Ally Cook beating expectations with Red Stars

LOS ANGELES -- Ally Cook thought she was going to be drafted.

The former UCLA and Oregon forward had an impressive college resume, including 14 goals in 35 games and first-team All-PAC-12 honors. Cook even set up UCLA's game-winning goal in the 2022 National Championship. 

But as each selection passed in the 2024 NWSL Draft, she waited and did not hear her name called. She was surprised but had no plans of giving up. 

Multiple NWSL teams contacted Cook, and she landed with the Chicago Red Stars. Still, a roster spot was not guaranteed, so she had to compete to prove herself. 

“I relied heavily on my head coach (Margueritte Aozasa) from UCLA,” Cook told The Sporting Tribune. “She was probably the best at giving me what team she thought would be best for me or give me the best chances. I had a great relationship with her, trusted her, and took her word.”

Cook quickly showed her offensive firepower through goals and chance creation. Coach Lorne Donaldson noticed her willingness to get into position and aerial ability despite being an overall raw player. 

“As a forward, you have got to be creating chances and scoring,” Cook said. “ And in pre-season, day after day, I did a good job of scoring and showing ‘Hey, I'm a finisher. I can put the ball in the back of the net.”

By seizing the preseason opportunity, Cook signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option. She has since established her role, appearing in 11 matches, primarily as a substitute. 

In the 77th minute of the Red Stars’ opening match and Cook’s debut, she received the ball in front of the goal and quickly flicked it to Ava Cook, who scored. The score put the Red Stars ahead 2-0, a moment Cook described as “surreal.” 

After going undrafted, Cook showed her potential by making an instant impact. 

Cook has spent the rest of the season adjusting to the NWSL’s competitiveness while learning from her teammates. She plays with United States National Team (USWNT) forward Mallory Swanson, among other established players.

“Everybody has something different to bring, but throughout the team, effort and dedication to the game of every minute in the game is super serious,” Cook said. “You have to be giving your best, and when it's less than that, that's not the standard.”

Cook wants to continue growing her role and impact. She hopes to become more dynamic on the ball and build layers into her game. 

“We brought her in because we saw something in her," said Donaldson to reporters. “We know that she is somebody, if given a chance, she will put [the ball] in the back of the net. 

There is a learning curve in the league where the time you get in college and the time you get in the league is a little bit different. Her technical game has improved a lot… She is growing.”

As Cook develops, she plays against many former teammates and other UCLA products. The Bruins have had 24 players drafted to the NWSL, three less than the school with the most, the University of North Carolina.

Cook has already reconnected with UCLA’s 2024 draftees and former teammates Reilyn Turner and Ally Lemos. 

“[UCLA has] an established standard of just being consistently top team in the nation, and so you're going to get good players, but then being surrounded by the good players, you are only getting better,” Cook said. “You are competing against people who will be in the NWSL in the next year or two, so it prepares you for the next level.”

Cook misses Southern California and its warm climate but has embraced Chicago. She has found a role on an NWSL team and has Lake Michigan to remind her of home. 

And her soccer journey might only just be getting started.