CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) today announced the addition of U.S. Women’s National Team forward Christen Press to the team. Press was allocated to the Red Stars through the 2014 NWSL Allocation. The team was also reallocated US Women’s National Team players Shannon Boxx and Amy LePeilbet, as well as Canadian National Team members Erin McLeod, Adriana Leon, and Rachel Quon.

Christen Press, a member of U.S. Women’s National Team since April of 2012, and alternate for the 2012 Olympic Team, currently plays for Tyresö FF of the Swedish women’s premier league Damallsvenskan. In 2013, Press became the first American to claim the Golden Boot award in Damallsvenskan with 23 goals.

Last year, Press became just the fifth women’s national team player to score at least four goals in her first four matches with the US Women’s National Team. Press was also a member of the Under-23 and U-20 youth national teams, winning the Four Nations Tournament in 2010.

In 2011, Press was selected with the No. 4 pick in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft by the Washington Freedom, which then transitioned to magicJack. Press played in 17 matches for magicJack scoring eight goals, and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Press, a collegiate standout at Stanford, played for the Cardinals from 2007-2010, breaking various school records for career points (183), goals (71), assists (41) and shots (500). As a senior in 2010 she not only won the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best player, but also won national player of the year awards from Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer. She was also named Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year.

“We were reallocated a great core of players and with the addition of a world class forward in Christen Press, and the return of Amy LePeilbet, we feel we have the pieces to take it to the next level,” said Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames. “We’ll have a top group of young players from last season and from this year’s draft next to the veterans that will give us depth from top to bottom.”

U.S. Women’s National team defender Amy LePeilbet, who missed the 2013 season after having ACL knee surgery in February, will be making her NWSL debut this Spring. LePeilbet, who was recently called into last month’s National Team camp, has won both a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and silver at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 2008, LePeilbet was drafted 4^th overall by the Boston Breakers of the WPS, and was the only player in WPS history to win the Defender of the Year award in back-to-back years.

U.S. midfield veteran Shannon Boxx was also reallocated to the team, but is expecting her first child in May and an estimated return date is currently unknown.

The NWSL also reallocated Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, forward Adriana Leon, and defender Rachel Quon to the Red Stars. Quon, a native of Lake Forest, IL, joined the Canadian National Team in 2013 as she has dual Canadian-American citizenship. She was drafted by the Red Stars as the #9 overall pick in the 2013 NWSL College Draft.

U.S. Soccer is subsidizing the salaries of 26 players, while the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federation of Mexican Football will do the same for 16 and eight players, respectively.

From Jan. 3-6, the NWSL will have a league-wide “trade period” during which all NWSL teams may make trades throughout the four days. However, teams will not be allowed to waive players currently on their roster until after the NWSL Expansion Draft.

To view the full list of league allocations, click here.