CHICAGO – The Chicago Red Stars have acquired forward Katie Johnson from Sky Blue FC in exchange for the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Chicago’s highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

“I am absolutely excited and thrilled to be joining this club,” Johnson said. “They’ve always had a great reputation and have repeatedly been one of the top teams in the league. I can’t wait to arrive in Chicago and play with some of the best players because I think if you play with some of the best players it elevates your game too.”

At the University of Southern California Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player on Offense in the 2016 College Cup. She scored the lone goal in the semi-final and two goals in the final to help the program claim the National Championship. From 2012-2016 she would make 83 appearances for the Trojans, scoring 24 goals.

Following her National Championship victory, Johnson would enter the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft, being selected 16th overall by the Seattle Reign. She made her NWSL debut in Week 2 of that season against the Houston Dash, where she would go on to score her first NWSL goal as well. Johnson would go on to score a total of four goals and assist two more in 23 appearances her rookie season.

After a strong rookie campaign, Johnson was traded to Sky Blue FC in exchange for the rights to Caitlin Foord. Once again she managed to score on four occasions, including a brace in a 2-2 draw against the Utah Royals. Those two goals were enough to earn her NWSL Player of the Week honors.

A member of the Mexican National team since 2015, Johnson has scored eight goals in 21 appearances for El Tri. She scored the winning goal against Trinidad & Tobago in the most recent CONCACAF Championships and netted the lone goal for Mexico in a friendly loss to the United States last April.

“Katie is an outstanding forward with international experience that has proven to be a force up top in the NWSL,” head coach Rory Dames said. “This is a big get for us and gives us a strong forward to have with us the entire season. I’m excited to welcome Katie to the Chicago family.”

You can watch the newly-acquired Johnson and the rest of the Chicago Red Stars by purchasing season tickets or flex packs, both on sale now.
The Red Stars currently hold the rights to the first overall pick and the seventh overall pick. The draft will be held in Chicago at the McCormick Place on Thursday, January 10th at 11 am C.T. and is open to the public. The NWSL College Draft will be broadcasted live here.