By Lesley Ryder
Chicago Stars FC hosted their media day in downtown Chicago on Monday. The morning offered a sneak peek into the squad’s work in progress ahead of the 2025 season.
Facility changes, a squad connects
The 2025 preseason comes with a welcomed schedule change for the club. With the Chicago Fire’s move to their own facility on the Near West Side, the Stars have been able to take the desirable morning training slot, and feel less rushed with no need to accommodate their former neighbors.
“People are pumped about that change,” said veteran utility player Cari Roccaro “It allows us to get in a routine. I think people are spending more time at the facility, kind of taking their time because they don't feel like they have to beat the afternoon traffic to get home.”
While the schedule change is a relief, work continues behind the scenes to find a permanent training home for the Stars. “My whole life since I've had this job has consisted of working on the facilities,” President Karen Leetzow said to the media on Monday, “But it is, as in any community, it's a complication of what communities want you, what don't want you, what available land is there? What is the distance, the travel distance, for example, from the stadium. How does the stadium and the training facility work together? So it's a lot of logistics, and it's going to take us a while to put those puzzle pieces together.”
A midfield takes shape
The midfield was a weak spot for the stars last season, and one they’ve actively pursued to better through trades and trainings.
Julia Grosso was a mid-season signing who joined the team after last summer’s Olympic break, and straight in to a playoff race. Preseason gives her a chance to strengthen bonds that what started to form last season.
“I feel like at the start, you're kind of in the same spot. Start of the season, pre season, the tiring sessions, like, you're all kind of in the same spot. I feel like its been great.” Grosso said in her availability Monday. “I feel like we're just building on our relationship off the field and on the field, and now it's like, honestly, better partnerships with preseason, because I know how they play, and now you're just building on that already. So it's really great.”
Grosso embraces the challenge of leading the new midfield. “It's a position where you're kind of connected to all forwards the defenders. You're just right in the middle there. So I think a big thing is just for us, [is] like possession, keep the ball as much as we can, knowing when to go and when to—because we have some fast strikers, and it's great… when to send that ball in behind, and just be the heartbeat for the team.”
Forward Ludmila was another mid-season signing last summer, who is eager to get more time with her teammates. “I’m more sure of myself. I’m getting more confidence. My teammates are getting to know my soccer a little better, and I’m getting to know them.” She said through an interpreter. She noted the language barrier on and off the pitch has been challenging,(Ludmila speaks Portuguese and Spanish) but the other players have been doing a good job in trying to communicate.
On the road to recovery
Ava Cook and Sam Staab spoke about the recovery process, and reflected on their time together on the season-ending injury list.
“I was very fortunate to have made it this far without having a major injury like that. And the unfortunate side is that there are many people who have gone through it on the team, it's just kind of how it is with women's sports,” Cook said.
“We have been joking about it a lot lately. We spend virtually every second together because we went through PT, we're kind of in the same boat, like where we're at. We spend every second on the field together, doing the same drills, going against each other.” Staab said in her availability later that day. “So, yeah, we spend a lot of time together. But it's good to have, unfortunately, have someone else in the same boat, you know. So it's just nice to have someone to talk to about, like, all the recovery stuff that we're going through.”
Staab also spoke on her recovery status “I don't think I'm quite there yet. I'm getting there. I feel like I'm just trying to get my feet under me right now.”
Bits and Bobs
- Micayla Johnson was introduced to Chicago media for the first time since her signing. The 16-year old will be balancing her rookie season on the pitch with school work off the pitch. A thing you should know about her? She can solve a Rubik’s cube.
- The Stars schedule release had two dates scheduled as “To be announced.” Will we see a repeat of a Wrigley-level announcement? Team President Leetzow says: “Stay tuned. I'll just say that. We want to deliver excitement to our fans as much as our fans want these exciting experiences. So yes, we're going to look at doing special events going forward.”
- Jameese Joseph reflected on her time at the USWNT futures camp. “I’m incredibly grateful. I always thank God for that opportunity. And just like being able to be on the radarmeans a lot to me—even if I'm not called into camps or anything—but just being on their radar means a lot. It shows that I guess the hard work that I did put in last year is kind of kind of being rewarded for it. So in that sense, it feels nice and very rewarding.”