Orland Park native Tatumn Milazzo, shown in a game earlier this season, has made 50 NWSL regular-season appearances. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pro Soccer Report | NWSL approves Red Stars sale; team beats Spirit
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The NWSL has given its blessing for the sale of the Chicago Red Stars.
The league’s Board of Governors voted unanimously Sept. 1 to approve the sale of the Stars to an ownership group led by Laura Ricketts, who also has ownership ties with MLB’s Cubs and the WNBA’s Sky.
“On behalf of the NWSL Board of Governors, we’re thrilled to welcome Laura and the entire new ownership group to our league,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman stated a news release.
There are reports the deal was for $60 million, with $35.5 million a part of the actual sale and $25.5 million toward investment in the team.
The former ownership group, headed by Arnim Whisler, was stained by allegations and investigations into abuse by former coach Rory Dames and indifference toward players’ complaints by ownership.
Specifics have not been announced as to whether the team will stay at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, but the tone of an open letter Ricketts wrote to fans seems to indicate the team will stay in the Chicago area.
“Our group of diverse women investors, some of the most prominent business and civic leaders in Chicago and beyond, brings unparalleled experience across professional sports, finance, turnaround management, commercial real estate, marketing and advertising, paired with deep community ties that make for a powerful combination to lead the club into a new chapter for players, our fans and the league,” Ricketts wrote.
Still hanging on
The Red Stars’ slim playoff chances are still alive after a 2-0 road victory over Washington on Sept. 3.
Yuki Nagasato and Bianca St-Georges scored for the Red Stars (6-10-2). Alyssa Naeher recorded the shutout.
Through 18 games with four to go, the Red Stars are in 11th place in the 12-team league with 20 points. Washington is in sixth place, the final playoff slot, with 26 points.
The Red Stars need to grab as many of the 12 remaining points as they can and hope for bad things to happen to Louisville (24 points), Angel City (24 points), Orlando (22 points) and Houston (20 points) in the process.
The last time Chicago missed the playoffs was 2014.
The Red Stars have a week off before they host Angel City at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 at SeatGeek Stadium. It will be their first home game since Aug. 5.
Milazzo milestone
Chicago Red Stars defender Tatumn Milazzo participated in her 50th regular season NWSL game in the Washington win.
The Orland Park native recorded 15 passes in the final third, second best of the team, and was 73 percent accuracy in passing. She also won the possession back for the Red Stars five times.
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