Olivia Wynn Joins as Director of Soccer Operations and Player Care; Fonsi Cespedes Promoted to Chief Scout
Chicago Stars FC has added Beatrice Caliani as the club’s Assistant General Manager, bringing a wealth of international experience to the club’s sporting operations. The Stars have also added Olivia Wynn as Director of Soccer Operations and Player Care, while Fonsi Cespedes has been promoted to Chief Scout. Caliani, Wynn and Cespedes will all report to General Manager Richard Feuz.
Caliani brings an extensive international background spanning elite women’s soccer and major global sporting events. She joins the club after serving in a similar role with OL Lyonnes from 2020-22, one of the most successful football clubs in the world. Working alongside the club’s Sporting Director, she contributed to collaborative projects involving its former NWSL franchise, OL Reign (now Seattle Reign FC under new ownership), strengthening cross-Atlantic alignment and operational integration between the organizations. A 2023 FIFA Master graduate, Caliani has also supported the operational delivery of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and UEFA Women's EURO 2025, helping build and manage high-performance environments for participating teams. She began her career in institutional and international relations with the French Football Federation.
Caliani’s profile blends top-level event operations, governance expertise and experience within leading global soccer structures. Brazilian-French and fluent in English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Italian, , she brings a valuable international perspective which will help seamlessly bridge international best practices with the club’s strategic vision.
Wynn brings extensive experience in safety, compliance and player-centered operations across some of the most demanding environments in sports and public service, reinforcing a Chicago Stars culture rooted in accountability, safety and excellence. Most recently, she served as League Safety Officer for the National Women's Soccer League, where she led systemic reform initiatives, partnered closely with club executives and the Board of Governors and advanced comprehensive, league-wide safeguarding strategies. Her prior experience includes roles with Temple University, the Women's Sports Foundation and the Ross Initiative for Sports Equality, further strengthening her background in athlete advocacy and equity-focused programming. Wynn’s experience also includes working in government with the Department of Justice.
Cespedes continues his leadership progression at the club as he steps into the role of Chief Scout. Originally from Almussafes, Spain, he brings 15 years of experience in women’s football and joined the Stars in 2024 as Scouting & Data Manager, becoming the first Spaniard to hold that role in the NWSL while implementing a modern, data-driven recruitment strategy. Prior to arriving in Chicago, Cespedes spent nearly a decade with Valencia CF Femenino, where he progressed through every level of the organization, from youth development to first team assistant coach, before being appointed the club’s first-ever Head of Scouting in 2021, building its talent identification framework from the ground up. He began his career in 2011 managing the Sollana women’s team for three seasons, laying the foundation for a career spanning coaching, player development and elite scouting operations.
The Chicago Stars kick off the season on the road March 15 against Angel City FC. The club returns to Chicago the following week to play their home opener at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m. CT against the Kansas City Current. Tickets for all Chicago Stars home matches, including Season Ticket Memberships, Flex Packs and single-match tickets, are available now at chicagostars.com/tickets.
Chicago Stars FC president, Karen Leetzow, has appointed Cate McManmon as chief strategy and finance officer, the club announced today.
“I’m very happy to welcome Cate to the Chicago Stars,” said Leetzow. “Cate’s experience in professional sports, along with her passion for women’s sports, are an excellent complement to what we are building in Chicago with the Stars. I look forward to working with Cate on continuing our positive momentum into the offseason and into next year.”
“I’m honored and excited to continue my work with Laura, Karen and the entire Chicago Stars team in a more formal capacity. It’s a privilege to be a part of this club’s growth story,” said McManmon.
McManmon joins the Chicago Stars from the Chicago Cubs where she served as director of strategy and corporate development since 2018. With the Cubs, McManmon drove traditional corporate and media rights strategy, invested in businesses within the sports and entertainment industry and advised Chicago Stars executive chairperson, Laura Ricketts, during the acquisition process that led to the ownership transition last year.
In her new role with the Chicago Stars, McManmon will work with the director of finance to set and maintain the club’s budget and strategic plan, advise on growth related initiatives, and lead facility solution development and financing processes, among other responsibilities.
Chicago Red Stars President, Karen Leetzow, has appointed Sara Arnold as the club’s new Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, the club announced today.
“We are excited to have Sara join the Red Stars,” said Leetzow. “Sara’s experience across sports will help us develop a corporate partnerships team that can sell our club’s vision and create meaningful relationships that benefit both organizations and our larger Red Stars community.”
“I can’t wait to get started with the Red Stars,” said Arnold. “As former president of the Women in Baseball Employee Resource Group and as a board member of WISE Atlanta, I am passionate about growing opportunities for women in sports and what better way to do that than to work in women’s sports, and for a club like the Chicago Red Stars. I’d like to thank Karen for putting her trust in me and I look forward to growing this club along with the rest of the leadership team, front office and our fans.”
Arnold brings a wealth of experience across various sports and leagues to the Red Stars. Arnold spent the past four years in Arizona working on notable events including Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Men’s 2024 NCAA Men's Final Four. Prior to her work in Arizona, Arnold spent 10 years with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball working in corporate partnerships.
With the Red Stars, Arnold will use her experience to lead the corporate partnerships team in developing and maintaining meaningful partnerships that drive revenue growth and help grow the brand’s presence with new and creative activations.
Chicago Red Stars president, Karen Leetzow, appointed Kay Bradley as the club’s new Chief Marketing Officer, the club announced today. Bradley joins the Red Stars from U.S. Soccer where she served as vice president of marketing and led integrated marketing, fan engagement and loyalty, content, brand development and creative.
“I am thrilled to join the Chicago Red Stars as the club enters a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Bradley. “I’d like to thank Karen for entrusting me with this position, and I look forward to working with our amazing athletes, fanbase and key stakeholders in Chicago to tell their stories and grow the Red Stars brand and fanbase.”
“I could not be happier to welcome Kay to the Red Stars,” said Leetzow. “During my time at U.S. Soccer, I had the pleasure of working with Kay and saw some of the incredible initiatives she implemented, along with her department. I look forward working with Kay again and to can’t wait to see what she has in store for our players and our club.”
At U.S. Soccer, Kay led the development and execution of the marketing campaigns for the men’s and women’s national teams. Ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup, U.S. Soccer launched 'Always Possible / Todo es Posible' which represents not being limited by predefined boundaries and taking the initiative to write one’s own future. The campaign represented the many voices of athletes and fans and the cyclical relationship of both inspiring each other.
During Bradley’s tenure at U.S. Soccer, she was responsible for growing soccer in the United States with a focus on connecting U.S. Soccer, its partners and key soccer stakeholders with current and prospective multicultural, next generation fans of the Women's and Men's National Soccer Teams. Growing the fan base and generating fan engagement at scale were among her key priorities and achievements during her time with the Federation.
Bradley was named a 2023 Game Changer by Sports Business Journal for her work with U.S Soccer. In October, Sports Business Journal honored their 13th annual class of Game Changers, which they described as leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers at organizations across sports, from teams and leagues, to networks and agencies, and more.
As CMO of the Red Stars, Bradley will lead all marketing initiatives for the club to increase the awareness of the Red Stars and grow the club’s brand.
Laura Ricketts says Leetzow is a “committed advocate for women in sports”
Trailblazing Woman Sports Exec, Lawyer, Led U.S. Soccer Reforms on Safety, Pay Equity
The Chicago Red Stars have appointed accomplished sports executive and attorney Karen Leetzow as the club’s new president. Leetzow joins the Red Stars after serving as the chief legal officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation, where she oversaw the independent investigation into abuse and sexual misconduct in women’s soccer and also helped lead the successful negotiations for an agreement to ensure equal pay for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.
“Karen is a committed advocate for women in sports and her work with the U.S. Soccer Federation leadership team to create a new culture is beyond compare,” said Laura Ricketts, Chicago Red Stars principal owner. “In her distinguished career she has gone beyond barriers and blazed a path for women to have a seat at the table of the C-suite of major sports enterprises and she has assured our athletes are protected and have a level playing field.”
Before assuming the top legal role at U.S. Soccer, Leetzow was the first woman to serve as NASCAR’s general counsel.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Laura Ricketts and her group of accomplished women business and civic leaders in changing the culture at the Chicago Red Stars and to build a championship organization on and off the pitch,” said Leetzow. “I look forward to working with every team member in the business and technical staff of the Red Stars to achieve Laura’s goal of creating a championship culture of excellence and accountability.”
Leetzow played a pivotal role in leading U.S. Soccer through a definitive period of change while fostering an inclusive environment that positively impacted not just the Federation but soccer at every level.
In her role at U.S. Soccer, Leetzow helped U.S. Soccer leadership select former U.S. Justice Department official Sally Q. Yates to conduct the independent investigation into women’s soccer. Leetzow oversaw the Yates investigation and the resulting report found abusive behavior towards athletes endemic in women’s soccer, beginning in the youth game. The findings were shared publicly and the groundbreaking Yates investigation ultimately resulted in major changes, including some coaching dismissals and the U.S. Soccer Federation launching numerous safety reforms throughout youth and women’s soccer. The organization also called on Congress to strengthen the Center for Safesport, a federal office designed to protect young athletes.
Leetzow also took over the U.S. National Soccer teams’ collective bargaining negotiations which, prior to her involvement, turned into an acrimonious fight. Leetzow and U.S. Soccer successfully achieved a deal that provided equal pay for U.S. National Women’s Soccer and parity in the agreements for men and women players, including family-friendly provisions.
JT Batson, CEO of U.S. Soccer shared, “Karen has been an invaluable colleague and everyone at U.S. Soccer congratulates her on this well-deserved opportunity. Her leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to inclusivity will be felt throughout the Red Stars and the NWSL. We look forward to witnessing her continued success in the next chapter of her career.”
“It is an honor to work with Laura and the league to have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our athletes, team associates and fans,” said Leetzow, who begins December 4th.
Dear Red Stars Fans,
On behalf of my fellow investors who today officially closed on our purchase of the Chicago Red Stars, I am honored to introduce ourselves to our loyal fans as the new owners and stewards of this club.
Our group of diverse women investors, some of the most prominent business and civic leaders in Chicago and beyond, brings unparalleled experience across professional sports, finance, turnaround management, commercial real estate, marketing and advertising, paired with deep community ties that make for a powerful combination to lead the club into a new chapter for players, our fans and the league.
Collectively, we are committed to empowering our great athletes, rewarding our loyal fans, and continuing to build on the NWSL’s exponential growth. We are in the early days of the work of building a championship organization on and off the pitch.
Thank you for your longstanding support of this organization, our players and fellow fans. We look forward to building a championship-caliber club with your support.
Laura Ricketts