6 traded, but questions remain after Dames’ resignation
The dismantling of the Chicago Red Stars appears to be underway less than two weeks after a bombshell report accused Rory Dames of abusive behavior and called into question the team’s management over its handling of the former coach.
The Red Stars on Thursday announced they traded six players — captain Julie Ertz, defender Sarah Gorden, midfielder Nikki Stanton and forwards Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak and Kelsey Turnbow — for seemingly little in return.
Ertz, Gorden and international slots in 2022 and 2023 were traded to Angel City FC in exchange for roster protection in the upcoming expansion draft. Ertz has been on the Red Stars since 2014, and Gorden, a DePaul alumna, was drafted by the team in 2016.
Johnson, Doniak and Turnbow, a 2021 draft pick who opted to remain in college this season, were dealt to San Diego Wave FC for expansion draft protection and an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
Stanton was traded to OL Reign for a third-round pick in the upcoming college draft.
The Red Stars in a release said the moves were made to “prioritize and honor the wishes of select players” while “protecting the balance” of a roster that only a few weeks ago lost 2-1 in the National Women’s Soccer League championship match.
U.S. Soccer told the Tribune it had no role in Ertz’s move to Los Angeles.
Earlier this week, defender Kayla Sharples was loaned to Adelaide United of the Australian A-League Women for the winter.
It is unclear who exactly is overseeing the roster moves for the Red Stars in the wake of Dames’ resignation, which was announced hours before the Washington Post reported on the abuse allegations. Dames also served as the team’s de facto general manager.
Goalkeeper coach Rade Tanaskovic is listed on the team’s website as acting head coach with Julianne Sitch listed as an assistant coach.
The Red Stars said in a statement to the Tribune: “Until the hiring of a permanent head coach, player personnel decisions are being made by the remaining coaching staff, in conjunction with senior front-office leadership and with the requests of players taken into consideration as noted in the release. There is no scheduled media availability with ownership.”
The Red Stars did not say who consists of “senior front-office leadership.”
Questions remain over what Red Stars ownership knew of Dames’ alleged behavior and when it was known.
Outside of two unsigned statements, the team’s expanded ownership has remained largely silent since the Post story broke Nov. 22.
The first statement, released Nov. 22 through crisis communications agency Culloton + Bauer Luce, was roundly criticized when posted to the team’s Twitter account. The team later disabled replies on its tweet linking to the statement.
The next day, Red Stars ownership released another statement apologizing to former players who accused Dames of abusive behavior and pledging to take action to better vet future coaches.
However, individual owners — including majority owner Arnim Whisler and stakeholders with large media presences — have not publicly spoken about the situation since the Washington Post story was published.
Dames was the most recent NWSL figurehead to be ousted this year for reasons not relating to results on the pitch.