The Deep Dish: The Reset

Both the Fire and Red Stars restarted their seasons last weekend. The Fire came from behind to draw NYCFC, 2-2, and keep their playoff hopes alive. The Red Stars lost to Racing Louisville, 3-1, and are in the 7th and penultimate playoff spot in the NWSL right now. So where do both teams stand right now?

FIRE:  A bigger reset is set after the season as Joe Mansueto will need to replace sporting director Georg Heitz who is leaving at season’s end. Xherdan Shaqiri has already left after a subpar stint in Chicago. The odds are that the Fire will spend a seventh consecutive season outside the playoffs which would make them just the second team to do so in MLS history (Toronto FC, 2007-2014).

The Fire host Inter Miami on Saturday night (7:30pm CT, Apple TV) with or without Messi. The Fire are two points adrift of the ninth and final spot in the East, but need to pass four teams to get there. Their biggest problem is defense as evidenced by the two early goals allowed at Citi Field last weekend. A quick start by Miami on Saturday will most certainly spell doom for the Fire and all the more pressure on Joe Mansueto to find the person who can finally build a winner in the Fire.

RED STARS:  Alyssa Naeher was in goal for the Red Stars against Louisville, last Saturday, but Mallory Swanson was not in the lineup. The Red Stars are currently a team where if you stop Mallory Swanson, chances are you are leaving with at least one point if not all three. The Ricketts Group will need to add depth around Swanson and re-sign Naeher who becomes a free agent at season’s end along with several others.

Off the pitch, the Red Stars are looking for a new home as their lease with SeatGeek Stadium ends after the 2025 season. They prefer to be in the city, but the quest is an uphill battle as both the Bears and White Sox are seeking new stadiums in the city as well. Getting a training facility like the Fire are in January would help matters a lot to attract talent.

More immediate matters start Sunday at Angel City at 3pm CT in a match televised on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Angel City currently sit ninth and a point below the playoff line. The Red Stars are five points ahead of Angel City. With nine matches to go, every match will be important to solidify a return to the playoffs after a wooden spoon season in 2023.