Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League announced the signing of Shelby Township, Michigan, native and Michigan State University alumna Justina Gaynor. 

The Michigan native will join Chicago on a one-year contract through 2025 with an option for 2026 after spending the preseason with the Stars on a training camp invite. Gaynor, who played as a midfielder in college, will be making a position change to defender when the season begins.

"I am so grateful to start my professional career with the Chicago Stars! I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the team however I can and learn from both the staff and players," said Gaynor. "Thank you to everyone who has pushed me along the way to help me fulfill this lifelong dream."

"We're happy to have Justina join the Stars," said Chicago Stars general manager, Richard Feuz. "Before receiving a full invitation to preseason, our coaches and scouting team invited various talented players to a combine with our coaches. After impressing there, Justina took advantage of her opportunity and continued to stand out this preseason. I look forward to watching her continued growth with the Stars."

"She brings what we're looking for. I mean, she's a good footballer," said Chicago Stars Head Coach Lorne Donaldson. "They're going to do everything for the team to win. You know, one of the most important things that we know is she's good in the locker room and she's a good teammate."

During her four years at Michigan State, the defender started in 76 of 83 match appearances with the Spartans, scoring 17 goals and tallying 20 assists. In 2023, she was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. She was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2022 and 2023.

CBS Detroit Sports spoke exclusively with Justina Gaynor about the opportunity the club presented to her, changing her position from midfielder to defender.

"They had at the beginning of preseason mentioned the possibility of switching me to more of an outside back. And, I was open for it. Whatever the team needs, that's kind of how I've always been. That's how I was in college. That's how I took the approach, starting this pre-season," said Gaynor, "I learn something new every day there... It's been a good process and I've kind of just welcomed it as it's come."

Making a transition to a defensive role for any player can be made easy by having a great goalkeeper in behind them. Luckily, Chicago has two-time World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Naeher in goal.

"Throughout training, playing with Alyssa is honestly, I could have never imagined. I obviously watched her play growing up all the time, and she's just been great. She's a super good coach and obviously a fantastic goalkeeper... I was like a little starstruck... She's such a good voice, a good leader back there. She's definitely also helped make my transition to more of a defensive role, go super smoothly. She's a great player, a great person, and it's been such an honor to play with her so far and to continue playing with her."

Gaynor joins a roster in Chicago which includes two other Michigan natives, Ava Cook from Battle Creek and Micayla Johnson from Troy.

"I played with Ava at Michigan State for a season and I know Micayla through some training at home. We got to represent Michigan well. And, especially Michigan State, go green, love my Michigan State family."

Michigan has seen an increase in players joining the NWSL in recent years, and Gaynor believes fans will continue to see even more players from the state entering the league.

"Michigan is such a great environment for training. I think that for a long time we've had a couple of players here and there come into the league and then into some other professional leagues. Obviously I grew up there, I played there, and I come home and I train all the time back in Michigan... We do a great job developing players. And I think that you're just going to continue to see players out of Michigan make it into the professional ranks and in all different leagues around the world."

Gaynor's sister, Celia Gaynor, was drafted by Chicago in the fourth round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Celia Gaynor now plays professionally for Fort Lauderdale United FC in the USL Super League.

"I'm super, super close with my sister. She's my best friend. We get mistaken for twins all the time. And she spoke so highly of Chicago, and she loved her time here. And she was so grateful for this club. So, I just had a lot of confidence coming in that the coaching staff and the girls would be, great and it would be a really good environment."

Chicago Stars FC will kick off the 2025 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) regular season at 8 p.m. ET on March 14, taking on the 2024 NWSL Champions, the Orlando Pride.