CHICAGO – While five key members of the Chicago Red Stars are lighting it up in France at the World Cup, Sarah Gorden and the rest of the Red Stars will shift their focus to Reign FC this Sunday. Gorden has been a rock on the backline for Chicago and will continue to be a critical defensive asset.

Gorden became the first-ever women’s soccer player to be drafted out of DePaul when her former youth coach and Red Stars head coach Rory Dames took her in the third round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft. Since then she’s become one of the many Chicagoland natives to blossom for their hometown team. The Blue Demon alum is now in her fourth season playing for the Red Stars, being a key figure in the often praised depth Chicago possesses.

This season, Gorden has started seven of Chicago’s eight games, playing a workhorse-like 614 minutes. Often Gorden has matched up against the league’s top attacking threats, tasked with keeping playmakers in check and use her speed to maintain control for the Red Stars. The Elk Grove native has recorded 11 tackles, 16 clearances, and 14 interceptions during the 2019 NWSL season boasting an impressive 88.3% tackle success rate and winning more than 66% of her duels.

Gorden and the rest of the Red Stars go up against Reign FC on Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium at 5:00 p.m. C.T. or on NBC Sports Chicago.