Red Star Yuki Nagasato became eligible for free agency Friday and Saturday scored two goals. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pro Soccer Report: NWSL approves free agency, says players can negotiate with other teams during season
By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer
Things are getting serious in the NWSL.
Free agency is now a thing and, in its first day, controversy abounded. And it affects the Chicago Red Stars.
On Friday, the NWSL released a list of 26 players who are eligible for free agency. That included Red Stars veterans Yuki Nagasato and Kealia Watt.
However, the NWSL Players Association released a list of its own and it hat includes 22 more players it deems eligible, including Chicago’s Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, Morgan Gautrat, Rachel Hill, and Arin Wright.
The league said it granted free agency for those with at least six years of service who have expiring contracts after the 2022 season. The union contends that players with option years on their contracts should also be granted free agency.
The union plans on taking it to arbitration in September, according to reports.
Meanwhile the league and union engaged in a strange agreement that could cause potential conflict of interest.
Players may sign free agent deals with their own teams at any time. That makes sense.
But in a curious move, players may also negotiate with other teams during this time; however, they cannot sign until Nov. 15. Thus, a player can agree in principle to a deal with another team while still playing for her original team during the season. That could open up a big can of worms.
Red Stars snap skid
On the pitch, the Red Stars snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday night with an impressive 4-0 win at Racing Louisville.
Mallory Pugh and Nagasato each scored two goals.
Pugh scored in the third minute – it was her seventh goal of the year and first since June 18 against Kansas City.
Chicago (7-5-5) visits OL Reign Sept. 9 and finally comes home at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview Sept. 14 for a game against Kansas City.
DiBernardo made her 150th appearance in an NWSL game – all with the Red Stars. She is the fifth player in league history to play 150 or more games with a single team.
Prime time players
The Red Stars have been to the last two NWSC championship games in 2019 and 2021 and if they can get there again this season, there will be a bonus. The Oct. 29 game will be shown in prime time.
The league announced that the title game will air on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ at 7 p.m. at Audi Field in Washington.
The game was moved from its originally scheduled time at 10 a.m. following a recent agreement between CBS and the league.
“As we continue to advance the women’s sports landscape in the U.S. and around the world, this is a particularly significant moment for the league and an opportunity our players wholly deserve,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating the end of a fantastic 10th anniversary season in person and on the air with what will surely be an exciting final.”
While the Red Stars have struggled of late, last year they proved that they could survive the ups and downs of the regular season and still shine in the playoffs. They earned the fourth seed and still managed to make it to the final match, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to third-seeded Washington.
The Red Stars also lost 4-0 to North Carolina in 2019 title game. There was no 2020 title game due to the pandemic.
Fire II heating up
The Chicago Fire II beat Toronto FC II 2-1 Aug. 25 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in an MLS NEXT Pro contest.
Missael Rodriguez scored for the fourth time in five matches and Richard Fleming III scored his second goal of the season.
It’s the first time that the Fire (6-10-5, 25 points) won back-to-back matches in regulation.
The Fire visits Columbus (14-3-4, 47 points) Saturday.
Local News
Aldermen push back on mayor’s school board appointments and budget strategy
A new City Hall dispute emerged on Oct. 7 as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of six temporary Chicago school board members drew criticism for bypassing City Council involvement. In response to the mayor’s appointments, Aldermen Raymond Lopez (15th), Marty Quinn (13th), and Silvana Tabares (23rd) reacted negatively to the mayor’s plan to fund Chicago’s public…
FOP officials share Chicago policing concerns with UBAM
Two Fraternal Order of Police officials from Clearing shared insights about law enforcement at the state and local level at the Oct. 9 United Business Association of Midway meeting. Tamara Cummings, general counsel for the Illinois FOP, and John Catanzara, president of the Chicago FOP (Lodge 7)—former classmates at St. Rene School—were the guest speakers…
Chicago Sky, Bedford Park break ground on $38 million practice facility
It was a groundbreaking event on Oct. 9, as more than 200 people gathered at the future site of Phase 2 of the Wintrust Sports Complex at 65th Street and Central Avenue in Bedford Park. The Chicago Sky, in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park, broke ground on a new $38 million state-of-the-art practice…
Final repair cafe of the year Oct. 19 for Lyons Township
The Township of Lyons will host its final repair café of the year from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the township hall, 6404 Joliet Road. You can bring a wide range of household items in for repairs free of charge, Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg said during the township board meeting Oct.…
Forest View loses 2 officials in sudden resignations, mayor ‘saddened’
On Oct. 8, the Forest View village board meeting took a surprising turn when two key officials resigned during a portion of the meeting that was closed to the public. Forest View Administrator Michael Dropka submitted his resignation to trustees who met behind closed doors to discuss an “employee personnel matter,” according to the meeting…
Community, officials rally for new Southwest Side police district
Neighborhood residents and local officials supporting the division of the Chicago Lawn (8th) District came out in force for a rally Saturday outside the former National Guard Armory at Midway Airport, which they hope will house a new police station. Police directed traffic as large crowds crossed 63rd Street to attend the 11 a.m. gathering…
Football notebook: Marko Franco gives Back of the Yards a boost
Mark Morgan had a plan when he took over as Back of the Yards football coach in the fall of 2021. The Bobcats hadn’t fielded a team in two years, skipping the spring 2021 pandemic season. Getting the program back on its feet took some heavy lifting. Back of the Yards went 1-7 and 2-7…
Postseason roundup: Nazareth boys, girls both advance to state golf
Nazareth boys golf coach Dave Reed didn’t see this coming. A sectional championship? That happened only twice in school history, in 2009 and 2013. Plus, the Roadrunners had not qualified for state as a team since 2019. Heading into this season, there were no sectional expectations. During regional play, the Roadrunners grabbed the last sectional…
Pro soccer report: Red Stars clinch playoff spot; Fire names new coach
If the Red Stars had their choice, they would rather have beaten Gotham on Sept. 12 to secure a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. Instead, the Red Stars suffered a 2-0 loss to the defending NWSL champions at SeatGeek Stadium, and 24 hours later clinched a spot in the playoffs when Washington…
Saquan Commings’ pick-six highlights Curie shutout of Mather
Slowly but surely, Curie is learning how to win again. The Condors were one of the Public League’s top football programs earlier this century, advancing to the IHSA playoffs 11 times from 2005-19 and winning 41 games between 2014-17. But before first-year coach Jarve Lewis-Bey arrived this fall, Curie had only four victories in the…
Neighbors
Aldermen push back on mayor’s school board appointments and budget strategy
A new City Hall dispute emerged on Oct. 7 as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of six temporary Chicago school board members drew criticism for bypassing City Council involvement. In response to the mayor’s appointments, Aldermen Raymond Lopez (15th), Marty Quinn (13th), and Silvana Tabares (23rd) reacted negatively to the mayor’s plan to fund Chicago’s public…
FOP officials share Chicago policing concerns with UBAM
Two Fraternal Order of Police officials from Clearing shared insights about law enforcement at the state and local level at the Oct. 9 United Business Association of Midway meeting. Tamara Cummings, general counsel for the Illinois FOP, and John Catanzara, president of the Chicago FOP (Lodge 7)—former classmates at St. Rene School—were the guest speakers…
Chicago Sky, Bedford Park break ground on $38 million practice facility
It was a groundbreaking event on Oct. 9, as more than 200 people gathered at the future site of Phase 2 of the Wintrust Sports Complex at 65th Street and Central Avenue in Bedford Park. The Chicago Sky, in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park, broke ground on a new $38 million state-of-the-art practice…
Final repair cafe of the year Oct. 19 for Lyons Township
The Township of Lyons will host its final repair café of the year from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the township hall, 6404 Joliet Road. You can bring a wide range of household items in for repairs free of charge, Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg said during the township board meeting Oct.…
Forest View loses 2 officials in sudden resignations, mayor ‘saddened’
On Oct. 8, the Forest View village board meeting took a surprising turn when two key officials resigned during a portion of the meeting that was closed to the public. Forest View Administrator Michael Dropka submitted his resignation to trustees who met behind closed doors to discuss an “employee personnel matter,” according to the meeting…
Community, officials rally for new Southwest Side police district
Neighborhood residents and local officials supporting the division of the Chicago Lawn (8th) District came out in force for a rally Saturday outside the former National Guard Armory at Midway Airport, which they hope will house a new police station. Police directed traffic as large crowds crossed 63rd Street to attend the 11 a.m. gathering…
Football notebook: Marko Franco gives Back of the Yards a boost
Mark Morgan had a plan when he took over as Back of the Yards football coach in the fall of 2021. The Bobcats hadn’t fielded a team in two years, skipping the spring 2021 pandemic season. Getting the program back on its feet took some heavy lifting. Back of the Yards went 1-7 and 2-7…
Postseason roundup: Nazareth boys, girls both advance to state golf
Nazareth boys golf coach Dave Reed didn’t see this coming. A sectional championship? That happened only twice in school history, in 2009 and 2013. Plus, the Roadrunners had not qualified for state as a team since 2019. Heading into this season, there were no sectional expectations. During regional play, the Roadrunners grabbed the last sectional…
Pro soccer report: Red Stars clinch playoff spot; Fire names new coach
If the Red Stars had their choice, they would rather have beaten Gotham on Sept. 12 to secure a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. Instead, the Red Stars suffered a 2-0 loss to the defending NWSL champions at SeatGeek Stadium, and 24 hours later clinched a spot in the playoffs when Washington…
Saquan Commings’ pick-six highlights Curie shutout of Mather
Slowly but surely, Curie is learning how to win again. The Condors were one of the Public League’s top football programs earlier this century, advancing to the IHSA playoffs 11 times from 2005-19 and winning 41 games between 2014-17. But before first-year coach Jarve Lewis-Bey arrived this fall, Curie had only four victories in the…
