The Chicago Red Stars: Peter Wilt's Newest Team

Not that most people know it yet, but there's a new major league in America.  Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) started play last weekend in LA.

With seven franchises and expansions planned for three more cities over the next two years, the talent appears to be balanced; each team has an even allotment of American and non-American talent, big names and unknowns.

As is usually the case with the birth of a new league, what separates the teams at the outset is the caliber of the management rather than the players.

Of course better management makes better personnel picks, not only in terms of raw talent, but also, and more importantly, in calculating the chemistry.

I suspect it is one part science and three parts art.

Either way, one team has a huge advantage, before it has even played its first game. Chicago's entry, the Red Stars, are led by the CEO, Peter Wilt.

Wilt is best known for building the Chicago Fire into a triple-championship team.  In their first year, they won the MLS Cup, the US Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield; the Supporters' Shield is an award for the highest home attendance and is the ring Wilt is most proud of, and the one he wears most days. 

As general manager of the Fire, Wilt put together a team of MLS castoffs and international finds to create a team.  A team that, under the coaching of Bob Bradley, now the US Men's National Team (MNT) coach, won more with chemistry than with might.

While piling up the wins in their first year, the Fire also led the league in corporate sponsorships. The team made a second MLS Cup appearance and won two more US Open Cups during Wilt's tenure.

He also took the lead in building Toyota Park, the first soccer-only stadium in the U.S.  to be fully funded with public money and, some would say, is the most beautiful and functional soccer venue built for the MLS. 

At least Mr. Wilt will feel right at home in his new role; his newest team, the Red Stars, shares Toyota Park with the Fire.

Since many fans felt the timing of Wilt's departure from the Fire organization was unfair, perhaps his return will be poetic justice. Finally, he can sit in the house he built, as if he owns it. 

However, the benefit is not Wilt's alone.

Chicago fans will, yet again, benefit from his soccer genius. In addition to his legendary work building the Fire, he also built championship teams for the Chicago teams in the National Premiere Soccer League (NPSL) and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).

Now, with the Red Stars, he's going for ring No. 4 in league No. 4.

There is every indication that he will be wearing that ring in September, when the inaugural season comes to a close.

Who else is better equipped to pick and choose from a huge menu of talent from around the world and get the balance, the chemistry, and the talent just right?

In analyzing the Fire's fast start, Bradley was the key acquisition.

On the women's side, Wilt has done it again, snagging Emma Hayes.  Previously, she was the first team assistant coach for the Arsenal Ladies Football Club in London—England's top-ranked women's team.

Her right hand is Denise Reddy, most recently a head coach in the W-League.  The Red Star's general manager, Marcia McDermott, has an extensive and impressive resume which includes her being a student athlete at UNC and coaching several major college programs and the WUSA's Carolina Courage.  

From the Women's National Team (WNT), the Red Stars signed Carli Lloyd (Rutgers) and Lindsay Tarpley (UNC), along with Kate Markgraf, who ended up sitting out the season because of her pregnancy.

They added the Brazilian star, Cristiane; Frida Ostberg from Sweden; and top draft picks, listed in order of selection, Megan Rapinoe (Portland); Nikki Krysik (UVA); Brittany Klein (Santa Clara); Natalie Spilger (Stanford); and Chioma Igwe (Santa Clara).  For the keeper position, Lydia Williams from Australia and Caroline Johnson from Sweden will be vying to start.  

But again, as impressive as the many names on the roster may be, the magic is in the management. With Peter Wilt back in Chicago, the rest of the league should be very afraid.