Women

Loaned to partner club

She-Wolf Sandra Starke now playing for Chicago Red Stars in the US pro league.

The VfL Women squad will consist of just 24 players until the end of the season after Sandra Starke moved on loan to the Chicago Red Stars, who play in the National Women’s Soccer League, America’s top professional league. The transfer has been agreed as part of the global strategic partnership that VfL Wolfsburg Women and the Chicago Red Stars entered into in September 2022. The loan deal runs until 30 June 2023 and Starke, who joined the She-Wolves from SC Freiburg in 2021, is eligible to play immediately. The Red Stars, coached by Chris Petrucelli and assistant Ella Masar, got their new NWSL season under way on 25 March.

“I’m really looking forward to this new adventure with the Chicago Red Stars,” said Starke. “It’s always been a dream of mine to gain new experiences abroad. I find the USA particularly fascinating and I’m very curious to see what the exact differences are, in terms of football but also the mentality and way of life. I’m really excited about what Chicago has in store for me and I’m sure I’ll return with great experiences and encounters. I’d like to thank the VfL Wolfsburg management for making this step possible. Of course I’ll be supporting the girls from afar for the remainder of the season.”

Sandra Strake läuft im Trikot des VfL Wolfsburg über den Platz.

Ralf Kellermann, director of women’s football at VfL Wolfsburg, said: “Sandra approached us with the wish to take advantage of this unique opportunity for her to move to the NWSL at an unusual time in the middle of the season. Following constructive discussions with the management at our partner Chicago Red Stars, we agreed to this request and in the end found a good solution for all parties. We now wish Sandra the best for her time in the USA – sporting success but also great experiences and lasting impressions off the pitch.”

“The strategic partnership between the Red Stars and VfL Wolfsburg has already proven very fruitful for both sides,” commented Michelle Lomnicki, general manager of the Chicago Red Stars. “After Tierna Davidson got the opportunity in pre-season to gain experiences in Germany and Wolfsburg as a training guest, Sandra Starke will now come to us in the USA and discover how our league works. With her experiences from the German national team, the Women’s Bundesliga and the Champions League, Sandra will be a great addition to our squad and we are all very excited to see how she can help us on the pitch.”