Veteran sports counsel Karen Leetzow, known for championing women’s safety and leading anti-discrimination reforms across soccer in the United States, is joining the Chicago Red Stars women’s soccer team as president.

Leetzow comes from the Chicago-based U.S. Soccer Federation, the governing body for the sport in this country, where she’s been chief legal officer for three years. The hiring follows the recent purchase of the struggling National Women’s Soccer League team by Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts.