NWSL season preview 2023: Mallory Swanson aims to carry Red Stars back to postseason

Mallory Swanson has her eyes set on carrying her team to the postseason in a year that is filled with uncertainty for the Chicago Red Stars.

Where do you even start with a team like the Red Stars? After qualifying for the NWSL postseason for the seventh straight season, Chicago saw its often lofty expectations take a hit with many of its core choosing to take their talents elsewhere. Whether it was turmoil among the players, coaching staff or front office, the Red Stars are heading into the 2023 season with a new look.

For a considerable amount of time, Chicago had one of the most consistent midfields. All three of the Red Stars’ top-class players in the middle of the park took their talents elsewhere. There is no Danielle Colaprico. Morgan Gautrat, and Vanessa DiBernardo are now under Matt Potter.

Everything that Chicago aspires to do is going to come down to the middle of the pitch. Everyone knows what Chris Petrucelli is going to get from Mallory Swanson, and Alyssa Naeher. Can this brand-new midfield come together enough to prevent the postseason streak from coming to a close?

The connection between former Angel City midfielder Cari Roccaro and Swanson is going to be critical to the success of the team. Heading into the 2022 campaign, everyone knew what they were going to get out of the Red Stars midfield. An inexperienced backline was the main discussion surrounding Chicago, but now that looks to be one of the strengths of Petrucelli’s side.

Currently, there are only five midfielders listed on the Red Stars roster including three players that have never donned a Chicago kit between the white lines. 23-year-old Samantha Fisher and former University of Arizona star Jillienne Aguilera are the only two Red Stars veterans to return to the club in 2023. Both players were not major contributors to the side last season, starting in just 10 contests throughout the regular season. If Chicago wants to extend its playoff streak to eight years in a row, the midfield is going to have to quiet a whole lot of critics.

Chicago Red Stars projected starting XI (3-4-3): 

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher

Defenders (3): Casey Krueger, Tatumn Milazzo, Tierna Davidson

Midfielders (4): Bianca St-Georges, Cari Roccaro, Julia Bianchi, Addie McCain

Forwards (3): Mallory Swanson, Yuki Nagasato, Ella Stevens

Chicago Red Stars Most Important Player: Midfielder, Cari Roccaro

In one of the most underrated moves of the NWSL offseason, Michelle Lomnicki traded away $65,000 in allocation money for a player that started in 20 of the 21 regular season contests in which she contributed. The 28-year-old New York native was fourth on Angel City in total tackles while accumulating four goals to go along with an assist for the new California side.

The former Notre Dame star is going to be looked upon as the go-to player in the middle of the pitch going forward. Roccaro does have that versatility to make an impact on both ends of the field, but with Bianchi controlling the defensive midfield duties, Roccaro must take another step forward offensively.

Can the midfield string together enough passes for this team to be successful? Do the Red Stars have enough quality in the middle of the pitch to connect the defense with the front line? Those are the kind of questions that Roccaro is looking to answer. OL Reign, and Kansas City Current among others possess a lethal midfield combination. Roccaro, and Bianchi along with McCain in the middle of the pitch are going to be tasked with limiting some of the league’s most talented players.

Chicago Red Stars best case scenario for the 2023 season: Making the postseason

If everything clicks, the Red Stars have a chance at sneaking into the postseason. Naeher is destined to rack up clean sheets and make some show-stopping saves. Offensively, Swanson is incredibly dynamic, but without Coloprico, or DiBernardo, who is going to feed her the ball in the final third?

The Brazilian defensive midfielder Bianchi heads to the Windy City with a whole lot of hype after signing over the winter. Who knows how quickly this new-look midfield is going to mesh? Both Fisher, and Aguilera were not major assets to Chicago in 2022, but they may be asked to carry a much more significant load.

There are more questions than answers when it comes to Chicago. It feels similar to last season in which the club went into training camp with a head coach, but the difference is the number of new faces. The heart of the Red Stars’ formation was ripped away in the NWSL’s first free-agency period. With the roster that is currently constructed, Chicago is putting far too much weight on the shoulders of Swanson.

Chicago Red Stars projected finish: 9th in the NWSL table

Despite the inevitable heroics of Swanson, the Red Stars are bound for a bottom-of-the-table finish. Given all of the drama off the pitch during this past offseason, Chicago’s goal should be rebuilding its culture. Young players like Penelope Hocking, Ella Stevens, and Ava Cook will be presented with the chance to show Petrucelli what they can do.

Whether it was allegations of abuse from a former head coach, or the selling of a stake from a majority owner, the Red Stars went through a plethora of things no other club in the NWSL had to. The consistency of old has moved on. If there was any club in the league that is going to make the largest regression, it is Chicago.

Down the stretch, the mid-west side could be fighting for a playoff spot, but Petrucelli just does not have the depth to string together a run of contests that playoff teams in the NWSL produce. Considering the improvements that many clubs around the league made, it does not look to be another year that ends with a trip back to the postseason for Chicago.

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