BALTIMORE, MD—The Chicago Red Stars were already wheeling and dealing before the NWSL College Draft in Baltimore on Thursday. That continued as just before Portland was on the clock, the Red Stars swapped up to the 2nd and 3rd overall picks while Sky Blue FC got the 4th and 5th picks.
Both picks would be flipped as the Red Stars traded the 2nd pick to Portland for the 15th and 16th overall picks. The third pick (as well as the 26th overall) would be traded to Orlando forward Rachel Hill and the Pride’s natural 2021 first-round draft pick, the 19th pick in this season’s draft, and allocation money. Hill made 49 appearances for the Pride over three seasons and scoring 11 goals.
“I am really appreciative of [Red Stars head coach Rory Dames] and the rest of the staff for bringing me in,” Hill said. “I know there is a great group of girls there, so I am really excited to get going. The fans are always awesome every time we have played there…you can always hear them. They’re great and I am going to work my hardest to do everything I can to help the team.”
At #15, the Red Stars selected defender Julia Bingham of USC. Bingham started all 23 matches for the Women of Troy last season and was part of the 2016 national championship team.
Lombard native Camryn Biegalski, who played at Wisconsin, was selected #16 overall. Biegalski was a key part of the Badgers’ defense was earned second-team United Soccer Coaches All-America Honors in 2019.
With the 19th overall pick, the Red Stars selected Zoe Morse of Virginia. Morse captained the Cavaliers in the 2019 and led the team in minutes played. She helped Virginia record 14 clean sheets during the season. She is also a member of the US U-17, U-18, and U-20 national teams.
Ella Stevens of Duke went at #24 to the Red Stars. The midfielder led the Blue Devis with ten assists and was joint-second in goals scored. She was ranked seventh nationally during the 2018 season.
Finally, the Red Stars selected defender Aerial Chavarin of Yale with the 35th overall pick. Though listed as a defender, she scored her share of goals for the Bulldogs. She kicked off her college soccer career with a unanimous selection as Ivy League Rookie of the Year. In 2019, Chavarin started all 16 games for the Bulldog’s, logging 1,377 minutes on the field with eight goals and one assist. She had 25 goals and 12 assists in her time at Yale.
THOUGHTS: We know now how the Red Stars will replace Sam Kerr. Essentially, it will be both Kealia Ohai and Rachel Hill up front for the Red Stars. The accumulation of allocation money means that the Red Stars may not be done dealing before the season starts in April.
