NWSL Draft caps a busy week for Chicago Red Stars

The Chicago Red Stars have managed to pack an entire offseason’s worth of news into the last couple days, it seems. With no soccer for at least a couple more months, it helps us all get by.

Let’s take a look at what went down:

Chicago selects five players in NWSL Draft

The Red Stars were busy in Thursday night’s NWSL Draft, selecting five new players:

• Madison Haley, Stanford, 7th overall
• Kelsey Turnbow, Santa Clara, 18th overall
• Brianna Alger, Washington State, 25th overall
• Channing Foster, Ole Miss, 32nd overall
• Alissa Gorzak, Virginia, 35th overall

The Red Stars also picked up $35,000 in Allocation Money and the North Carolina Courage’s natural second-round selection in the 2022 Draft in exchange for a 2021 International Slot.

Lots of contract renewals

A few hours before the draft, the Red Stars announced the club has re-signed 12 players to new, multi year contracts.

Danielle Colaprico, Hannah Davison, Vanessa DiBernardo, Zoey Goralski, Sarah Gorden, Rachel Hill, Katie Johnson, Alyssa Mautz, Kayla Sharples, Bianca St. Georges, and Arin Wright have signed two-year contracts through 2022, with a club option in 2023.

Goalkeeper Emily Boyd, who was recently on loan at HB Koge in Denmark, signed a one-year deal, with a club option in 2022.

Nikki’s Back!

Finally, the Red Stars announced this week that Nikki Stanton is back with the club after one season in Norway at Club Klepp IL.

“I am super excited to be a Red Star again,” Stanton said in a release sent out by the team. “I look forward to being back with my people and at such a professional club. Most of all, I’m excited to play for the best fans in the NWSL. Chicago, I have missed you.”

In her first stint with the Red Stars, Stanton made 40 appearances—20 in 2018, and another 20 in 2019. She’s also played for Sky Blue FC, and Perth Glory in Australia.