Rueter: Fans chose the Red Stars’ name years ago. Now, Chicago is leaving both behind

At a time when the Chicago Red Stars should be galvanizing fans before a postseason run, they’ve instead taken a polarizing alternative step. When the Red Stars clinched a place in the 2024 NWSL playoffs on Oct. 13, their season proved a bounce back from last year’s failure to make the postseason. In his first season at the helm, head coach Lorne Donaldson has led a talented team — including Olympic gold medalists Mallory Swanson and Alyssa Naeher and international ballers such as Julia Grosso a