7 Things You Need to Know About The Chicago Red Stars Historic Season
Since the start of the NWSL, the Chicago Red Stars have been one of the most consistent and well-run franchises in the league. While the team has been on the precipice of greatness, the Red Stars are three games away from their ultimate goal of winning the NWSL Championship. While the team may not have done as well as they would’ve liked to start the season, they finished strong with five wins in the season’s final eight games. As they prepare to host Gotham in the NWSL Quarterfinal, here are seven things you need to know about the Red Stars historic season.
1. The Red Stars did it Without Julie Ertz or Alyssa Naeher
Anyone who watches the women’s game knows just how critical Julie Ertz and Alyssa Naeher are for both club and country. However, injuries to Ertz and Naeher kept them out for most of the season. The fact that Chicago played all but 29 minutes this season without Julie Ertz but still looks like a contender is a huge accomplishment.
Players like Kealia Watt and Mallory Pugh have been rejuvenated, providing a new offense with more of a threat on the flanks, which the Red Stars haven’t necessarily had in the past. Emily Boyd and Cassie Miller did a great job filling in for Naeher when she was out. Overall the depth of the team has shined in key moments for Chicago.
2. This is the Red Stars’ Record-Setting 7th Straight Top 4 Finish
The aforementioned consistency the Chicago Red Stars have is one of their best qualities. To make the playoffs seven straight years is a big deal because the continuity and vision between the front office and coaching staff need to be on point at all times. It also speaks to the organization’s willingness to change if things aren’t working. For example, trading away Carli Lloyd seemed radical at the time, but it ended up being the best thing for the franchise.
They also took risks on players like Kealia Watt and Mallory Pugh and traded away key players like Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato. Head Coach Rory Dames has an incredible ability to get his players ready regardless of the personnel.
3. Rory Dames is the Longest Tenured and Winningest NWSL Coach
Speaking of Rory Dames, he’s been as steady as any head coach could be for one organization. In a league plagued with front office issues across multiple teams, Rory Dames and his staff have done a great job of being stable, reliable, and competitive every year.
They’ve constructed a team that they have such a deep understanding of, and the system they have in place is clearly working. Rory Dames and this team don’t get enough credit for their ability to win games.
Dames is the only coach who has stayed with the same team since the league started, and it doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.
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4. This is the Chicago Red Stars’ Best Season at Home Ever
The Red Stars had their best season at home, and for any team, winning games in front of the home fans is important. It helps boost fan morale, and the atmosphere improves significantly. Not only that, but it helps for the postseason as well. By getting the fourth seed, they will host fifth-seeded Gotham FC.
Their all-time best home record of 8-2-2 will be huge for them going into this matchup with Gotham, the energy from the fans will be a huge lift.
5. The Red Stars Have Eight World Champions (U-20 World Cups Included)
This roster is littered with talent, and it’s no surprise they made this late-season push to get into the top four of the NWSL standings. Julie Ertz and Alyssa Naeher haven’t been as involved, but Tierna Davidson, Mallory Pugh, and Morgan Gautrat have become stalwarts for the club.
The U-20 World Cup winners include Kealia Watt, Sarah Woldmoe, and Vanessa DiBernardo. Woldmoe and DiBernardo are very solid in the midfield. Red Stars fans never have to worry about a poor performance from those two midfielders as well.
Watt and Gautrat were key figures in the team’s NWSL Championship appearance, with each of them scoring in the semifinals. After getting to the finals in back-to-back years, the Red Stars are looking to make their third consecutive trip and get over the hump.
6. Iron Woman Sarah Gorden Played Every Single Minute of the Season
Sarah Gorden joins a list of 38 other women who have achieved the feat of Iron Woman. This means playing every single minute of every game over the 24 regular-season games. Considering all the injuries that pro players experience–big and small–they can very easily keep players out of games.
Surely Sarah Gorden was dealing with at least one small injury or two that she played through to achieve this, which means she’s willing to give everything to her team. If anyone were going to accomplish this, it would be Sarah Gorden.
7. Former Red Star Carli Lloyd Makes Her Final Appearance in Chicago
Carli Lloyd spent one season with the Red Stars, which means the fans will likely give her a proper sendoff in what could be her last game. While this only adds to the spectacle, it’s crazy to think this could be Carli Lloyd’s last professional game ever.
It might be all hugs and handshakes before kickoff, but once that whistle blows, it’s on. The Red Stars know Carli Lloyd and Gotham stand in the way of a seventh straight semifinal appearance. So it would be quite an ending to Lloyd’s career if the Red Stars send Gotham packing.
Featured image via Getty Images, all other images via Jonathan Louie (@jonathan_louie1 on Instagram)
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