Chicago Back to Full Strength After Bye Week

Chicago, IL (July 3, 2014) – The Red Stars are making their only trip of the year to Portland where they’ll meet Thorns FC on Friday, July 4, 11:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. CT in an Independence Day match-up that will see the two teams meet for the first time this season, and first of three encounters over the next 3 weeks.

The Red Stars (6-6-2, 20pts) are coming off an almost two-week break and are hoping to turn the tide for this second half of the NWSL season after a rough month of June. The team is currently on a six-game winless streak after a grueling three games within seven days at the end of last month.

Both teams are coming into the match with the same league records as well as each coming off a 1-0 defeat in KC. FCKC midfielder Jen Buczkowski scored the lone goal of the game in the 77th minute on an assist from midfielder Merritt Mathias during the Red Stars loss on June 21.

Portland Thorns FC features U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan, who has just recently returned from injury to outstanding form, scoring for both country and club in the last month. Also featured for the Thorns is Canadian international Christine Sinclair, as well as two new international faces this season: German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and Spanish forward Veronica Boquete. Boquete is a familiar face for Red Stars forward Christen Press, as the two were recent teammates, and roommates, at Swedish side Tyresö FF.

Red Stars goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc was a member of the Thorns during their NWSL Championship season in 2013.

The Red Stars will be without the services of Hayley Brock, who remains on injured reserve after TMJ surgery, and Samantha Johnson, who suffered facial lacerations and a deviated septum during the team’s loss at WNY on June 18.

The next two matches between the clubs will be on July 9 and July 17 at the Village of Lisle—Benedictine University Sports Complex. The Red Stars have a rematch in between those games when they meet Seattle Reign FC in Chicago on July 12.

Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns FC will take place at Providence Park. The match will be streamed live for free at https://chicagoredstars.com/live. Fans can also receive live in-game updates from the Red Stars official game day Twitter: @redstarslive.