2018 Chicago Red Stars season explained

Club:	Chicago Red Stars
Season:	2018
Chairman:	Arnim Whisler
Chrtitle:	Owner
Manager:	Rory Dames
Mgrtitle:	Head coach
Stdtitle:	Stadium
Stadium:	Toyota Park (capacity: 20,000)
League:	NWSL
League Result:	4th
League Topscorer:	Kerr (16)
Season Topscorer:	Kerr (16)
Highest Attendance:	13,678 (March 31, vs Portland)
Lowest Attendance:	2,027 (May 2, vs Orlando)
Average Attendance:	4,004
Pattern La1:	_2018RedStarsHome
Pattern B1:	_2018RedStarsHome
Pattern Ra1:	_2018RedStarsHome
Leftarm1:	66BBFF
Body1:	66BBFF
Rightarm1:	66BBFF
Shorts1:	000000
Socks1:	000000
Pattern La2:	_2018RedStars
Pattern B2:	_2018RedStars
Pattern Ra2:	_2018RedStars
Leftarm2:	66BBFF
Body2:	66BBFF
Rightarm2:	66BBFF
Shorts2:	66BBFF
Socks2:	66BBFF
American:	true
Prevseason:	2017
Nextseason:	2019

The 2018 Chicago Red Stars season was the team's tenth season and sixth season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States. For the fourth consecutive season, the team qualified for the post-season playoffs and lost in the semi-final, as they were defeated by the North Carolina Courage 2–0.

Team roster

2018 squad

Player transactions

College draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League^[1]

Round	Pick		Player		Previous Team
Round 2	15			GK	University of California, Berkeley
Round 2	18			D	University of California, Berkeley
Round 2	19			M	Pepperdine University
Round 3	24			M	University of North Carolina
Round 3	27			D	University of California Los Angeles
Round 4	37			M	DePaul University

Transfers in

Date	Player	Positions played	Previous club	Fee/notes	Ref.
January 18, 2018	Sam Kerr	FW		Acquired in 3-team trade with Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash.	^[2]
January 18, 2018	Nikki Stanton	MF		Acquired in 3-team trade with Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash.
January 30, 2018	Rosie White	MF			^[3]
January 30, 2018	Ashton Miller	MF
January 30, 2018	Joanna Boyles	MF
June 18, 2018	Brooke Elby	MF		Acquired in 3-team trade with Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash.	^[4]
June 19, 2018	Morgan Brian	MF		Signed.	^[5]

Transfer out

Date	Player	Positions played	Destination club	Fee/notes	Ref.
January 1, 2018	Morgan Brian	MF		Signed with Olympique Lyonnais, Chicago retained her rights in the NWSL	^[6]
January 18, 2018	Christen Press	FW		Traded to the Houston Dash as part of a 3-team trade with Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash.
January 18, 2018	Jen Hoy	FW		Traded to Sky Blue FC as part of a 3-team trade with Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash.
June 16, 2018	Lauren Kaskie	MF		Waived, signed with Hammarby	^[7]
June 18, 2018	Samantha Johnson	DF		Traded to Utah Royals FC as part of a 3-team trade with Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash.
June 18, 2018	Sofia Huerta	MF		Traded to the Houston Dash as part of a 3-team trade with Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash.
June 18, 2018	Taylor Comeau	DF		Traded to the Houston Dash as part of a 3-team trade with Utah Royals FC and the Houston Dash.

Off-season loans

After the 2018 season several Chicago Red Stars players were loaned to clubs of W-League, Australia to play in their 2018-2019 season.^[8]

Player	W-League club
Sam Kerr	Perth Glory FC
Nikki Stanton
Alyssa Mautz
Katie Naughton
Danielle Colaprico	Sydney FC
Yuki Nagasato	Brisbane Roar FC

Management and staff

Front office

• Owner: Arnim Whisler

Coaching Staff^[9]

• Manager: Rory Dames
• Assistant Coach: Craig Harrington
• Assistant Coach: Gary Curneen
• Goalkeeper Coach: Jordi King
• Strength & Conditioning Coach: Evan Johnson
• Volunteer Assistant Coach: Brian Kibler

Competitions

Weekly ranking

Week ending	March		April				May				June				July					August				September
	X	25	width=17	1	15	22	29	width=17	6	13	20	27	3	10	17	24	1	8	15	22	29	5	12	19	26	2	9	X
Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Rank	3	7	4	4	2	3	4	5	6	5	5	6	5	4	4	4	5	5	5	5	4	4	4	4
	1	2	3	5	6	8	9	10	11	12	12	13	14	15	17	18	18	18	18	19	21	22	23	24
	1	1	4	8	9	10	11	12	12	15	15	16	19	22	25	28	28	28	28	29	31	34	37	37

Update September 8, 2018 Source: NWSL 2018 season

National Women's Soccer League

See main article: 2018 National Women's Soccer League season.

Postseason

Honors and awards

NWSL annual awards

See also: NWSL awards.

Award	Result	Player
Golden Boot	winner		^[10]
Most Valuable Player	finalist		^[11]
Defender of the Year	finalist

NWSL Player of the Month

Month	Result	Player	Ref.
April		Sofia Huerta	^[13]
August		Sam Kerr	^[14]

NWSL Team of the Month

sort-data-type=number	Month	Goalkeeper	Defenders	Midfielders	Forwards	class=unsortable	Ref
April			Sofia Huerta		^[15]
May
June	Alyssa Naeher		Yuki Nagasato		^[16]
July		Katie Naughton	Yuki Nagasato	Sam Kerr	^[17]
August			Vanessa DiBernardo	Sam Kerr	^[18]

NWSL Player of the Week

Week	Result	Player	Ref
4		Sofia Huerta	^[19]
6		Alyssa Naeher	^[20]
10		Yuki Nagasato	^[21]
15		Sam Kerr	^[22]
22		Sam Kerr	^[23]

NWSL Goal of the Week

data-sort-type=number	Week	Result	Player	class=unsortable	Ref.
2		Alyssa Mautz	^[24]
3		Danielle Colaprico	^[25]
4		Sofia Huerta	^[26]
6		Samantha Kerr	^[27]
10		Yuki Nagasato	^[28]
13		Vanessa DiBernardo	^[29]
14		Yuki Nagasato	^[30]
15		Samantha Kerr	^[31]
16		Samantha Kerr	^[32]
20		Samantha Kerr	^[33]
21		Samantha Kerr	^[34]
22		Samantha Kerr	^[35]

NWSL Save of the Week

data-sort-type=number	Week	Result	Player	class=unsortable	Ref.
1		Alyssa Naeher	^[36]
3		Alyssa Naeher	^[37]
4		Alyssa Naeher	^[38]
6		Alyssa Naeher	^[39]
8		Alyssa Naeher	^[40]
10		Emily Boyd	^[41]
11/12		Alyssa Naeher	^[42]
15		Alyssa Naeher	^[43]
16		Alyssa Naeher	^[44]
24		Alyssa Naeher	^[45]

References

Match reports (preseason)

Match reports (regular season)

Match report (postseason playoff)

Notes

Notes and References

1. Web site: NWSL draft results: All the picks from all 4 rounds. January 18, 2018. March 24, 2019.
2. Web site: Sam Kerr departs Sky Blue FC in trade that brings Carli Lloyd back to New Jersey. March 24, 2019. January 18, 2019.
3. Web site: Boston Breakers players taken in NWSL dispersal draft. March 24, 2019. January 30, 2018.
4. Web site: Utah Royals acquire U.S. forward Christen Press in three-team trade. March 24, 2019. June 18, 2018.
5. Web site: Morgan Brian Leaves France, Signs With Chicago Red Stars. March 24, 2019. June 19, 2018.
6. Web site: Morgan Brian signs with Olympique Lyonnais. March 24, 2019. January 1, 2018.
7. Web site: Chicago Pending Trade Leaves Players Unavailable for Tonight's Match. March 24, 2019. June 16, 2018. September 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922003632/https://chicagoredstars.com/chicago-pending-trade-leaves-players-unavailable-for-tonights-match/. dead.
8. Web site: Six Red Stars Head Down Under for 2018-19 W-League Season. November 2, 2018. November 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181104143925/http://chicagoredstars.com/six-red-stars-head-down-under-for-2018-19-w-league-season/. dead.
9. Web site: Technical Staff. Chicago Red Stars. September 6, 2018.
10. Web site: 2018 Golden Boot: Sam Kerr; Kerr scored 16 goals in 2018. October 2, 2018. September 10, 2018.
11. Web site: Purdy . Jacqueline . 2018 NWSL Awards Finalists . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL . 24 September 2018 . 16 September 2018.
12. News: 2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced . 24 September 2018 . Nwslsoccer.com . 20 September 2018.
13. Web site: Chicago Red Stars midfielder Sofia Huerta voted April Player of the Month. National Women's Soccer League. 2 May 2018. 2 May 2018.
14. Web site: Sam Kerr voted NWSL Player of the Month. Chicago Red Stars. 29 August 2018. 29 August 2018. September 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927131519/https://chicagoredstars.com/sam-kerr-voted-nwsl-player-of-the-month/. dead.
15. Web site: Purdy. Jacqueline. April Team of the Month. NWSLsoccer.com. 3 May 2018. 3 May 2018.
16. Web site: Purdy . Jacqueline . June Team of the Month . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL . 6 July 2018 . 6 July 2018.
17. Web site: July Team of the Month. August 3, 2018. August 3, 2018.
18. Web site: August Team of the Month. August 31, 2018. August 31, 2018.
19. Web site: Player of the Week: Sofia Huerta . . www.nwslsoccer.com . April 24, 2018 . April 24, 2018.
20. Web site: Player of the Week: Alyssa Naeher . . www.nwslsoccer.com . May 8, 2018 . May 10, 2018.
21. Web site: Yuki Nagasato Voted NWSL Player of the Week. Chicago Red Stars. www.chicagoredstars.com. June 5, 2018. June 6, 2018. September 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926061601/https://chicagoredstars.com/yuki-nagasato-voted-nwsl-player-of-the-week/. dead.
22. Web site: Sam Kerr Voted NWSL Player of the Week. Chicago Red Stars. www.chicagoredstars.com. July 10, 2018. July 10, 2018. September 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200918105516/https://chicagoredstars.com/sam-kerr-voted-nwsl-player-of-the-week/. dead.
23. Web site: Sam Kerr Voted NWSL Player of the Week. Chicago Red Stars. www.chicagoredstars.com. August 28, 2018. August 28, 2018. September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930061659/https://chicagoredstars.com/sam-kerr-voted-nwsl-player-of-the-week-2/. dead.
24. Web site: Vote: Goal of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 26 March 2018. 26 March 2018.
25. Web site: Vote: Goal of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 18 April 2018. 16 April 2018.
26. Web site: Vote: Goal of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 24 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
27. Web site: Vote: Goal of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 14 May 2018. 7 May 2018.
28. Web site: Balf . Celia . Vote: Goal of the Week . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL . 6 June 2018 . 4 June 2018.
29. Web site: Vote: Goal of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 26 June 2018. 25 June 2018.
30. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees : Week 14 . Youtube . National Women's Soccer League . 3 July 2018 . 2 July 2018.
31. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees: Week 15 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 19 July 2018 . 9 July 2018.
32. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees: Week 16 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 19 July 2018 . 16 July 2018.
33. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees: Week 20 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 14 August 2018 . 13 August 2018.
34. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees: Week 21 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 21 August 2018 . 21 August 2018.
35. Web site: Goal of the Week nominees: Week 22 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 28 August 2018 . 27 August 2018.
36. Web site: Vote: Save of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 26 March 2018. 26 March 2018.
37. Web site: Vote: Save of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 18 April 2018. 16 April 2018.
38. Web site: Vote: Save of the Week. National Women's Soccer League. 23 April 2018. 23 April 2018.
39. Web site: Balf. Celia. Save of the Week: Alyssa Naeher. 14 May 2018. 8 May 2014.
40. Web site: Save of the Week nominees: Week 8. NWSL. 22 May 2018. 21 May 2018.
41. Web site: Balf . Celia . Vote: Save of the Week . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL . 4 June 2018 . 4 June 2018.
42. Web site: Save of the Week nominees: Week 11/12. National Women's Soccer League. 20 June 2018. 18 June 2018.
43. Web site: Save of the Week nominees: Week 15 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 19 July 2018 . 9 July 2018.
44. Web site: Save of the Week nominees: Week 16 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 19 July 2018 . 16 July 2018.
45. Web site: Save of the Week nominees: Week 24 . YouTube . National Women's Soccer League . 11 September 2018 . 10 September 2018.