The Chicago Red Stars face off against the North Carolina Courage (5:00 p.m. CT; NBC Sports Chicago) in a Mother’s Day match showdown. Here is the Starting XI, presented by Magellan:
Lineup Notes:
Emily Boyd earns her second start of the 2019 season in goal for Chicago. The second-year goalkeeper has started between the posts four times now since being drafted 15th overall in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.
Defender Casey Short is appearing in her 55th match for the Red Stars. The speedy outside back will be starting in her fourth consecutive game for Chicago in 2019.
Katie Naughton has appeared in 5,235 minutes for Chicago since drafted in 2016. The centerback will be playing in her 65th match and has started in all the Red Stars matches this season.
Sarah Gorden is making her 25th appearance for the Red Stars. The versatile defender will be lined up in the middle next to Naughton to match up against North Carolina’s fast frontline.
Arin Wright is earning her 89th appearance tonight for Chicago since being drafted in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. Wright, previously Gilliland, will be starting in her 85th game.
Midfielder Nikki Stanton returns to the Starting XI for Chicago tonight. This will mark Stanton’s third appearance for the club in 2019 and is closing in on 3,500 total minutes in her NWSL career, currently at 3,447.
Mainstay Danielle Colaprico is appearing in her 92nd game for Chicago and will earn her 87th start. The leading passer on the team in 2019 with 149 total passes, she’s successfully completed a staggering 72% of her passes.
Vanessa DiBernardo dawns the captain’s armband tonight in her second consecutive start in 2019. The captain will be earning her 99th appearance for the Red Stars and has earned 7,799 minutes, the most of any active player on Chicago.
Michele Vasconcelos earns her first start of 2019. In 2019, the midfielder has played 64 minutes while managing to score one goal and assist another.
Japanese international Yuki Nagasato has started in all matches for Chicago this season. The forward has been on fire, securing three goals and two assists in four matches. On top of that, her pass succession rate is at 76%.
Back-to-back Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr is leading the team in minutes this season (360). The Aussie will be earning her 96th start in NWSL after earning her 100th NWSL appearance three matches ago.
Alison ‘AJ’ Jahansouz is available as backup in the goalkeeper position, while Maria Sanchez, Brooke Elby, Kayla Sharples, Hannah Davison, Jenna Szczesny and Zoey Goralski are available off the bench.
Earlier this week the club announced that Alyssa Mautz had seen her 2019 season come to an end due to tearing her ACL in Tuesday’s training session.
Katie Johnson is not included in the 18-player roster after receiving an automatic red card in last Friday’s match against Utah Royals FC.
