Chicago Red Stars
Founded | 2007 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Stadium | SeatGeek Stadium Bridgeview, Illinois | ||
Capacity | 20,000 | ||
Owner and CEO | Arnim Whisler | ||
Head coach | Rory Dames | ||
League | National Women's Soccer League | ||
2019 | Regular season: 2nd Playoffs: Runners-up | ||
Website | http://chicagoredstars.com | ||
| |||
The Chicago Red Stars is a women's professional soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois, who compete in the National Women's Soccer League and play their home games in SeatGeek Stadium. The team was a founding member of Women's Professional Soccer, and played in the league in 2009 and 2010. After leaving the WPS in December 2010, due to financial issues, the team reorganized and joined the Women's Premier Soccer League for the 2011 season.[1] In 2012, the team co-founded and competed in Women's Premier Soccer League Elite, the single year this league existed. In the fall of 2012 the Red Stars with the Boston Breakers and US Soccer, attracted 6 other teams and founded the National Women's Soccer League. Since 2013 the team has been competing in the National Women's Soccer League. From 2015-2019 the Chicago Red Stars have made the playoffs of the NWSL and are the first and only team to do so for five consecutive years.
History
Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Establishment (2006–2009)
In 2006, it was announced that Chicago would have a team in a new league being developed for women's professional soccer. It would eventually join six other teams, Washington Freedom, Boston Breakers, Los Angeles Sol, FC Gold Pride, Sky Blue FC, and Saint Louis Athletica in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) for the league's inaugural season in 2009.[2][3]
Marcia McDermott, a former head coach of the Northwestern University women's soccer team and WUSA team Carolina Courage, was named as the Red Stars' general manager.[4]
On June 3, 2008, the "Red Stars" name was announced in a ceremony at Toyota Park. The name refers to the four six-pointed red stars on the municipal flag of Chicago. Each star represents a landmark event in Chicago history: Fort Dearborn, the Great Chicago Fire, the 1893 World's Fair, and the 1933 World's Fair. Other names considered were Progress, Towers, Union, Blues, 1871 and Wind.[5] "Red Stars" was chosen by popular vote in a two-month fan ballot.[6]
2009 inaugural season
The Chicago Red Stars won their first game of the season, 1–0, at Saint Louis Athletica, and followed with two ties (1–1 at Washington Freedom and 0–0 hosting Sky Blue FC) and a 4–0 thrashing of Boston Breakers at Toyota Park. This gave the team the best starting record of any team in the league besides eventual season champions Los Angeles Sol, seeming to live up to preseason expectations based on the strong core of USWNT and international players on the Red Stars roster.
Despite their strong start, the Red Stars then went winless for their next nine games, only getting three away draws in that streak, which included a 451-minute-long scoring drought. Their opponents, the Washington Freedom scored first in the next game and it appeared the streak would continue. However, the Red Stars made WPS history by becoming the first team to successfully come from behind, to win 2–1. They also beat cellar-dwellers FC Gold Pride in their next game 3–1, but then lost four of their last five games, eliminating them from the playoffs as they ended the season in sixth place. The Red Stars finished second in attendance in the league in 2009 behind the LA Sol.
True to his agreement to see the Red Stars organization through its first season, Peter Wilt chose to step down as team CEO at the end of 2009, moving on to become general manager of the Milwaukee Wave, the NISL team in his hometown. General Manager, Marcia McDermott, took on many of his responsibilities at the Red Stars, although he continued to support the team as one of its representatives on the Women's Professional Soccer Board of Governors and as President of the Chicago Red Stars Charitable Foundation.[7]
2010 season
The Red Stars opened up their second season with high hopes and many new faces.[8] In their first game, the Red Stars lost 1–0 at Sky Blue FC despite dominating much of the game. A 1–1 home tie in their second game earned the Stars their first point of the 2010 season.
After a successful 2010, the team left WPS on December 13; unable to meet the league's funding requirements for the 2011 season, and the league subsequently folded in 2011 for financial and legal reasons.[9][10]
Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
2011 season
The Red Stars joined the Women's Premier Soccer League for 2011.[11][12] They played their home games at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex[13] in west suburban Chicago.
The new roster consisted of players from the WNT U-20 and U-23 pools, as well as collegiate stars. The first players announced included three players with WPS experience, including two from the Red Stars' 2010 squad.[14] It was coached by Rory Dames, a Chicago native. Red Stars also continued their activity in the Chicago soccer community through their soccer camp programs.[15]
Red Stars finished the regular season with a 10–1 record, and hosted the playoff semifinals and championship matches.[16] While they beat Tampa Bay Hellenic 2–1 in their semifinal, they lost in overtime by the same score in the final to the Orange County Waves, another WPSL team that has past WPS connections (Brittany Klein Red Stars Player from 2009 and 2010 was on the Waves).
Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSLE)
2012 season
In 2012, the Red Stars joined two other former WPS clubs, Boston Breakers and Western New York Flash, in founding the new WPSL Elite League. Five other former WPSL teams joined the league, including ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny, New York Fury, and Philadelphia Fever.[17]
The Red Stars finished fourth in the league, making the playoffs and advanced to the final, where they lost to Flash in a 2–4 penalty shootout, after a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time. Notably in that game stars Ella Masar and Lori Chalupny were injured on the same play in the 33rd minute. WNY scored the equalizer in regulation with a 40 yard wonder strike in the 97th minute to get to overtime. Impressively, the Red Stars also won the 2012 National Women's Cup with just half the roster, as the Cup final occurred at the same time as their final WPSL Elite regular season match against eventual third-placed New York Fury.
National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
In November 2012, the Red Stars co-founded and were one of the original eight teams in a new women's professional soccer league, then yet to be named, in concert with United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation.[18][19] The league started competition in Spring of 2013.
2013 season
All teams in the NWSL received an initial allocation of USWNT players and the Red Stars were named for Shannon Boxx, Amy LePeilbet, and Keelin Winters. Only Shannon Boxx saw limited minutes for the Red Stars in 2013. In the inaugural season of NWSL, Red Stars started with 2 draws and 4 losses. The mid-season arrival of 2 Germans, Sonja Fuss and Inka Grings, from Europe revived the team somewhat, but not enough to qualify for the post-season playoffs. Red Stars played 22 matches with 8 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses to finish the season at sixth place in an eight team league.
2014 season
In 2014, the Red Stars finished one place better than they had previously, fifth place in regular season. This season, the club was waiting for United States international Christen Press to join after completing her commitment to a European club, and the Canadian international Melissa Tancredi to gain full fitness after her education. In addition, the team signed 2 other internationals, Abby Erceg and Emily van Egmond in May. Despite the late arrival of international stars, at the end of May the team had 6 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses; a competitive team performance enabled by rookies Julie Johnston, Vanessa DiBernardo, Hayley Brock, young players Jen Hoy, Rachel Quon, and veteran stalwarts Lori Chalupny, Michelle Wenino, and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. With a mid-season slump of 1 win in 11 matches during June and July, the team eventually did not qualify for post-season playoffs; edged out by head to head results with Washington Spirit.
2015 season
The Red Stars started the 2015 season with home games, a 3–2 win over previous season's Supporting Shield winner Seattle Reign FC, followed by a 2–2 draw with Portland Thorns FC, and a 1–0 win over Sky Blue FC. With Christen Press scoring 4 of the first 5 goals for Red Stars, Press was named the Player of the Month of April. With the national teams members out training for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, rookie Sofia Huerta scored multiple goals in 2 matches and was named NWSL Player of the Week for week 5, as well as week 6; and was also named NWSL Player of the Month of May.[20] The team held first place during regular season from week 4 to week 13 and finished second. However, in the playoff the team lost in the semi-final to FC Kansas City.
2016 season
After a banner 2015 season, the team expected to do well again. The club ended the regular season at third place, and played the play-off semi-final at Boyds, Maryland against Washington Spirit on September 30, falling 2–1 and did not reach the championship match. This season the Red Stars returned to Toyota Park for home games, where they last played on a regular basis during their 2010 season in the Women's Professional Soccer league.
2017 season
In 2017, for the third consecutive season, the Red Stars made it to the post-season playoffs and were eliminated in the semi-final; falling 1–0 to North Carolina Courage at Cary, North Carolina on an 89-minute goal.
2018 season
2018 was the team's tenth season and sixth season in the NWSL. For the fourth consecutive year, the team qualified for the post-season playoffs and lost in the semi-final, as they were defeated by the North Carolina Courage 2–0.
2019 season
The 2019 season saw the Red Stars appear in the finals for the first time in NWSL history. The team clinched their 5th consecutive playoff spot on September 21, 2019 after defeating the Washington Spirit 3-1. That game also saw forward Sam Kerr score her 18th goal of the season, breaking the record for most goals scored in a single NWSL season, which she had previously set playing with Sky Blue FC in 2017.[21] The Red Stars went on to defeat the Portland Thorns 1-0 in a semi-final home game, and were defeated in the final by the North Carolina Courage 4-0. They finished the season runners-up with a 14 win, 2 draw, 8 loss record.[22]
Crest and colors
The original primary logo combines two heraldic Chicago images: the shape of the shield is taken from its equivalent inside the city of Chicago's official seal. The colors, stripes, and stars in the logo are all inspired by the symbolism of Chicago's municipal flag, with the blue stripes representing the two branches of the Chicago River. The six points on the large red star in the center of the Chicago Red Stars logo also have their own meaning to the team:
- Entertainment (top point)
- Service (next point moving clockwise)
- Success
- Community
- Teamwork
- Leadership
Adrenalin, Inc., and jlmvisual partnered to jointly develop the Red Stars original identity.[23]
The primary and secondary logo were updated at the beginning of the 2018 season by the front office with a collaborative design team headed by Julie Rochelle.
Stadiums
During the team's membership in Women's Professional Soccer, Chicago Red Stars played at Toyota Park, now known as SeatGeek Stadium, a world-class soccer-specific stadium, with 20,000 dedicated seats for soccer. It is best known as having been home to Chicago Fire FC from 2006 to 2019.[24]
From 2011 to 2015, in Women's Premier Soccer League, Women's Premier Soccer League Elite league and National Women's Soccer League, Red Stars played their matches at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The university stadium seats 3,000.[25][26][27] In 2012 season, in the WPSL-Elite league, some matches were played at Concordia University Chicago Athletic Complex in River Forest, Illinois[28] as well as the Lakeside Athletic Field at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois due to renovation construction at Benedictine University.[29][30]
In December 2015, Chicago Red Stars announced the return to Toyota Park (now SeatGeek Stadium) for their home games for 2016 NWSL season.[31]
Owners
WPS (2009–2010)
The Chicago Professional Women's Soccer, LLC investor and partner group was the owner of the Chicago Red Stars from 2009–2010 during the team's membership in Women's Professional Soccer. In April 2010, the team's management group consisted of Gary Weaver, Jim Willett, and Arnim Whisler. The Illinois Women's Soccer League (IWSL) also signed on as a partner. In addition to the IWSL, the team's leadership included shareholders John (Jack) Cummins, Robert and Susan Morrison, Jim and Kathi Willett, Dale Weaver, Gary Weaver, Pin Ni, Dong Li, Arnim Whisler, Dean Egerter, Stephen Ritchie and Peter Wilt.[32]
WPSL (2011), WPSL E (2012) and NWSL (2013–present)
Arnim Whisler took over the team after the 2010 season, he decided to keep the team going for the 2011 season in the WPSL while working to help reorganize a professional women's soccer league. WPS.[33]
He remains the sole owner of the Chicago Red Stars in 2019.[34]
Broadcasting
On April 17, 2019, it was announced that NBC Sports Chicago would serve as the Red Stars' new regional broadcaster, televising all regular-season matches (beginning with their second match of the 2019 season). 7 matches in the 2019 season will be carried on its overflow channel NBC Sports Chicago Plus.[35]
Team standing and statistics
Key
|
|
Champions | Runners-up |
Seasons
Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | League Playoffs |
Open Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | WPSL CRS RESERVES | ||||||||||||||||
2009 | WPS | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 6th | DNQ | DNE | ||||||
2010 | WPS | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 6th[a] | DNQ | DNE | ||||||
2011 | WPSL | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 7 | 25 | 1st[b][36] | Runners-Up[37][38] | DNE | ||||||
2012 | WPSL E | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 11 | 28 | 4th | Runners-Up[39] | Winners | ||||||
2013 | NWSL | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 32 | 36 | 30 | 6th | DNQ | DNE | ||||||
2014 | NWSL | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 26 | 35 | 5th | DNQ | DNE | ||||||
2015 | NWSL | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 31 | 22 | 33 | 2nd | Semi-Finals | DNE | National Champs | |||||
2016 | NWSL | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 33 | 3rd | Semi-Finals | DNE | Midwest Champs | |||||
2017 | NWSL | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 30 | 39 | 4th | Semi-Finals | DNE | Semi-finalist | |||||
2018 | NWSL | 24 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 38 | 28 | 37 | 4th | Semi-Finals | DNE | Semi-finalist | |||||
2019 | NWSL | 24 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 28 | 44 | 2nd | Runners-Up | Quarter-finalist |
Players and coaches
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of June 23, 2020.[40]
Coaching staff
- As of February 10, 2020.[41]
Coaching staff | |
---|---|
Head coach | Rory Dames |
Assistant coach | Scott Parkinson |
Assistant coach | Julianne Sitch |
Goalkeeper Coach | Rade Tanaskovic |
Coaching history
- Emma Hayes (2009–2010)
- Omid Namazi (2010)
- Rory Dames (2011–)
Top All Time Scorers (NWSL)
Rank | Player | Goals |
---|---|---|
1 | Christen Press | 35 |
2 | Samantha Kerr | 35 |
3 | Sofia Huerta | 22 |
4 | Alyssa Mautz | 13 |
5 | Jen Hoy | 12 |
Bold denotes player is active on Chicago Red Stars roster.
Former notable players
See also All-time Chicago Red Stars roster
Former members of the team who have represented a senior national team are:
Honors
- NWSL Championship
- Runners-up (1): 2019
- NWSL Challenge Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2020
- USASA National Women's Cup
- Winners (1): 2012
Season records
Year | League | Team MVP | Golden Boot![c] | Defender of the Year | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Goals | |||||
2009 | WPS | Cristiane | Cristiane | 7 | ||
2010 | WPS | Ella Masar | 8 | |||
2011 | WPSL | Amanda Cinalli | 10 | |||
2012 | WPSLE | Lauren Fowlkes | 7 | |||
2013 | NWSL | Lori Chalupny | Lori Chalupny | 5 | Sonja Fuss | [43] |
2014 | NWSL | Lori Chalupny | Christen Press | 6 | Julie Johnston | [44] |
2015 | NWSL | Christen Press | Christen Press | 10 | Julie Johnston | [45] |
2016 | NWSL | Christen Press | Christen Press | 8 | Julie Johnston | [46] |
2017 | NWSL | Julie Ertz | Christen Press | 11 | Casey Short | |
2018 | NWSL | Sam Kerr | Sam Kerr | 16 | Katie Naughton | [47] |
See also
- List of top-division football clubs in CONCACAF countries
- List of professional sports teams in the United States and Canada
- Chicago Red Eleven (W-League)
Footnotes
- ^ In 2010, only 7 teams finished the season.
- ^ The Chicago Red Stars competed in the North Division of the Midwest Conference in the WPSL. Six teams were in this division for the 2011 season.
- ^ Golden Boot is the team leader in goals (regular season games only).
References
- ^ Red Stars are Back! Joining WPSL for 2011, http://www.wpsl.info/news/index.php/?cat=1&id=1225 Archived October 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Chicago Red Stars look to succeed where others failed". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Relaunch of WUSA set for spring 2008". ESPN. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Women's Pro Team Hires McDermott". ChicagoLand Soccer News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Chicago Red Stars :: Women's Professional Soccer :: Prospective Team Name History". August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ^ "Red Stars are born: New team honors flag". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Peter Wilt Joins Milwaukee Wave As President, CEO". Our Sports Central. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ McCarthy, Jack (April 10, 2010). "Red Stars retool for 2nd season". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Red Stars suspend season due to lack of investors". Daily Herald. December 13, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "Teams Confirmed for 2011 WPS Season". Our Sports Central. November 16, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ The Equalizer: Red Stars to play in WPSL in 2011, http://www.equalizersoccer.com/2011/04/26/red-stars-to-play-in-wpsl-in-2011/
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ All White Kit, Chicago Red Stars Mark Return, Join WPSL For 2011, http://www.allwhitekit.com/?p=5813
- ^ Babcock, Patricia (July 29, 2011). "Red Stars fighting the good fight – for free". The Daily Herald.
- ^ "WPSL Elite". WPSL Elite. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati Announces New Women's League to Begin Play in Spring of 2013". US Soccer. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Eight teams to start new women's pro soccer league in 2013 – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ^ "RED STARS' SOFIA HUERTA VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE MONTH". NWSL. June 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015.
- ^ Santaromita, Dan (September 22, 2019). "Sam Kerr breaks NWSL scoring record in Chicago Red Stars playoff-clinching win over Washington Spirit". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Red Stars Videos, Roster, Game Recaps, News & More". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise named, logo and colors unveiled; Season Tickets on sale Wednesday". Bay Area Sports Drive. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "About Toyota Park". Toyota Park. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ whisler, a. emerson. "Chicago Red Stars Tickets". www.redstarsgear.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ^ The Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Red Stars Announce 2012 WPSL Elite Schedule & Season Ticket Packages". Chicago Red Stars. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ "Northwestern University Recreation". www.fitrec.northwestern.edu. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Red Stars to Play 2016 Season at Toyota Park". chicagoredstars.com. December 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Staff". Chicago Red Stars (WPS). Archived from the original on April 27, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2012/07/13/pitch-invasion-podcast-episode-6/ Archived January 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Pitch invasion podcast #6
- ^ "Front Office". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
- ^ Northam, Mitchell (April 17, 2019). "NWSL: NBC Sports Chicago to broadcast Red Stars". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "FOUR TEAMS SET FOR 2011 CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND". Women's Premier Soccer League. July 29, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "FALLING SHORT Waves topple Red Stars in OT". Chicagoland Soccer News. Sports Vue Interactive Media. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY WAVES 2, CHICAGO RED STARS 1". Women's Premier Soccer League. July 31, 2011. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH WIN INAUGURAL WPSL ELITE CHAMPIONSHIP". Women's Premier Soccer League. July 28, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ "First Team - Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Azar, Joe (February 10, 2020). "Chicago Announces Technical & Medical Staff". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Red Stars Roster". ChicagoRedStars.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- ^ Freud, Justyne (August 23, 2013). "Red Stars Announce End of Season Team Awards". Chicago Red Stars Site. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ Freud, Justyne (September 2, 2014). "Chicago Red Stars Announce 2014 Team Awards". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
- ^ Rochelle, Julie (September 23, 2015). "Chicago Red Stars Announce Winners of 2015 Team Awards". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
- ^ Freud, Justyne (October 5, 2016). "Chicago Red Stars Announce Winners of 2016 Team Awards". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
- ^ Ziegler, Paige (October 2, 2018). "Chicago Announces 2018 Team Award Winners". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
External links
- Chicago Red Stars
- Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
- 2006 establishments in Illinois
- Association football clubs established in 2006
- National Women's Soccer League teams
- Women's Premier Soccer League teams
- Women's Professional Soccer teams
- Women's soccer clubs in Chicago
- Soccer clubs in Illinois
- Women's soccer clubs in the United States
- Lisle, Illinois
- Women's Premier Soccer League Elite teams