Arin Wright, shown playing in the Chicago Red Stars' season opener on April 30, and her teammates were idle on Saturday night because their scheduled opponent, Washington, was playing in the exhibition Challenge Cup final. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pro Soccer Report: Cup runneth over — Red Stars v. Washington postponed because of exhibition tourney
By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer
SeatGeek Stadium was empty the night of May 7.
The NWSL game between Washington and the Chicago Red Stars that had been scheduled was postponed, and will be played at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8.
The reason?
It wasn’t weather related. It was a cool but dry night. A decent crowd could have been expected.
The reason was because the exhibition-season Challenge Cup overlapped with the start of the regular season, and the championship match between Washington and North Carolina was played that night. North Carolina won, 2-1.
The Red Stars had no idea if they would be playing or not until late on May 4, after the semifinals of the Challenge Cup had concluded.
Speculation is that this strange scheduling was done to get better television exposure for the Challenge Cup finals. NWSL Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman didn’t talk specifics during a press conference May 6, but she knows it wasn’t an ideal situation.
“Listen, this has certainly been talked about a lot,” Berman said. “Fans are frustrated by it. Internally, it’s not the outcome we would have wanted, so we can — and we will — do better as we move forward.
“Certainly, that’s what we aspire to do. I do want to manage expectations. Making a schedule — not just NWSL but every league that I have worked with and for — is very complicated. There are so many lenses in which you have to analyze and provide the matrix on how a schedule can work. Many of those different interests have competing priorities.”
Berman said the league is starting to plan out the 2023 season early and hopes to get to “a better place.”
This year’s schedule was released late, and part of that could have been due to the league expanding to 12 teams. While there will be future expansion in the league, Berman said there will be no new teams in 2023.
Stars games for U
With Paramount+ broadcasting many of the Red Stars games last year, casual fans had a hard time watching the team unless they subscribed to the streaming service.
This year, there are still a lot of games on Paramount+, but there will also be eight games on local television, which will increase the accessibility of watching the team. These games will be carried live on The U, WMEU Channel 48.1 and WCIU Channel 26.2 and/or UniMas.
Calling games for the Red Stars on The U this season will be longtime broadcaster Dan Kelly and former Chicago Red Star player Jackie Santacaterina Manny.
Kelly brings 25 years of experience to the club, handling play by play for professional and college sports on ESPN and the Big Ten Network. Manny, a Chicago-area native, played for the Chicago Red Stars for five seasons.
The U is seen on WMEU, Channel 48.1 and WCIU, Channel 26.2, Xfinity 230|360, RCN 610, WOW 170, Dish 48, Spectrum Charter 191 and U-Verse 24.
The Red Stars (1-0-0) visit expansion San Diego (2-0-0) at 4 p.m. Sunday.
San Diego destroyed Gotham, 4-0, on May 8. Alex Morgan scored twice.
Fire II earns a point
The Fire II picked up a point after a 0-0 draw with Minnesota in an MLS Next Pro game May 8 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
The Fire lost an opportunity to pick up a second point when it lost 7-6 in penalty kicks.
Minnesota (3-2-1, 11 points) came into the game having scored 11 goals in its previous three games. The Fire (0-3-3, four points) did the job on defense but could not get the first victory of its inaugural season.
“It was not, like, the prettiest game but we were solid defensively and that’s a good thing,” Fire II coach Luvovic Tailander said.
The Fire returns to Bridgeview with a 5 p.m. game against Cincinnati (1-5-0, three points) on Sunday.
Local News
Oak Lawn officials rip governor, legislators over crime
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Two Oak Lawn officials are calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and local legislators to re-evaluate a police reform law that they say has resulted in a rise in crime. Trustee Alex Olejniczak (2nd) served as mayor pro-tem during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday night in place of Mayor Terry Vorderer,…
Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…
Hog Wild to open Monday in Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Dining choices will get a boost in Oak Lawn with the arrival of Hog Wild. The restaurant is scheduled to open Monday, January 17, at 4040 W. 111th St. That’s a week later than originally scheduled. “We are very fortunate here in Oak Lawn to have attracted Hog Wild,” Oak…
Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…
Ailing eagle on the mend
Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…
Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…
Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…
Give poor countries a break, Chuy says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…
Stop sale of dangerous drugs online, Rush says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Legislation designed to ensure that social media platforms and websites are held accountable for failing to prevent the sale of dangerous, illegal drugs on their platforms has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st). The Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act also was introduced by U.S. David…
Neighbors
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…
Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…
Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…
House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…
Remembering Lee Milner
NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…