Photo: Erin Chang (ISI Photos)
CHICAGO, IL–The Chicago Red Stars made five selections in the 2021 NWSL Draft. But first, there was the customary trade before their first pick. Starting the night with the #6 pick, they swapped that with the Portland Thorns for the #7 and #32 picks as well as a 2021 international slot.
With the seventh overall pick in the first round, the Red Stars selected forward Madison Haley from Stanford. Haley won a pair of NCAA titles and three Pac-12 titles with the Cardinal as well as being named to an All-Pac-12 first team (2019), All-Pac-12 second team (2018), All-America second team (2019), and College Cup All-Tournament team (2019). She scored 18 goals and 23 assists in 57 matches with Stanford.
In the second round (18th overall), the Red Stars selected forward Kelsey Turnbow from Santa Clara. Turnbow appeared in all 23 games with 21 starts in her Freshman year with the Broncos and finished second in the West Coast Conference (WCC) with 13 goals, five assists, and 31 points. She was recognized as WCC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-WCC, and WCC All-Freshman. To date, Vice-Captain Turnbow’s Santa Clara career includes 35 goals, 22 assists, and 67 games played – 60 of which she started.
Turnbow has also been part of the U14, U15, U17, U18, U19, and U20 US Women’s National Teams.
In the third round (25th overall), the Red Stars selected defender Brianna Alger from Washington State. In her Sophomore year, Alger scored three goals from nine shots on target. Moving to left back in her Junior year, she started all 24 games and totaled 2,098 minutes – the most of any field player. She finished the year as the third Cougar in program history to record double-digit assists posting 10, the most of any defender in the Pac-12.
With the 32nd overall pick, the Red Stars turned to the SEC and selected midfielder/forward Channing Foster of Ole Miss. Foster kicked off her Ole Miss career netting a pair of game-winning goals and was SEC Freshman Leader in goals (12), named to the 2017 SEC All-Freshman Team, and 2017 All-SEC Second Team. Foster’s Ole Miss career to date includes 70 games played and started, 33 goals, seven assists, and 6,151 minutes played. Most recently, Foster was named 2020 All-SEC First Team, becoming the second Rebel ever to be named all-conference four times in a career.
Finally, with the 35th overall pick, the Red Stars selected forward and Naperville, IL native Alissa Gorzak of Virginia. Gorzak launched her career at the University of Virginia seeing action in all 22 matches with starts in 21. She earned an ACC All-Freshman Team selection and Third Team All-ACC selection. Most recently, Gorzak played in all 22 matches during the 2019 season and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. To date, her Cavaliers career includes five goals, 13 assists, 82 games played, 40 starts, and a total of 3,988 minutes played.
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