The Chicago Red Stars have announced the signing of Ella Masar for the 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League season. The 26 year-old forward from Urbana, Illinois, played for the Red Stars of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) in 2009 and 2010. Masar is currently playing professionally in France with historic club Paris Saint-Germain, with whom she signed in September of 2011. She will return to Chicago directly from PSG upon completion of her contract.
“I cannot wait to return home and help my teammates fight for a championship in the new WPSL Elite League,” stated Masar. “The owners and staff have done an exceptional job of assembling a team with some of the best players in the game.”
“I am highly anticipating reuniting with the dedicated and loving fans of Chicago. We are here to make a statement in the league and that is never possible without a support system. I am humbled to be a part of such a great group.”
Masar graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008. She was a team captain and All-Big Ten First Team selection during her senior year, as well as a Lowe’s All-America First Team choice. She was also honored with Big-Ten Offensive Player of the Year award during her junior year.
She was selected by the Red Stars in the second round of the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer draft and quickly became a local fan favorite on account of her tireless work ethic and fearlessness on the field. She had a break-out season towards the end of 2010 when she found form and finished with a team-high 8 goals. Shortly after, Chicago’s WPS team departed from the league and Masar became a free-agent, spending one more season in WPS before heading to join the Division 1 Féminine French league.
“It has been such a blessing and honor to be able to play for PSG for the last 7 months. It is a club that needs no introduction and has allowed me to accomplish another one of my dreams,” she remarked. “However, there is a saying that I love, ‘there is no place like home!’”
The Chicago Red Stars will open the 2012 WPSL Elite League season on Sunday, May 20, when they host FC Indiana at Concordia University. Then on Friday, May 25, they visit IUPUI Stadium for a rematch with FC Indiana.
