RED STARS ANNOUNCE ALLOCATED PLAYERS: The Chicago Red Stars will have no fewer than six allocated players in their ranks for 2021 courtesy of US Soccer and Canada Soccer. They include the usual suspects in Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Casey Krueger (neé Short), and Tierna Davidson; and now also include recent acquisition Mallory Pugh and Canadian international Bianca St. Georges. Pugh was an allocated player when she was on Sky Blue FC last season.
Below is the full list of allocated players in the NWSL for 2021:
Chicago Red Stars
Tierna Davidson (USA)
Julie Ertz (USA)
Casey Krueger (USA)
Alyssa Naeher (USA)
Mallory Pugh (USA)
Bianca St. Georges (CAN)*
Houston Dash
Jane Campbell (USA)*
Allysha Chapman (CAN)
Kristie Mewis (USA)*
Nichelle Prince (CAN)
Sophie Schmidt (CAN)
Kansas City
Desiree Scott (CAN)
Diana Matheson (CAN)
North Carolina Courage
Samantha Mewis (USA)**
Lynn Williams (USA)*
Orlando Pride
Ashlyn Harris (USA)
Ali Krieger (USA)
Erin McLeod (CAN)*
Alex Morgan (USA)
OL Reign
Rose Lavelle (USA)**
Quinn (CAN)*
Megan Rapinoe (USA)
Portland Thorns FC
Adrianna Franch (USA)
Becky Sauerbrunn (USA)
Christine Sinclair (CAN)
Sophia Smith (USA)*
Racing Louisville FC
None
Sky Blue FC
Carli Lloyd (USA)
Margaret “Midge” Purce (USA)*
Kailen Sheridan (CAN)
Washington Spirit
Kelley O’Hara (USA)
Emily Sonnett (USA)
Andi Sullivan (USA)*
* = New Allocated Player in 2021
** = Player who will receive an allocated salary from U.S. Soccer should they return to the NWSL for the 2021 Season
LAKEFRONT JERSEYS: On Thursday, Chicago Fire FC unveiled their kits for 2021 christened “The Lakefront Kits”. The new primary kit is a navy-colored that features striking red accents along the sleeves and sides, as well as a unique jock tag and neck tape. A nod to the people of Chicago, the neck tape on the inside of the jersey proclaims, “Bold. Brave. Big-Hearted,” while the jock tag features the four six-pointed stars from the Chicago flag.
The Fire’s secondary jersey is a clean white design that showcases the city’s flag with four six-pointed stars that represent major historical events: Fort Dearborn, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, and the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933-34. The jersey, embossed with thin navy horizontal stripes, highlights the popular slogan from well-known Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, “Make No Little Plans,” on the neck tape on the inside of the shirt.
The jock tag features a red outline of the Fire’s home stadium, Soldier Field. The white secondary jersey includes a monochromatic navy logo, while showcasing the classic adidas three-stripe pattern that continues onto white shorts, leading to socks of the same color. The Fire’s crest with the championship star from the 1998 MLS Cup lies just over the heart of both new jerseys.
FIRE PRESEASON: On Wednesday, the Fire announced their preseason schedule. After COVID-19 protocol ends on Sunday, training begins in Bridgeview on March 1st and runs through March 6th before traveling to Orlando for nearly a month. There, the Fire will play four friendlies, three of which against yet to be named opponents and one against Orlando City on April 3rd before returning back to Bridgeview to prepare for the April 17th start to their 24th season.
