The Chicago Red Stars will finally resume their 2024 NWSL season this weekend with ten matches remaining when they travel to Racing Louisville, but they will be joined by a new member of the squad.
Julia Grosso is ready to play for Chicago after signing with the club in July and then competing at the Summer Olympics for Canada.
Grosso has been gearing up to play competitive soccer in the United States once again after her standout career at the University of Texas before she joined Italian giant Juventus in December 2021.
Now back in North America just before her 24th birthday, Grosso is excited to finally be in a place where she expected after her time in Europe.
“I always first looked at the NWSL [after college],” said Grosso. “I just thought, in that moment, going overseas at first was what I wanted to do. But I've always been interested in coming back to the NWSL and continuing my professional career here.”
The Vancouver native made 50 league appearances (43 starts) with Juventus, collecting nine goals and eight assists while playing over 3,500 minutes in Serie A Femminile. Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson loves the composure that Grosso brings to any midfield she’s a part of.
“She likes to have the ball and make decisions,” said Donaldson during his weekly media availability. “She understands the tempo of the game, when to go forward, when to hold it, when to circulate it. [She has] very good understanding because she’s a good player.”
It’s not always easy for North Americans to find streams for international soccer and that’s something Grosso’s family experienced while she was with Juventus. Being closer to her family in Canada contributed to Grosso’s move to Chicago.
“I'm just really big on family, and I just it's really exciting to know that my mom and dad can come to like most, not all of the games, but some of the games, especially on the West Coast,” said Grosso. “It's just really exciting. Even my mom's here right now, just helping me. I feel like, when I was in Europe, it was hard to get out there, with their work lives and all that. I think it really means a lot to them and my family, for sure.”
Grosso arrives with heaps of expectations as the Red Stars are looking to qualify for the postseason after missing out last season. She’s not looking too far ahead as she’s focused on acclimating to her new team and country.
“I've just been taking it day by day. I think moving to another country, you have a lot of things to do, like logistics and all that. Everyone's been so helpful here, and it's been a really smooth and easy transition. For me, it's like an exciting new chapter and so it's all positive things. I think I'm just really excited for the first game.”
Grosso’s introductory press conference happened to fall on an historic morning for the NWSL and NWSLPA, who had announced their new Collective Bargaining Agreement that will go through the 2030 season. The elimination of the draft and guaranteed contracts are among the details of the CBA, which the Canadian midfielder was excited about.
“I think it's a great thing. I was really excited to see that. I think the league's changing in a positive direction and it's exciting to be a part of that progress, just to be on a team. Great things are happening and I think it's only going up from here. I'm really happy to see the positive impact the league is taking and hopefully it continues to go up from here.”
What’s On Tap Next?
The Red Stars will be on the road at Racing Louisville on August 24. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ION.
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