CHICAGO – With the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) sixth season coming to a close, six Chicago Red Stars players will join the Australian W-League on loan for the upcoming campaign.

2018 NWSL Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr and Nikki Stanton will return to Perth Glory after playing for the club last season, while Alyssa Mautz will join the team for the first time since 2017. Katie Naughton will join the team for the first time in her career.

Kerr and Stanton are no strangers to Perth Glory both having played at the club since the 2015-16 season, with Kerr being the club’s captain since 2015. Last season Kerr was the team’s leading goal scorer, finding the back of the net on 13 occasions in five games. She also ranks second all-time in career goals in the W-League, only nine behind Canberra United’s Michelle Heyman. Kerr also re-joined with Perth as the W-League’s first-ever marquee signing, following in the footsteps of major A-League players.

Mautz will return to a Perth team where she made 14 previous appearances in the 2016 campaign. Last year she joined Adelaide United on loan with fellow teammates Naughton and Danielle Colaprico. Mautz scored twice in 12 appearances.

Sam Kerr and Katie Naughton | Getty Images

Naughton has only played for Adelaide United since joining the W-League during the NWSL offseasons. This will be her third stint in the W-League but marks the first time playing for Perth. Last season Naughton made 12 appearances with Adelaide and scored twice as team co-captain.

Perth Glory’s season is expected to kick-off against Red Stars teammate Yuki Nagasato and Brisbane Roar on Saturday, October 27.

For the third-consecutive year, Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico will spend NWSL offseason suiting up for 2017-18 Grand Finale runner up, Sydney FC.

During this past season in the NWSL, Colaprico appeared in every match for the Red Stars, playing just over 1900 minutes. The midfielder tallied one goal, a game winner against the first encounter with newcomers, Utah Royals FC, and added a season-high four assists.

In the 2016 offseason, Colaprico joined then-Red Stars forward Sofia Huerta and teammate Katie Naughton for her first overseas stint with Adelaide United. The midfielder appeared in all 12 matches, scoring two goals, finishing in sixth place.

The following year in 2017, she rejoined Adelaide with Naughton and Alyssa Mautz. She starred in all but one match, earning one goal, while finishing the regular season in last place.

Colaprico and Sydney FC will take on Western Sydney Wanderers in the league opener on Friday, October 25.

All W-League matches will be broadcast through subscription on Oz.com or the My Football App.

Forward Yuki Nagasato has agreed to go on loan with current Premiers, Brisbane Roar. The Japanese international will not report or be officially on loan until the beginning of November.

All Red Stars players will return to Chicago prior to the start of the 2019 NWSL season.