Both the Fire and Red Stars have been busy updating their rosters, but there is also a demand from the Red Stars’ main supporters group of Arnim Whisler. Now, the details:
RED STARS ROSTER UPDATE: On Monday, the Chicago Red Stars signed Tierna Davidson, Mallory Pugh, Casey Krueger, and Alyssa Naeher to multi-year contracts and will be part of the club’s roster through 2023. All four were formerly allocated to the Red Stars via US Soccer as national team players. With protection from the Expansion Draft secured at the expense of players such as Julie Ertz, Katie Johnson, and Sarah Gorden; the Red Stars announced that most of the remaining players from last year’s roster are under contract for 2022.
One exception is Zoey Goralski who has opted to retire. The club expects Sarah Luebbert and Kayla Sharples to rejoin the club once they have completed their time on loan with Club America and Adelaide United, respectively. Additionally, the Red Stars will be joined in the preseason by players selected in the 2021 NWSL Draft, players selected in the 2022 NWSL Draft and players on the club’s discovery list.
LOCAL 134 ISSUES DEMANDS: On Sunday, citing his refusal to put his name on club statements and his apparent awareness of former coach Rory Dames’s alleged abuse of players emotionally, Local 134 has demanded that owner Arnim Whisler present a concrete plan for selling his shares of the club by December 31st. The group say that until Whisler’s shares are sold, they will not complete payment for season tickets or buy merchandise from the club.
FIRE RE-SIGN THREE DEFENDERS: Chicago Fire FC have made roster moves of their own this week by re-signing defender Jonathan Bornstein, 37, to a one-year deal, defender Wyatt Omsberg to a one-year deal with club options for 2023 and 2024, and defender Miguel Navarro through 2024 with a club option for 2025. Navarro also no longer occupies an international roster spot as he received his green card in March.
FIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN MLS NEXT PRO LEAGUE: The Fire will also be one of 21 teams to participate in the third-tied MLS NEXT PRO League starting next season. MLS NEXT PRO is set to bridge the gap from the Academies (MLS NEXT) the first teams of MLS clubs.
A total of twenty MLS clubs will field sides in the new league along with Rochester NY FC. Atlanta United, Austin FC, Charlotte FC, DC United, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Nashville SC, and New York Red Bulls will field teams in the league in 2023 along with additional independent clubs.
