Red Stars sign national team star Swanson to record 4-year contract

The Chicago Red Stars have signed U.S. team forward Mallory Swanson to a historic four-year contract with an option for a fifth year, a record for the National Women’s Soccer League.

Financial terms of the deal announced Tuesday were not made public, although the team called it the “most lucrative agreement” in league history. CBS Sports reported it was worth some $400,000 per year for nearly $2 million over the length of the contract.

Swanson, who was a free agent this season, has been with the Red Stars since 2021. She has scored 18 goals with 10 assists in 51 games with the team.

“These last few years have been such a blessing in Chicago, even with the ups and downs, and I can’t wait to be back,” Swanson said in a statement. “I am looking forward to getting to work and helping the team win championships.”

Swanson, 25, was one of the United States’ strongest players in early 2023, but her year was cut short when she injured a tendon in her left knee during an exhibition match against Ireland in April.

Previously the league’s most lucrative contract was the three-year, $1.5 million agreement signed by Maria Sanchez with the Houston Dash last month.

Storied coach Pia Sundhage was hired Tuesday to lead the Switzerland women’s soccer team that is hosting the 2025 European Championship.

Sundhage was a standout forward playing for Sweden and then a twotime Olympic champion coaching the United States. She took the U.S., Sweden and Brazil to various editions of the Women’s World Cup. Her U.S. team lost the 2011 final to Japan.

Sundhage was voted the best women’s coach in the 2012 FIFA awards after the U.S. retained its Olympic title in London.

She coached Sweden when it hosted Euro 2013 and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Germany.

“It’s a privilege to be able to coach a team under such pressure. I love that,” Sundhage said in a statement published by the Swiss soccer federation, which gave her a contract through next year.

England coach Sarina Wiegman signed a contract extension on Tuesday that runs through to the Women’s World Cup in 2027.

Wiegman took charge of the Lionesses in September 2021, led them to the European Championship title in 2022 and then took the team to last year’s World Cup final, where it lost 1-0 to Spain.

On Monday, she won the FIFA award for the best women’s coach in 2023.