The National Women’s Soccer League has criticised NBC Sport for ignoring women’s sport in a tweet about top teams from Chicago.

In a now deleted post, NBC tweeted ‘first player that comes to mind when you think of Chicago sport?! Go!’.

Alongside the tweet was a picture of five sports teams’ logos, all of which were men’s, despite the city having several successful women’s clubs including NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars.

The NWSL’s twitter account wrote: “We can think of a few from @chiredstarsPR , who are in the #NWSLChallengeCup Semifinals”

The league were not the only ones to criticise the NBC post.

ESPN journalist Sarah Spain wrote: "I think of the fact that it’s 20-f’ing-20 and Chicago has several professional women’s sports teams that you easily could have included in this graphic, @NBCSChicago .

“How are we still doing this, networks/sports sections? Seriously, are you dense or is it an intentional choice?”

And after some fans replied to Spain’s tweet saying it doesn’t matter if the women’s teams are included as everyone’s answer to the question is former Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan, she tweeted again.

“I know it sounds silly. You can roll your eyes & respond with 'everyone is choosing MJ, anyway’,” she wrote.

“My point is just that we have to continue to demand inclusion on sports sites, apps, social media polls, etc. Media coverage, TV time & water cooler debates are what drives new fans.”

She also added the teams need to be ‘given their due’.

"And if you’re commenting that no Chicago women’s pro sports teams come to mind then you’re proving my point.

"@chiredstarsPR are the longest running pro women’s soccer team in the US.

“@chicagosky [WNBA] &  @Chicago_Bandits [softball] been in Chicago for a decade+. Let’s give them their due.”

After the outburst, NBC deleted the tweet and replaced the photo with a shot of Chicago’s famous Cloud Gate sculpture.

Some fans challenged NBC again, asking why they couldn’t just add women’s teams logos to their graphic.

One wrote: “Lmao @nbcsports deleted their tweet not mentioning women's teams, but instead of adding those Chicago women's teams they choose this picture. They really refuse to acknowledge that women's sports exists at NBC”

The Red Stars have reached the semi-finals of the NWSL Challenge Cup and they will face Sky Blue FC.

The knock-out round will take place on July 22 with a kick off time of 8pm MDT / 3am BST.