Red Stars’ Swanson picks up Best XI of Month honors

By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson picked up some big honors recently, including being named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the Month for June.

This is the seventh time in Swanson’s career and the fourth time as a Red Star she has won a best of the month award.

In four matches in June, Swanson scored three goals and led the Red Stars in shots (eight), chances created (five) and passes in the final third (36).

It appears she is back in form after missing almost all of 2023 with a knee injury.

The NWSL Best XI is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers who cover the league on a consistent basis, and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent.

Also honored were goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse of Orlando; defenders Elizabeth Ball of Kansas City, Jenna Nighswonger of Gotham, Casey Krueger of Washington and Izzy Rodriguez of Kansas City; midfielders Croix Bethune of Washington, Rose Lavelle of Gotham and Lo’eau Labonta of Kansas City; and forwards Barbra Banda of Orlando and Temwa Chawinga of Kansas City.

July not bad either

Swanson earned her second consecutive NWSL Goal of the Week award, for a left-footed effort against Houston in a 1-0 win on July 6 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

Dash midfielder and former Red Star Yuki Nagasato passed the ball to teammate Ramona Bachmann. Pressure from Red Stars Bea Franklin and Tatumn Milazzo held Bachmann off from moving the ball out of Houston’s defensive end.

Bachmann attempted to pass backward and reset the play to gain advantage, but Chicago midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth ran forward to intercept the ball. Nesbeth took a one-touch pass that angled itself tightly behind Nagasato and into the empty space. Swanson reversed course and, as the Dash back line closed in, spotted a gap between two defenders and nailed left-footed shot just outside the 18-yard box.

Swanson’s fourth goal in as many games marked the Colorado native’s 50th regular-season scoring contribution (33 goals, 17 assists). At 26 years and 68 days old, Swanson is the fourth-youngest player in NWSL history to reach the milestone, behind Sophia Smith, Sam Kerr and Lynn Williams.

Swanson also earned the Goal of the Week honor for a goal against San Diego on June 28.

Stars sign Grosso

The Red Stars signed Canadian Women’s National Team midfielder Julia Grosso to a three-year contract through 2026. Grosso will join the Red Stars following the Olympics and receipt of her visa.

On the club level, Grosso joins Chicago from Juventus FC of the Series A Women’s League in Italy. The midfielder spent three seasons with the Italian side, winning the 2022 Copa Italia, Serie A league title and the Supercopa.

In Grosso’s second season with Juventus, the Canadian was named the Serie A Midfielder of the Season with four goals in 34 matches across all competitions. Grosso made 76 appearances and scored 10 goals over her time with Juventus.

Red Stars general manager Richard Feuz said Grosso’s experience with Juventus FC and Canada will be a crucial addition to Chicago’s midfield.

“Her background with a top European club, combined with her knowledge of North American soccer, will help strengthen the backbone of our team as we strive to reach new heights,” Feuz stated in a press release.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Red Stars and can’t wait to hit the field every weekend and give it my all,” Grosso stated in a news release. “I’ve heard that Red Star fans are super passionate, so I’m excited to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to playing alongside the talented players in Chicago for the rest of the season and beyond.”

Grosso played collegiately at Texas, scoring 21 goals across 60 appearances for the Longhorns between 2018 and 2021.

Coming up

With the NWSL shutting down for more than a month because of the Olympics, the Red Stars host Gotham FC at 4 p.m. July 20 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview to open the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.