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
Tabares backs West Lawn Branch Library
Spread the love Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares (left) recently toured the renovated West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.,, with new branch manager Mina Duarte. Details about the renovation’s may be found in the West Lawn column in the January 28 Greater Southwest News-Herald. –Supplied photo
Chuy backs Starbucks unionization
Spread the love U.S. Rep Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), white mask, recently stood with those who support unionization of Starbucks workers, outside a shop in the city. Workers are attempting to organize under the banner of Chicago and Midwest Joint Board, Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. –Supplied photo
‘Grizzled’ sophomores help Naz beat Marist
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Nazareth’s “grizzled veterans” have won 19 of their first 20 games. The Roadrunners’ were victorious in a big East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown with Marist, with two sophomores doing most of the damage in a 53-42 win in LaGrange Park on Jan. 19. Nazareth improved to 19-1, 4-0.…
Postseason Sports Report: Area stars ready for state bowling and dancing
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first two IHSA state tournaments for winter sports will take place this weekend, and an army of area athletes will be competing in both. The boys bowling and competitive dance championships will be held Friday and Saturday, with the bowlers heading to St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon…
Strus tops former coach in Stagg’s win over Sandburg
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Marty Strus has nothing but good things to say about his former high school coach, John Daniels. “He’s meant a ton to me,” Strus said of the coach he faced off against last week when his Stagg Chargers took on Sandburg. “He meant a lot to me as…
Palos Area Chamber dedicated to promoting area
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Dedicated to helping local area businesses strive is the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was formed in 1949 when a small group of merchants joined together for the purpose of advancing economic, industrial, professional, cultural, and civic welfare of the Palos Heights area. For 68 years, the Palos…
We need real solutions to crime
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Crime and safety concerns are the number one topic of all the calls and texts I receive. It seems that many politicians offer no solutions except the usual lists of ways to keep safe. I think everyone knows about locking…
Icy spill yielded plenty of good will
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Here is a giant shout out to our first responders in the community. On Jan. 9, when a sheet of ice descended on Chicago, I was walking the dog. Walking around Peck School was great.…
It’s a busy January in Gage Park
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Neighborhood correspondent at large Greetings, Gage Parkers! I’m pleased to be filling in this week for Karen Sala. It’s fun for me to report on Gage Park, the neighborhood where I lived for the first 26 years of my life. There’s always something happening in this big, exciting part of…
Neighbors
Riot Fest abandons Chicago park for SeatGeek Stadium
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Last year, Lyrical Lemonade moved its Summer Smash hip-hop music festival from Chicago’s Douglass Park to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium. Thousands of fans poured into the stadium at 7100 S. Harlem Ave. over the course of three days and, by most accounts, enjoyed the experience. Summer Smash returned to SeatGeek this…
Comings & Goings: Orland Park Summerfest returns this weekend
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Back for a second go round this weekend is the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce’s Summerfest. The event combines a carnival, live music, an array of dining options and a car show, at the 153rd Street Metra Station location in Orland Park and will run from Friday, June 14,…
Repair Cafe this Saturday at Township of Lyons HQ
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Repair cafes have become quite the thing for the Township of Lyons. So much so that another repair cafe will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, June 15, at the township office, 6404 Joliet Road in Countryside. A repair café held in May was a smashing…
‘They didn’t have to kill my brother’ – sister of slain Bridgeview man
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Arturo Cantu should be celebrating two big events this weekend. He would have celebrated his 40th birthday on June 14. And, a sister said, he would have enjoyed Father’s Day on Sunday, spending time with family and his two young children. Instead, 10 family members and friends gathered in a…
‘You just learn to live with the pain’
Spread the loveStatus hearing in July for McCook murder By Steve Metsch The attorney representing a Chicago man charged with murdering a Blue Island man in McCook in February told a judge Wednesday there’s been “a significant and outstanding discovery in this matter.” Attorney Damon Cheronis made his comment before Cook County Circuit Court Judge…
Man shot in La Grange; suspect arrested in Stickney
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch A man was shot Tuesday afternoon in La Grange, according to a news release received Wednesday from the police department. A suspect has been apprehended, the release said. The shooting victim remains in stable condition at a local hospital, the release said. La Grange Police, working with the Major Case…
Softball | Marist will play for state title for fourth straight season
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Marist returned to the state title game for the fourth straight season with a 7-1 victory over Mundelein in the semifinals, held June 7 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Mustangs (36-2) were making their first appearance at state since 1996. “We have a core group of returners,”…
McCook building inspector retires after 18 years
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch After 18 years of inspecting buildings, be it a modest bi-level house or a sprawling multi-million-dollar warehouse, Terrence Hickey is retiring from the village of McCook. His retirement takes effect June 28, Mayor Terrance Carr said during the June 3 meeting of the village board. “I’m jealous,” Carr said. “(He’s…
New Summit Girl Scout troop off and running
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan There’s a new Girl Scout Troop in Summit, and they have been busy. Troop 56615 is made up of girls from Summit School District 104 from first-grade to third-grade, and between 7-9 years old, making them Brownies in the scouting world. They have 10 girls so far, and Troop Leader…