At the start of this Red Stars season, General Manager Richard Feuz hesitated to call the season a rebuild. “I prefer renaissance” he said in an interview with Gal Pal Sports. The club has renewed its blue-collar identity on the pitch and added a defense-first mentality. This new identity will be put to the test in the final stretch of the NWSL season, where playoff dreams go to die.
While the new identity has shored up defensive play, the team has struggled to turn defensive efforts into scoring opportunities. The club turned to the transfer market to strengthen the midfield, signing international stars Ludmila of Brazil and Julia Grosso of Canada. Grosso is expected to be named to the team sheet this weekend against Louisville, and Ludmila will join the team as soon as her visa is approved.
Ludmila joins the Red Stars after six seasons with Atlético Madrid. She turned heads in the Gold Medal match against the United States with her chances on goal.
“I have had the pleasure of watching Ludmila’s game for years. There is a clear level of talent that has helped Ludmila find success on the pitch, individually as a goal scorer and as a part of Atlético with their championships. I look forward to seeing Ludmila come in and contribute to the Red Stars as we enter the second half of the season and push for playoffs” said Feuz in the press release announcing Ludmila’s signing.
Julia Grosso carries a steady resume as a playmaking midfielder. At just 20 years old, she scored the Gold medal-winning goal for Canada in the Tokyo Olympics. She’s making her debut in the NWSL after starting her professional career with Juventus in Serie A.
Grosso’s talents as a connector will be sorely needed. According to SportsReference, the Red Stars rank last in the NWSL in most key passing categories, including key passes, completion rate, and passes to the final third of the field.
The Red Stars back line has held firm for the team, with two straight clean sheets going into the Olympic break. Unfortunately, standout defender Sam Staab exited the team’s first Summer Cup match against Gotham FC with an injury. It was later revealed she would spend the rest of the season on the Season-Ending Injury list with a torn achilles tendon.
If the Red Stars want to make the playoffs, they’ll have to be at the top of their game. Their home stretch of the season passes through a gauntlet of teams vying for the postseason. They currently sit in seventh place on the table with 23 points. In their final ten matches, they’ll play all six teams sitting ahead of them on the table, and three teams who have a fighting chance at the final playoff spot.
There may be two teams running away with the NWSL shield race, but the playoffs are still a show of parity for the league. Last season’s Decision Day had eight teams playing for the last four playoff spots. So far, the NWSL table is set for another dramatic finish.
Chicago’s race for the postseason starts this Saturday on the road against Racing Louisville. The two teams last met on May 25th, when Louisville shut out the Red Stars 1-0.
This weekend’s Louisville team will look different than the one that played at SeatGeek stadium. Louisville has been active in this transfer window, sending out Captain Jaelin Howell, Carson Pickett, and standout rookie Reilyn Turner in exchange for gold medalist Janine Beckie, former Rookie of the Year Bethanny Balcer, and Colombian international player, Ángela Barón.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 6:30PM central time on ion.