The Chicago Red Stars released their 2024 preseason roster on the first day of camp in Bridgeview under new head coach Lorne Donaldson.
There are plenty of familiar faces on the roster as Mallory Swanson and Alyssa Naeher look to bring their squad back into the NWSL playoffs after a moribund 2023 campaign.
Offseason acquisitions Sam Staab, Maximiliane Rall, and Natalia Kuikka are among the newcomers along with six non-roster invitees (NRI) for the Red Stars.
2024 Chicago Red Stars Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher, Erin McKinney (NRI), Mackenzie Wood (loaned to Stade de Reims through June)
Defenders: Hannah Anderson, Camryn Biegalski, Sammi Feller, Celia Gaynor, Amanda Kowalski, Natalia Kuikka, Taylor Malham, Tatumn Milazzo, Maximiliane Rall, Bridget Rieken (NRI), Sam Staab
Midfielders: Jill Aguilera, Julia Bianchi, Jenna Bike, Chardonnay Curran, Jenny Danielsson (NRI), Sam Fisher, Bea Franklin, Sarah Griffith, Sophie Jones, Addie McCain, LeiLanni Nesbeth, Cari Roccaro
Forwards: Ally Cook (NRI), Ava Cook, Mia Fontana (NRI), Nádia Gomes (NRI), Shea Groom, Penelope Hocking, Jameese Joseph, Ally Schlegel, Mallory Swanson, Paige Webber (NRI)
Who Are the Non-Roster Invitees?
Erin McKinney
A former Akron Zip and Wisconsin Badger, McKinney provides the Red Stars with depth between the posts behind Alyssa Naeher. McKinney is a graduate of Belvidere North High School and could be in line for the “on-call” national team replacement player spot that Chicago will use if/when Naeher has USWNT duty.
Bridget Rieken
Rieken recently finished a five-year stint at Washington State where she made 87 appearances (84 starts) for the Cougars. Rieken’s three substitute appearances came during her first season in Pullman and the center back ended up scoring nine goals in her final three collegiate seasons.
Jenny Danielsson
Danielsson brings a load of European experience to this Red Stars’ camp, most recently featuring for Rangers W.F.C in Scotland. The Finnish midfielder has 24 appearances (four starts) for the national team after making her first-team international debut in 2017.
Ally Cook
A 2023 All-Pac 12 First Team selection after scoring nine goals in 19 starts for the UCLA Bruins in the fall, Cook is looking to bring her goal-scoring prowess to the next level after going undrafted earlier this month. Cook spent the first three years of her collegiate career at Oregon and scored 17 times in over 4,100 minutes for the Ducks.
Mia Fontana
Fontana wrapped up a five-year collegiate career with the California Golden Bears in the fall. The midfielder made 55 appearances (38 starts) in Berkeley and scored six goals in over 3,000 minutes on the pitch.
Nádia Gomes
A second-round pick in the 2018 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride, Gomes has bounced around all levels of soccer in this country over the past few years (chronicled properly here). Most recently, Gomes was named the National Player of the Year in the amateur USL W League after scoring 17 goals for San Francisco Glens SC in 2023.
Paige Webber
Webber took over the Big Ten in 2023 as the former Indiana Hoosier was named to the All-Big Ten First Team after scoring 12 goals during her final collegiate season. The Grand Blanc, Michigan native will need to continue to find the target as a professional if she wants to make the team out of camp.
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