The Chicago Red Stars and Racing Louisville FC haven’t played each other in the NWSL but already have a unique history. Newly formed Racing Louisville had the opportunity to get players from every NWSL team, in the November expansion draft, but Chicago didn’t wait. On Oct. 26, 2020, Chicago head coach Rory Dames sent forward Yuki Nagasato and midfielder Savannah McCaskill south for full expansion draft immunity. McCaskill joined her fourth NWSL team and Nagasato, a Chicago fan-favorite, returned to the NWSL after an injury and time making history in Japan as the first woman on a men’s club team.
A lot has happened since October. McCaskill, who has as many NWSL teams on her resume as she has years in the league, established herself as the team’s vice-captain. Nagasato’s personality won over Louisville supporters and she’s developed a connection, on the field, with the first pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, fullback Emily Fox.
In Chicago, the 2019 NWSL Championship finalists followed the Louisville trade up with another move bringing in midfielder Sarah Woldmoe and forward Mallory Pugh. A winless Challenge Cup for Chicago allowed the Red Stars to develop their new-look offensive group. In the middle is Pugh, who is reestablishing herself after years of injury issues.
Saturday, these two sides face each other for the first time. For Louisville, it’s a gauge for how their new-look roster is taking shape. For Chicago, it’s the final match before four key starters take their talents to Tokyo for the Summer Olympics.
Recent Form
So far, in 2021, Chicago and Louisville come in with similar records. The Red Stars are ahead of Louisville by one point, with Louisville playing one less match. Each team has won two and lost three, with both teams’ most recent defeats from midweek fixtures.
Tuesday, Chicago traveled to Tacoma, Washington to face OL Reign. The Red Stars gave Pugh the night off and put regulars in midfielder Morgan Gautrat and forward Kealia Watt on the bench; a tactic to save energy in a three-match week. What resulted was OL Reign controlling the midfield and scoring two early goals in a 2-0 victory. In addition, Chicago lost fullback Bianca St. Georges, in extra time, for a second yellow card, making her unavailable for Saturday’s match.
On Wednesday night, Louisville also lost 2-0, to NC Courage, but came away from the match with positives. Racing head coach Christy Holly made seven changes from his usual starting XI and gave three players their first starts of the season. In the first half, Louisville bunkered down on defense and attempted to capitalize off counter attacking measures. The final 45 minutes saw Louisville create more chances, especially when regulars like Fox and Nagasato made substitute appearances.
Midfield Strength in the Midway
Chicago has strengths up and down the field. The Red Stars have a World Cup-winning goalkeeper in Alyssa Naeher, a group of fullbacks who contribute on both sides of the ball and speed in attack with Watt and Pugh. It’s the midfield that pulls it all together though. In 2021, it’s rotated through the length of Chicago’s midfield depth, but two mainstays are Gautrat and team captain Vanessa DiBernardo.
Gautrat is having one of the best seasons of her career. She excels in pressing opponents into poor passing and interceptions. When Gautrat gets the ball, it moves up the field quickly. In the defensive midfield, midfielder Danny Colaprico and Woldmoe have taken turns in the role, but a recent injury to Colaprico has the newcomer Woldmoe starting. DiBernardo is Chicago’s number 10. She facilitates the Red Stars offense, and Dames has also slid her into the winger position for her ability to cross and find open space.
Olympic Snub?
In 2016, at 17-years-old, Pugh made her first appearance on the senior United States Women’s National Team. Since then, the forward scored 18 goals in 63 appearances and won the 2019 World Cup in red, white, and blue. Now at 23-years-old, Pugh finds herself on the outside of the senior team. This week, USA manager Vlatko Andonovski left her off the 22-player Tokyo Olympic roster. Her absence is a little bit surprising.
Since opting out of college and playing professionally in the NWSL since 2017, Pugh’s missed chunks of time due to injury. Most recently, missing the October senior team camp and playing part in the 2021 SheBelieves Cup camp as a training player, a term for a player that’s with the team to recover from injury and train with her teammates. Pugh’s recovered strongly from injury with the Red Stars, in 2021.
Pugh has a goal and two assists in six matches. Chicago is a different team when she’s on the field because of her speed and awareness of the goal. Dames has shared with the media his desire for Pugh’s call-up, citing that the forward is contributing at a high level even when she’s still on her way to 100%.
Saturday is her first chance to play since not being selected for Team USA. Could that provide extra motivation at Louisville’s expense?
Improving Louisville’s Defense
The 2021 Challenge Cup split the 10-team league into an East and West division, so Chicago and Louisville didn’t have a chance to play on the field. If they did, Chicago may not recognize the team that Louisville puts on the field Saturday.
Since the NWSL played its first matches of the year, Racing Louisville finished up its first season roster. Former England international Gemma Bonner made her first start and appearance in Racing’s 1-0 victory over Houston. The veteran center back joined a young core of defenders and immediately impacted Louisville’s second clean sheet of the season. Bonner’s hands will be full going up against an offensive attack led by Pugh and Watt, but she won’t be alone.
Also on defense, likely in a substitute role, is 2020 NWSL rookie Addisyn Merrick. Merrick played with the NC Courage before Racing selected her in the expansion draft. The Kansas University alum was supposed to be out for the entire 2021 season, due to a back injury. After a second opinion from doctors, and patience and support from Racing Louisville, Merrick returned Wednesday night. Merrick’s minutes are limited, but she makes the most out of her time on the field. As a rookie, the Courage started her in eight out of nine matches of 2020.
New Faces on Offense
Up front is forward Ebony Salmon. For supporters’ that don’t watch the English Women’s Super League, Sunday’s 1-0 victory substitution goal gave a glimpse of her hard work and skill. In the 71st minute, she scored the game-winning goal in just 45 seconds on the field. Salmon beat three Houston defenders, including a backheel pass where she ran around two defenders in the penalty area, received her own pass, and buried into the net.
Salmon came in as a substitute again on Wednesday. She put herself into areas where the right delivery would give Louisville a chance to come back; without a goal to show for it. Coach Holly is taking his time getting her starting minutes, because of a minor injury for the 19-year-old. After the full-time whistle blew on Wednesday, Holly told reporters that Salmon approached him and asked “Can I start Saturday?”
The final big-name signing is former NWSL forward, and Division 1 Féminine champion with Paris Saint-Germain, Nadia Nadim. However, the Denmark international won’t be available Saturday. Nadim is awaiting a work visa interview to return to the United States. Her presence will give Louisville forwards on the selection bubble more time to prove that they deserve minutes.
How to Watch
Saturday is one of five NWSL matches, on a day coined “Super Saturday”. Chicago is celebrating their Pride Night against Racing Louisville, celebrating June’s Pride Month that celebrates people within the LGBTQIA+ community.
When: Saturday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois
How: Streaming on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch
Beyond Women’s Sports will be live in Bridgeview, providing coverage of the match. Watch BWS all year for additional coverage of the NWSL, WNBA, and more. And follow me on Twitter @1ThomasCostello.
