Ryan Gareis has come home.
Four years after beginning her professional soccer career with the Houston Dash, the former Neuqua Valley star recently signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Stars.
“I’m so excited to be back,” Gareis said. “Growing up, coming to a lot of, at the time, Red Stars games, it was always a dream and a goal of mine to be able to play for the team that I grew up watching.
“So it was always in the back of my mind, and then when free agency hit, the dream became a possibility and a reality.”
Gareis, 27, played for the Red Stars Reserves during her college career at South Carolina. The forward was drafted by the Dash in 2022 and made her professional debut that year against Chicago.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome Ryan back home to Chicago and the Chicago Stars,” Stars general manager Richard Feuz said in a statement. “Ryan is a dynamic and versatile player who can help bolster the offensive and defensive sides of the team.”
The Stars, who finished last in the NWSL in 2025, traded leading scorer Ludmila to San Diego after signing Gareis. So a major role could be in store.
“I had conversations with other teams, but I’m just so excited about not only where this club is located, being in my hometown, but I’m just so optimistic of where the organization is going and the girls who are here and kind of like the whole atmosphere here,” Gareis said.
“It’s a really exciting environment to be in, and it just so also happens to be in my hometown, so kind of the best of both worlds.”
Gareis grew professionally and personally during her time in Houston. She and her fiancé, Charlotte Hornets guard Pat Connaughton, welcomed their first child, son Crew, in 2024. Gareis and Connaughton are planning to get married June 13.
“I am a very lucky person,” Gareis said. “Having my son has really helped in every aspect of my life. There’s so much purpose with being his mom, and as a professional soccer player, he gives me a lot of balance but also even more motivation than I’ve ever had.”
Joe Moreau, who was Gareis’ coach and marketing teacher at Neuqua Valley, said she has never lacked motivation. Moreau recalled Gareis was part of a marketing team at the school that won a design contest and had some of its ideas used by the Naperville Park District.
“Ryan is not only a great soccer player and a great person,” Moreau said. “She is one of my favorite people. She’s so friendly and so energetic, and her work ethic on and off the field was great. She has worked her tail off in soccer.”
That work ethic extends to parenting, which is both Gareis’ biggest challenge and greatest joy.
“I would consider myself a very motivated person, but after having Crew, it definitely went up a notch because I’m playing for more than myself,” she said. “I love that fact that he’s growing up in this environment and around a bunch of awesome, strong women who are professional athletes, and around his dad’s team, who are also professional athletes and very strong, hardworking individuals.
“So not only has it been a very refreshing part of my life that has given me balance, but he really makes me want to have the best years of my career.”
Spending those years in her hometown is a special bonus for Gareis. Her parents, Leslie and Patrick, and her brother Joe, who is starting medical school in July, still live in Naperville.
“They are so excited,” Gareis said. “This is definitely a dream come true for them as much as me. They’re so supportive of my soccer career and are the greatest grandparents, and my fiancé’s parents are the greatest grandparents to Crew.
“So getting to be with my family is so awesome, and to play in front of family and friends is so awesome.”
The Stars begin preseason training this week, and Gareis is already enjoying more time with her parents.
“Literally on the way to training today, I passed my mom on the highway, with her going downtown to work,” Gareis said. “We waved to each other because we were both in traffic.
“When my mom gets to come over after work, or if we have an off day and I go home to Naperville to bring Crew to see them, I realize how important this move was for me. Off-the-field stuff is also super important, especially having my son, and every time I get to be around family that much, it really makes me so happy that I made this decision.”
Gareis will be the third Neuqua Valley graduate to play for the Stars, joining Michele Weissenhofer and Zoey Goralski.
Gareis is also the second Naperville native to change teams this offseason. Nicki Hernandez, a Metea Valley graduate who was a club teammate of Gareis, signed with the Boston Legacy.
“She’s awesome, so it’s really cool to see her flourishing and joining Boston,” Gareis said. “It will be so awesome to see her when we play them.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
