Chicago Red Stars Exercise 3 Contract Options for 2025; International Window Schedule

The Chicago Red Stars will be Chicago Stars FC in 2025, and they’re bringing along a few more members of their current squad into the new era for the team.

Taylor Malham, Ava Cook, and Bea Franklin’s 2025 contract options were exercised, according to Spotrac’s Taylor Vincent, ensuring that all three will be with the Red Stars when they begin preparations for their 2025 NWSL campaign.

Malham joined the Red Stars in 2023 as a non-roster invitee for the preseason after she spent her rookie season with Racing Louisville and made Chicago’s squad out of camp. She’s made 21 NWSL appearances (17 starts) with Chicago and notched her first two professional assists earlier this season.

Franklin was selected by the Red Stars 41st overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft and has become a mainstay at midfielder in Lorne Donaldson’s starting 11. The former Arkansas and Notre Dame standout got her first NWSL start on June 14 and has remained in the starting lineup for all but one regular season match since.

Ava Cook was selected by the Red Stars 18th overall in the 2022 draft after a college career that saw her make the jump from Division II’s Grand Valley State to Michigan State, where she led the team in scoring during her first Division I season. Cook has collected six goals in the NWSL and is currently recovering from an ACL tear she suffered in April.

Red Stars in Action During International Window

It’s the international break and seven members of the Red Stars will be in action on the international level.

Mallory Swanson & Alyssa Naeher (USWNT)

October 24 vs. Iceland, international friendly, 6:30 p.m. CT, Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas, broadcast on TBS and Max.

October 27 vs. Iceland, international friendly, 4:00 p.m. CT, GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee, broadcast on TNT, TruTV, and Max.

October 30 vs. Argentina, international friendly, 6:00 p.m. CT, Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky, broadcast on TNT, TruTV, and Max.

Ludmila (Brazil)

October 26 vs. Colombia, international friendly, 4:30 p.m. CT, Estádio Kléber Andrade, Cariacica, Brazil

October 29 vs. Colombia, international friendly, 5:00 p.m. CT, Estádio Kléber Andrade, Cariacica, Brazil

Julia Grosso (Canada)

October 25 vs. Spain, international friendly, 3:00 p.m. CT, Estadio Francisco de la Hera, Almendralejo, Spain

Natalia Kuikka (Finland)

October 25 vs. Montenegro, Women’s EURO Qualification League A Semi Leg 1, 9:30 a.m. CT, Stadion Pod Goricom, Podgorica, Montenegro

October 28 vs. Montenegro, Women’s EURO Qualification League A Semi Leg 2, 11:30 a.m. CT, Tammelan Stadion, Tampere, Finland

Rosella Ayane (Morocco)

October 25 vs. Tanzania, international friendly, 1:00 p.m. CT, Stade Père Jégo, Casablanca, Morocco

October 29 vs. Senegal, international friendly, 2:30 p.m. CT, Stade Père Jégo, Casablanca, Morocco

Sydney Schneider (Jamaica)

October 25 vs. France, international friendly, 2:05 p.m. CT, Stade Auguste Bonal, Montbéliard, France

What’s On Tap Next?

The Red Stars will host the Kansas City Current in their regular-season finale on Nov. 3. The match is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN.