NWSL Season Preview 2023: 1 major question for each team
By Oliver Hunt
For the Chicago Red Stars: Will their starting lineup be just Mal Swanson and Alyssa Naeher?
Obviously, this is a joke…kind of? The mass exodus of players from the Red Stars made a big splash as their entire starting midfield vacated to other clubs. Morgan Gautrat, Rachel Hill, and Danielle Colaprico, and captain Vanessa DiBernardo leaving in the same week was a heavy blow to Chicago, and it was followed up by the exit of Zoe Morse and Sarah Luebbert, and the retirement of Sarah Woldmoe.
They’ve been scrambling to recover since with new acquisitions. They signed midfielder Addie McCain from the Kansas City Current (their roster was a bit too full), and extended Tatum Milazzo’s contract. They’ve also got the star power of SheBelieves MVP Mallory Swanson, and the one and only Alyssa Naeher in goal. Tierna Davidson is waiting in the wings for her impending return to the backline after training with the USWNT in February. It’ll be interesting to watch the Red Stars take the field this year and to see if they can repeat their playoff clinch from last season. And not that it makes a difference, but the Red Stars did have the best schedule announcement video which should be required viewing for Chicago fans.