Rally Madison FC Proud to Introduce New Supporters Group “The Rose Guard”
MADISON, Wis. — Supporters of Rally Madison FC have officially launched The Rose Guard, a fan group dedicated to building a passionate community around women’s soccer in Madison.
Kristen Nelson, a longtime member of Forward Madison’s supporters group, The Flock, since the Club’s very first match in 2019, said the introduction of Rally Madison FC immediately inspired community members to create something new and meaningful on the girls’ side.
The name, which draws from core Rally Madison branding, emerged from a series of conversations within the supporters group and with additional community input.
“We talked through a bunch of names, and we [ultimately] landed on The Rose Guard because the Rose signifies hope, unity and eventual triumph, and that’s exactly what [we] want [this] supporters group to embody,” Nelson said.
Members say The Rose Guard is more than merely a fan section. It is being built as a welcoming and inclusive environment for women’s soccer supporters across the city.
“It gives me so much joy to see this happening,” Nelson said. “The team is new, but I feel like the passion for women’s sports and women’s soccer in Madison is deeply rooted.”
The Rose Guard hopes to bring high-energy support to the east end of Breese Stevens Field through organized chants, drum sequences, graphics and flags.
“It’s for everybody,” Nelson said. “It’s for anyone who loves women’s sports and wants to create a great atmosphere at Breese for the team.”
Lisette Venegas, a longtime supporter of soccer in Madison and driving force behind The Rose Guard, said the atmosphere around Rally Madison is visibly unique, marked by a strong sense of energy and unity.
“It was such a different vibe than our Forward games,” Venegas said. “Not different in a bad or good way, just different because it has that feminine side and women’s soccer side to it. It’s high energy and optimistic, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come.”
One of Venegas’ biggest hopes for The Rose Guard is that young girls from all corners of the city will witness the power of women’s sports and position themselves at the forefront of the supporter’s group.
“I would love to see The Rose Guard full of young girls,” she said. “That is my goal.”
Nelson believes that visibility and community engagement mean everything to the Club.
“Having a celebrated women’s soccer team where girls can see a path for themselves to be phenomenal and exceptional is so important,” Nelson said. “You can see men’s stuff everywhere, but until now, you didn’t see this level of support for a women’s team in Madison.”
As Rally Madison continues its first-ever campaign, members of The Rose Guard are hopeful that the supporter’s group will feel like a natural extension of the Madison community and grow organically alongside the Club.
“It feels like the [Club] was built with the Madison community at its center, and I would love The Rose Guard to be the same [way],” Nelson said.
Check out the The Rose Guard community on Discord.
About Rally Madison FC: Rally Madison kicked off their inaugural season in May of 2026, featuring the top pre-professional players in the country. More information on the Club and USL W League can be found at www.rallymadisonfc.com.
