It’s a massive NWSL matchup this weekend in Bridgeview as the Chicago Red Stars host the North Carolina Courage in a match that has major implications for both clubs’ 2025 playoff fortunes.
The Red Stars (9-2-10, 29 points, 6th in the NWSL) are currently only three points below North Carolina (10-2-9, 32 points, 5th in the NWSL) in the NWSL table as both look to climb into one of the playoff spots that ensures a home match in at least the quarterfinals on the weekend of November 9-10.
Chicago is riding high after consecutive 1-0 wins and should have close to a full bench on Sunday. Rosella Ayane is expected to finally make her Red Stars debut after joining on loan from Tottenham and Ludmila will look to build on her performance last weekend when she scored her first NWSL goal.
North Carolina scored three unanswered goals to win the reverse fixture 3-1 on June 23 in a match where the Red Stars desperately needed to get some attacking help alongside Mallory Swanson, who scored Chicago’s only goal. With summer signings Ludmila and Julia Grosso now alongside Swanson, the Red Stars will have a very different look against the Courage than they did only a few months ago.
Who: Chicago Red Stars vs North Carolina Courage
When: September 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM CT
Where: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois
How to Watch: NWSL+ & Paramount+
Chicago Red Stars News and Notes
Valuations, On the Rise
Sportico released their list of NWSL valuations yesterday and the Red Stars were at the bottom of the list of NWSL sides. In fact, Sportico’s data showed that the Red Stars have the lowest valuation of any NWSL or WNBA team at $53 million.
Most of the data that is being used to get Chicago’s valuation came from the sale price that was paid by the current ownership group led by Laura Ricketts, while
I wouldn’t look into this too much if I were a Red Stars supporter. The club’s sale price from last season has been dwarfed by Angel City’s sale , which gave the Los Angeles club an Enterprise Value of $250 million despite, similar to the Red Stars, not being the primary tenant at their home stadium.
If the Red Stars continue to add to their ownership group at a higher valuation or become the primary tenant or owner of their own stadium, the valuation would instantly increase.
Alyssa Naeher’s New Deal
The Red Stars announced yesterday that they’ve locked down their captain and starting goalkeeper for the 2025 NWSL season. Chicago has already made a handful of roster decisions ahead of the offseason, namely extending Jenna Bike and Hannah Anderson , and Naeher is now another member of the 2024 squad who will be back next season.
“I think we’ve shown a lot of growth this year as both an organization and a team,” Naeher said during the club’s media availability on Friday. “We are moving in the right direction and I wanted to be able to come back and continue on that progress and keep building.
Rosella Ayane
The newest addition to the Red Stars was introduced to the home crowd ahead of their 1-0 win over San Diego last weekend in Bridgeview. The Tottenham loanee will wear number 22 with Chicago and has five regular season matches to try and make an impact as the club looks to return to the postseason.
Jersey Sales
The NWSL revealed its list of top ten best-selling jerseys of 2024 and two members of the Red Stars made the list. Mallory Swanson has the fifth highest-selling jersey of 2024 and Alyssa Naeher has the eighth highest-selling kit at this point of the season.
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