Given the choice, the Red Stars would have preferred beating Gotham on September 12 to secure a spot in the National Women's Soccer League playoffs.

Instead, the Red Stars suffered a 2-0 loss to the reigning NWSL champions at SeatGeek Stadium and secured a playoff spot 24 hours later when Washington beat Louisville 4-1.

With two games left in the regular season, the Red Stars (10-12-2) are in sixth place with 32 points. Eight teams are taking part in this year's playoffs. With a maximum of six possible points left, the Red Stars can't reach fifth place North Carolina (39 points), but the worst they can do is eighth. Even though ninth-place Louisville is still in the playoffs, it can't catch the Red Stars, so Chicago will secure either a sixth, seventh or eighth place.

After the team missed the playoffs and finished in last place in 2023, first-year coach Lorne Donaldson and the new owners can look forward to success.

“It’s important for the players and the club to bounce back after a year like last year,” Donaldson said of receiving a postseason bid. “I give a lot of credit to the players and the organization. I didn't do much. The players went out and played.”

The playoffs begin on November 9th.

The Red Stars played tough against third-place Gotham (15-4-5) for most of the game, but in the 87th minute the visitors were awarded a penalty kick after the referees reviewed the play. Lynn Williams' shot went past Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naher and Esther Gonzalez scored for insurance in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Gotham had a 12-2 shots advantage and a 5-1 shots on goal advantage. Red Stars top scorer Ludmila snapped her winning streak in consecutive games with one goal scored in three games.

Defenseman Tatumn Milazzo, an Orland Parker native, made her first start since Sept. 1 and played 89 minutes. She had 74 touches, two interceptions and one block.

The Red Stars visit Washington on October 20 at Audi Field at 4 p.m. After the league takes a week off, the Red Stars will close out the regular season against Kansas City at SeatGeek Stadium.

Orland Park native Tatumn Milazzo made her first appearance for the Red Stars since Sept. 1, when the team lost 2-0 to Gotham on Oct. 12 in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Fire changes coach

The next time the Chicago Fire play at SeatGeek Stadium, Frank Klopas will not be coaching the team.

After this season, Klopas will be promoted to vice president of football. Meanwhile, on October 8, the Fire hired Gregg Berhalter as the 10th coach in team history. Berhalter, the former coach of the U.S. men's national team, has three decades of professional experience as a player, coach or executive.

“I am confident that under his leadership we will build on the foundation laid over the last five years and be an organization that Chicago will be proud of,” team owner Joe Mansueto said of Berhalter in a press release.

After his hiring, Berhalter wrote an open letter to Fire fans.

“I know the passion and loyalty this fan base has for their team and how intimidating it can be to play in a packed stadium in Chicago,” he wrote. “As I step into this role, my top priority will be to build a team that matches your commitment.”

Fire II in the playoffs

The Chicago Fire II made it to the MLS Next Pro playoffs and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference. They will host fifth-seeded Orlando City in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at SeatGeek Stadium on October 20 at 2 p.m.