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Chicago Red Stars: A newbie’s guide and 2019 season preview

By John Carollo III

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - MAY 26: Chicago Red Stars forward Sam Kerr (20) takes on Orlando Pride defender Mônica (21) on May 26, 2018 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BRIDGEVIEW, IL - MAY 26: Chicago Red Stars forward Sam Kerr (20) takes on Orlando Pride defender Mônica (21) on May 26, 2018 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – JULY 07: Chicago Red Stars midfielder Yuki Nagasato (12) controls the ball during the first half of the National Womens Soccer League game between the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC on July 7, 2018 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – JULY 07: Chicago Red Stars midfielder Yuki Nagasato (12) controls the ball during the first half of the National Womens Soccer League game between the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC on July 7, 2018 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Current Roster

A major part of the NWSL is the roster rules set, with national team players needing to be officially allocated to different teams. For some reason, the Chicago Red Stars have found a way to have an amazing roster within those regulations. The big problem, however, is that the Women’s World Cup will take place in the middle of the season. This means that many players will be gone for well over a month. It will then be up to the non-national team players to get the job done during that time.

Let’s take a look at the Chicago Red Stars roster, starting with the goalkeeper and defense.

Goalkeeper and Defense

First, in goal, the Chicago Red Stars have the current USWNT starter, Alyssa Naeher. Her replacement during the World Cup will most likely be Emily Boyd, who came to the Red Stars as one of the best goalkeepers in college. Both are extremely reliable and trustworthy options.

Moving into the defense, while Julie Ertz started her career as a center-back, I don’t see her playing in the backline for the Red Stars. The center-backs are Katie Naughton and first overall draft pick Tierna Davidson, with Christina Murillo and Sarah Gorden supporting them. Naughton has been holding down the backline for the past three seasons and, while Davidson may be just out of college, she’s already projected to be joining the USWNT at the World Cup. This means that Murillo, a Mexican National Team player, will be stepping in for her (as Mexico did not make the World Cup this year). Also in there, third-round draft pick Kayla Sharples and fourth rounder Hannah Davidson.

Out wide, the most common line-up puts Arin Wright (formerly Gilliland) at right-back and Casey Short at left-back. Both have been mainstays for the club for the past three seasons, with Wright mainly being the defensive full-back and Short playing in a more attacking role. The main back-up is Brooke Elby, who will most likely step in for Short while she’s out with the USWNT. But there is a possibility that third-round draft pick Bianca St. Georges will be brought in to hold a spot in the squad during the World Cup.

Midfield

Rory Dames used to play a 4-4-2 that places two central midfielders who play a bit further back while a pair of wingers are positioned higher up the pitch, but the past couple of seasons saw him experimenting with a more traditional 4-2-3-1, so I’ll try to give a summary in terms of that line-up.

The assumed starters in the central midfield are Julie Ertz, who’s recently been converted to pretty much play anywhere, and Morgan Brian, whose injury status is unknown. Both are regulars with the USWNT, but Brian has not been called up and may not be getting the call to the World Cup. Not good for her, but great for the Red Stars. Also in the camp of not getting called up to the USWNT and no one knows why: Danielle Colaprico, who may still start in that holding midfield position if Brian moves out wide. She was supposed to be brought back into the squad after she recovered from her injury, but she’s now recovered from her injury and hasn’t been brought back in. Other major central players include holding midfielder Nikki Stanton and more creative midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo. Both have seen a lot of game time, so expect some creative tactics work from Dames in this situation.

Out wide, Brian could possibly play out towards the left, but on the right, it will probably be long-time player Alyssa Mautz. In terms of back-ups, it’s possible to see second-round draft pick and Mexican National Teamer Maria Sánchez to push for a starting spot, while Michele Vasconcelos will also be involved in the matchday squad. It may also be possible to see Erin Yenney be plugged in across the midfield if needed.

Attack

The Chicago Red Stars have arguably the best striker in the world: Sam Kerr. She will be starting, but she’ll also be starting for Australia in the World Cup. The Red Stars recently made a trade with Sky Blue FC for Katie Johnson, a Mexican National Team player who showed a lot of promise last season and may find a way into Dames’ tactical plans for the starting XI. Other strikers in the squad include fourth-round draft picks April Bockin and Jenna Szczesny. A major absence this season is Rosie White, who chose to stay home to focus on training with the New Zealand National Team for the World Cup, though she may be return later in the season after the summer tournament.

Finally, in the number 10 position is Yuki Nagasato, who retired from the Japanese National Team in 2016. This is important because it means she will be with the club for the entire season. She will be an important piece for the team. If rotation is required, it will most likely be Brian or DiBernardo who will take up this spot in her place.

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