April 26, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Chicago Red Stars News Release
CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Red Stars today announced their broadcast schedule for the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. For the second year, Red Stars fans in the Chicagoland area can enjoy watching select matches on The U, WMEU Channel 48.1 and WCIU Channel 26.2.
“As the Red Stars, NWSL and women’s sports in general continue to grow, it’s important that we make our team and game as accessible as possible to fans and potential fans,” said Interim Chief Business Officer, Mike Ernst. “Continuing our partnership with The U allows us to lower the entry barrier into women’s sports, by putting the Red Stars on local TV, thereby creating the opportunity to grow our fanbase and increase brand awareness.”
Dan Kelly returns for his second season as the play-by-play announcer for Red Stars matches on The U. Kelly is an experienced broadcaster with over 25 years of experience that includes calling games for the Chicago Fire, Chicago Blackhawks, the Big Ten Network and more.
Sportswriter, broadcaster and business owner, Erica Ayala, will join Kelly in calling the first four Red Stars matches on The U this season. Ayala is the first and only Black or Latina broadcaster for the Premier Hockey Federation. Ayala has covered basketball, hockey and other sports for EspnW, The Athletic and other major news outlets. Ayala is also the founder of Black Rosie Media, an outlet with a focus on Black women and melanated people that works to support emerging creators in sports media.
Former Red Stars defender, Jackie Santacaterina Manny, will rejoin Kelly for the last two games broadcast on The U this season. Manny called all the games on The U alongside Kelly last season, and calls games on the Big Ten Network in addition to five years of experience playing for the Red Stars.
The U is seen on WMEU, Channel 48.1 and WCIU, Channel 26.2, XFINITY 230|360, Astound TV 35, Dish 48, Spectrum Charter 191 and U-Verse 24. On YouTube TV search for The U.
The 2023 Red Stars season features 28 matches, including six Challenge Cup matches, which will be played concurrently with the regular season for the first time in league history. Locally, The U will broadcast six Red Stars matches across the Chicagoland area. Nationally, fans can enjoy 25 matches on Paramount+ and three on CBS Sports Network. Additionally, this season fans in Canada can watch nine select Red Stars matches on TSN or…