losses, the result determines Chicago and Kansas City’s first 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Playoffs opponent, setting the stage for a hard-fought battle.
Chicago Red Stars season ticket members can look forward to an exclusive early entrance at noon CT November 3, giving them first access to the special ‘locker room’ sale in the Gate C plaza. With a portion of the proceeds benefitting community partner Urban Initiatives, the locker room sale will feature team gear and merchandise from 2024 and past seasons before the club becomes Chicago Stars FC in 2025. All ticketed fans can shop the locker room sale once gates officially open at 1:00 p.m. CT and take part in the games, prizes and live music that feature in the Fan Zone prior to every Red Stars match. Fans can also look forward to two gate giveaways and performances from local group, Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, in the Gate C plaza.
Prior to kickoff of the ‘She Inspires Me’ match, presented by RUSH Hospital, at 2:00 p.m. CT, the Red Stars will announce the recipient of the fan-voted She Inspires Me Award. The award honors women who exemplify leadership, demonstrate social responsibility, and uplift their communities. The November 3 match is also Riot Fest Day, which will see Deanna Belos from Sincere Engineer performing the National Anthem, a chance win tickets to Riot Fest 2025 and an exclusive co-branded shirt available for purchase, with a portion of shirt sales proceeds also benefitting Urban Initiatives.
The Chicago Red Stars dropped their last contest of the regular season at home against the Kansas City Current, 1-3. Though early goals from the Current proved too much to come back from, Ally Schlegel’s first goal at SeatGeek Stadium since May 1 energized a second half littered with chances for the Red Stars. The Chicago side now heads to Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida to open the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Playoffs against the Orlando Pride Friday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m. CT.
KEY MOMENTS:
11’ Kansas City find their way into the left side of the box and get a shot off headed for the right upper corner, but a diving Alyssa Naeher keeps the match scoreless
23’ After a throw in, Kansas City’s Michelle Cooper draws Alyssa Naeher out of the net and claims the first goal for the Current, 0-1 Kansas City
26’ Chaos in the box and a burst of speed allows Debinha to double the Current lead before Naeher can stop the ball, 0-2 Kansas City
33’ Following a successful block by Chicago’s Natalia Kuikka, Cari Roccaro slips on the wet turf before she can contain the ricochet and the Current’s Nichelle Prince scores a third, 0-3 Kansas City
45+1’ Bea Franklin rockets the ball forward from midfield to send Mallory Swanson on a run. Swanson edges past her defender to force Kansas City’s keeper off her line to slide in and shut down the chance
45+2’ Roccaro heads the keeper’s throw back to set up a Chicago attack. Ally Schlegel takes possession, but her momentum sends her to the ground before she can take a shot
50’ Franklin sends a long ball up the left and finds Chardonnay Curran, whose quick touch redirects the ball to Jameese Joseph in the box, but the chance fizzles out
52’ Julia Grosso fights off two Current players in the midfield and sends a ball to Shea Groom who recieves it on the left side of the pitch. Schlegel makes a run that splits Kansas City’s defenders, and Groom gets Schlegel the ball with a perfectly placed pass. Schlegel finishes the opportunity and gets Chicago on the board, 1-3 Kansas City
61’ Roccaro sends a ball deep in the midfield for Joseph. Two Current defenders step to challenge Joseph, but the forward dances around one and nutmegs the other with a shot that gets scooped up by the keeper
61’ Kansas City lofts in a shot from the right at a narrow angle, but Naeher’s laser focus and a full extension stop the opportunity
63’ Curran receives the ball and turns on the jets, sending in a shot after entering the box. After the tiniest deflection off a Kansas City boot, the chance goes just wide of the net
64’ Taylor Malham boots the ball from midfield and into the box after a deflection, where Schlegel flies through the air, but her chance falls short as a Current defender takes her down
72’ Like the opportunity minutes before, Franklin sends the ball from midfield into the box. This time Joseph is on the receiving end, but her one-touch shot flies into the arms of the Kansas City keeper
