Chicago Red Stars acquire Makenzy Doniak via trade with Utah Royals FC

The Chicago Red Stars have made a trade today, and it's the first bit of offseason roster news directly from the club.

The club has traded their natural second round pick in the 2021 NWSL draft to the Utah Royals in exchange for Makenzy Doniak.

Doniak was aquired by the Utah Royals via a trade while on injury reserve back in 2018 while with the North Carolina Courage. She made a full recovery from her ACL injury and made 11 appearances over the 2019 season totaling 167 minutes. A former Virginia Cavalier, Doniak scored a goal against Orlando Pride back on May 25. It was a special moment for a player who worked her way back from a tough injury.

The offseason had been rather quiet until recently— with the league front office announcing today that there will be no expansion team entering NWSL. This will be the third consecutive year that the league will have no expansion and continue to function once again with 9 teams.

For the Red Stars, this news could possibly be the first of roster movement as expansion talks are still on the horizon for 2021 with the possibility of two team's entering the league now instead of one.

After the offseason departures of Mexican International Mária Sánchez (Chivas Femenil), superstar striker Sam Kerr (Chelsea FC), and the recent retirement of Brooke Elby, the roster news is likely a welcomed one by Red Stars fans.

The move comes ahead of the 2020 NWSL draft—which will take place in Baltimore, on January 16, 2020.