CHICAGO – The Chicago Red Stars announced today that the club has acquired U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Morgan Brian and future considerations if certain criteria are met via trade with the Houston Dash. In exchange for Brian, the Red Stars have sent midfielder Kristie Mewis and future considerations if certain criteria are met to Houston.

Brian, 24, is coming to Chicago after spending her entire NWSL career in Houston, where she was selected first overall in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. The standout midfielder has appeared in 33 matches for Houston since 2015, missing a large portion of her first two seasons due to participating with the U.S. WNT in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

With the U.S. WNT, Brian has been a mainstay in the central midfield position, where she made her debut on June 15, 2013, at the age of 20. In 2014, after becoming a regular for the U.S. WNT, Brian earned the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year. Since then, she has earned 66 caps, including appearing in every match for the U.S. WNT during their historic run to winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. During the final, she recorded an assist on the final goal of the game.

A four-year letter winner at the University of Virginia, Brian appeared in 81 matches, while earning 41 goals and is the all-time assist leader with 43. Brian became just the fifth woman to win the MAC Hermann Trophy award twice, following Mia Hamm, Cindy Parlow, Christine Sinclair and Kerri Hanks with the feat.

Mewis, 26, was just acquired by the Red Stars via trade with the Washington Spirit ten days ago. In her one match for Chicago, Mewis scored the first goal in the Red Stars 2-1 win over the Spirit on Saturday, August 26. Overall in 2017, Mewis has appeared in 15 matches while notching three goals and one assist.

Brian will join the Red Stars during the team’s run for a third-straight playoff spot in the NWSL. Chicago will play their final regular season home match on Sunday, September 3 at 5 p.m. CT against the North Carolina Courage. Tickets are available here.

Name: Morgan Brian
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: St. Simons Island, Ga.
Birthdate: Feb. 26, 1993
Age: 24
Height: 5-7