BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — The story hasn’t changed for the Chicago Red Stars in recent years.
For four straight seasons, the Red Stars have made the playoffs. For four straight seasons, the Red Stars have lost in a semifinal.
Breaking through that barrier will be a talking point until a Red Stars season does not end in a semifinal loss. This year’s attempt at going further in the National Women’s Soccer League features 17 players who appeared for the Red Stars last season and just three newcomers. Tierna Davidson, one of the newcomers, was the first pick in this year’s draft and could be in the World Cup this summer.
“It allows us to build each year and improve on each season in the past,” midfielder Danielle Colaprico said. ‘That’s something that our coach likes to do here. He doesn’t like to give away players. He doesn’t like to bring in a lot of new faces because it kind of ruins the team chemistry. It’s good for us in terms of being used to each other on and off the field.”
Along with Davidson, captain Julie Ertz, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and defender Casey Short were all called into the most recent United States national team camp. Throw in reigning NWSL Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr likely representing Australia, and the Red Stars have plenty of talent, but talent that is expected to be gone for a chunk of the season.
This preseason, coach Rory Dames got an early taste of life without some of his star players. The aforementioned American quartet missed two of the Red Stars’ three preseason games in Portland in late March. The Red Stars lost all three matches 2-1, falling to Portland, Seattle and the U.S. under-23 team.
Those players re-joined the team in training Wednesday, just days ahead of Saturday’s season opener against the North Carolina Courage, which can make things difficult.
“With Tierna, a little bit because she’s new — I think we’ve probably only gotten maybe eight or nine days to train with her,” Dames said of those players acclimating upon return. “But not with Julie and Alyssa. Julie and Alyssa are just like putting puzzle pieces together. It’s just a matter of where we’re going to plug Julie.”
Red Stars open against defending champ North Carolina
When: April 13, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Live stream: Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Sports app (U.S.), NWSLsoccer.com (outside U.S.)
The buzz: The first weekend features a rematch of a 2018 semifinal. In that one, the North Carolina Courage won 2-0 with a goal in the fifth minute and a late tally to seal it.
Both teams have emerged as consistent powers in the league. The Red Stars have made the playoffs four straight years. Meanwhile, the Courage have been in the league final two of the last three years — counting the team’s final year in Western New York — and won two titles.
“It’s a good game to get out of the way right away and play,” Dames said. “There will be a lot of emotion there because I’m sure they have some sort of presentation from winning last year. Most importantly, because they have a really good team.”
Other key matches
April 20 vs. Portland Thorns – The Red Stars’ home opener is the second half of a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. It is also against another playoff team from a year ago. The Red Stars also hosted the Thorns in the 2018 home opener, a 3-2 loss.
April 27 vs. Seattle Reign – It shouldn’t take long to see how the Red Stars stack up against the best teams in the league. Each of the first three matches of the season are against the other three playoff teams from last year.
May 12 vs. North Carolina Courage – Yes, this would already be the second meeting between the two teams, but the defending champs are still a measuring stick. The Courage lost just once in 2018. The Red Stars open with playoff teams in four of the first five matches.
Check out the full 2019 schedule here.
Quotes & Notes
“I don’t think there’s any team in this league that isn’t good. Maybe they aren’t getting results, but there’s no easy games in this league. I don’t think it really matters where you play them or when you play them.” — Coach Rory Dames on four of the first five matches being against 2018 playoff teams
“I think the same goal each year is to win an NWSL Championship. I think we’re just trying to get to the next level and make it to a final and go from there.” — Midfielder Danielle Colaprico
“Our core players are really just starting to enter their prime. We’ve had a lot of these guys for a long time and put the work in with them at the first part of their career. I think it’s really exciting to think about what these guys are going to be able to do together over the next two to three years so you don’t have to have the same kind of preseasons that maybe you did in the past because you have a much more mature, experienced group that’s in camp with you.” — Dames
Biggest offseason moves
- Acquired forward Katie Johnson from Sky Blue FC. Johnson scored four goals in each of her two seasons in the NWSL. The Mexican international will likely be asked to take over up top when Sam Kerr leaves for the World Cup.
- Drafted defender Tierna Davidson with the first pick in the NWSL Draft. Davidson is in contention to make the World Cup roster for the U.S., but still figures to be a major addition to the Red Stars’ back line.
Roster breakdown
Forwards – Katie Johnson, 24; Sam Kerr, 25; Yuki Nagasato, 31
Midfielders – Morgan Brian, 26; Danielle Colaprico, 25; Vanessa DiBernardo, 26; Julie Ertz, 27; Alyssa Mautz, 29; Maria Sanchez, 23; Nikki Stanton, 28; Michele Vasconcelos, 24
Defenders – Tierna Davidson, 20; Brooke Elby, 25; Zoey Goralski, 24; Sarah Gorden, 26; Katie Naughton, 25; Casey Short, 28; Arin Wright, 26
Goalkeepers – Emily Boyd, 22; Alyssa Naeher, 30