Welcome to the ShePlays Off-Season Updates page for the Chicago Red Stars! Here we’ll be tracking all of the latest moves from the team going into the 2024 season.
It was announced prior to the end of the 2023 season that Head Coach Chris Petrucelli would not be returning. Ella Masar served as interim head coach for the final match of the season, but no public announcement has been made as to who will fill the role in 2024.
A sale that fans had been waiting on for a year was finalized to a group headed by Laura Ricketts as the 2023 season came to a close.
The November 20 off-season roster update from the Chicago Red Stars shared that midfielder Jill Aguilera’s contract option had been exercised for the 2024 season. Defender Taylor Malham has been extended a new contract, and negotiations are ongoing with free agent forward Yuki Nagasato after her mutual contract option was not exercised.
Forward Chelsea Dawber’s option was not exercised.
16 players are currently under contract with the Red Stars, including goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood, who is on loan with Stade de Reims Féminines through June 30, 2024.
Current free agents who spent the 2023 season with the Chicago Red Stars include:
- Emily Boyd (unrestricted)
- Tierna Davidson (unrestricted)
- Casey Krueger (unrestricted)
- Cari Roccaro (unrestricted)
- Kayla Sharples (unrestricted)
- Bianca St-Georges (unrestricted)
- Mallory Swanson (unrestricted)
- Ella Stevens (restricted)
Chicago Red Stars Current Roster:
- Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher, Mackenzie Wood (on loan)
- Defenders (4): Samantha Feller, Amanda Kowalski, Tatumn Milazzo, Arin Wright
- Midfielders (5): Jill Aguilera, Julia Bianchi, Samantha Fisher, Sophie Jones, Addie McCain
- Forwards (5): Jenna Bike, Ava Cook, Sarah Griffith, Penelope Hocking, Ally Schlegel
December 5, 2023
Defender Taylor Malham is announced to have re-signed with the Red Stars through 2024, with a club option for 2025.
December 8, 2023
Free agent midfielder Cari Roccaro re-signs with the Chicago Red Stars through 2025.
December 20, 2023
Lorne Donaldson is appointed head coach.
January 4, 2024
Midfielder Chardonnay Curran, who was waived by Kansas City at the end of the season, has signed a two-year contract with the Red Stars through 2025.
January 12, 2024 – NWSL Draft Day
The Red Stars started the evening by trading the third overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft to the Washington Spirit for defender Sam Staab.
Chicago then traded defender Arin Wright to Racing Louisville FC in exchange for the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $125,000 in allocation money.
Finally, Chicago sent $175,000 in allocation money to the North Carolina Courage in exchange for the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
These trades resulted in the Red Stars possessing six picks at the start of the 2024 NWSL Draft, Nos. 10, 15, 17, 31, 41, and 45 overall.
The Red Stars would then trade the 17th overall pick mid-draft to Seattle Reign FC, receiving $125,000 in allocation money.
Chicago’s draft picks were as follows:
- No. 10, midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth, Florida State University
- No. 15, midfielder/forward Jameese Joseph, North Carolina State University
- No. 31, defender Hannah Anderson, Texas Tech University
- No. 41, midfielder Bea Franklin, University of Arkansas
- No. 45, defender Celia Gaynor, Michigan State University
January 16, 2024
Free agent forward Mallory Swanson signs with Chicago to stay with the team through 2028.
January 17, 2024
Free agent midfielder Shea Groom signs a two-year contract with Chicago, through 2025.
January 18, 2024
Free agent defender Natalia Kuikka joins the Chicago Red Stars on a three-year contract, through 2026.
Chicago Red Stars Roster as of January 19, 2024
The Chicago Red Stars have 21 players under contract at the time of writing.
- Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher, Mackenzie Wood (on loan)
- Defenders (6): Samantha Feller, Amanda Kowalski, Natalia Kuikka, Taylor Malham, Tatumn Milazzo, Sam Staab
- Midfielders (7): Jill Aguilera, Julia Bianchi, Chardonnay Curran, Samantha Fisher, Shea Groom, Sophie Jones, Addie McCain
- Forwards (6): Jenna Bike, Ava Cook, Sarah Griffith, Penelope Hocking, Ally Schlegel, Mallory Swanson
The following free agents who spent the 2023 season with Chicago have not yet signed with a team for the 2024 season:
- Emily Boyd
- Ella Stevens
January 22, 2024
Chicago started the week with the announcement that they have acquired German defender Maximiliane Rall, from FC Bayern München of the German Frauen-Bundesliga for an undisclosed transfer fee. Per the club, Rall will join preseason training pending the approval of her visa.
The Red Stars later announced that they have signed restricted free agent, Camryn Biegalski, to a one-year contract with a mutual option.
This brings the Red Stars roster to 23 players.