Joins six other Red Stars for record number among NWSL teams

CHICAGO, Ill. – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced the allocated players for the 2015 regular season, officially adding Chicago and U.S. defender Julie Johnston to the list. Fellow Americans Shannon Boxx and Christen Press retain their status for the upcoming campaign, as does the Canadian quartet of Karina LeBlanc, Adriana Leon, Melissa Tancredi and Rachel Quon. The addition of Johnston brings the number of allocated Red Stars players to seven, a record among NWSL sides.

The 22-year-old has earned a number of call-ups to the U.S. squad ever since earning her first cap in January 2013. She most recently joined the Stars and Stripes for the International Tournament of Brasilia, Brazil. Her Chicago teammate Press was tied for most appearances for her country in 2014 and was named as one of five U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year finalists.

Midfielder Boxx, who in 2003 became the first uncapped player to be called up to a USA roster for a Women’s World Cup, recently joined the American camp for the first time since September 2014. Fellow international legend LeBlanc has made well over 100 appearances in net for Canada since debuting in 1998.

At 22 and 33 years old, respectively, Red Stars forwards Leon and Tancredi represent two generations of the best attacking talent produced north of the border. Compatriot Quon made her first appearance in the Canucks backline last year and has since been invited back on several occasions.

A total of 42 allocated national team players will be participating in the upcoming NWSL season, with 25 Americans, 13 Canadians and four Mexicans. Five new players have been added to the list and are now spread among the nine clubs, Johnston being the only American in that group.

Once again, the Canadian Soccer Association, Federation of Mexican Football and U.S. Soccer will be subsidizing the salaries of their respective players. While the three federations are planning on hosting extended training camps and events prior to the start of the Women’s World Cup, they have agreed to release their players to participate in the start of the NWSL season.

The national team players will begin the campaign with their respective countries’ squads but will participate in the first three to four NWSL matches before the start of the World Cup. The NWSL is scheduled to take a 12-day break during the group stages of the tournament.

The Red Stars coaches and front office are currently preparing for another highly anticipated event, the 2015 College Draft to be held this coming Friday, January 16, at 8.30 a.m. CT at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention in Philadelphia. Details may be found at www.NWSLsoccer.com.

Chicago Red Stars fans can watch all their national team members in action over the course of the upcoming campaign. Season tickets start at $145 and may be purchased by calling 773-697-8699 or by visiting www.chicagoredstars.com.

Club-by-club allocations for 2015 are listed below.

Chicago Red Stars
Shannon Boxx (USA)
Julie Johnston (USA)*
Christen Press (USA)
Karina LeBlanc (CAN)
Adriana Leon (CAN)
Melissa Tancredi (CAN)
Rachel Quon (CAN)

Boston Breakers
Kristie Mewis (USA)
Alysa Naeher (USA)
Nkem Ezurike (CAN)*
Bianca Sierra (MEX)*

Houston Dash
Meghan Klingenberg (USA)
Carli Lloyd (USA)
Allysha Chapman (CAN)*
Erin McLeod (CAN)
Lauren Sesselmann (CAN)

FC Kansas City
Nicole Barnhart (USA)
Lauren Holiday (USA)
Heather O’Reilly (USA)
Becky Sauerbrunn (USA)
Amy Schilling (USA)

Portland Thorns FC
Tobin Heath (USA)
Alex Morgan (USA)
Rachel Van Hollebeke (USA)
Christine Sinclair (CAN)
Kaylyn Kyle (CAN)
Rhian Wilkinson (CAN)*

Seattle Reign FC
Sydney Leroux (USA)
Megan Rapinoe (USA)
Hope Solo (USA)

Sky Blue FC
Kelley O’Hara (USA)
Christie Rampone (USA)
Jonelle Filigno (CAN)
Monica Ocampo (MEX)

Washington Spirit
Crystal Dunn (USA)
Ashlyn Harris (USA)
Ali Krieger (USA)
Diana Matheson (CAN)
Veronica Perez (MEX)
Arianna Romero (MEX)

Western New York Flash
Whitney Engen (USA)
Abby Wambach (USA)

* = Newly allocated player in 2015