Chicago Red Stars announce 2018 roster for Sunday's soccer opener

With their National Women's Soccer League opener on Sunday, the Chicago Red Stars announced the roster for the 2018 season.

The Red Stars will open their sixth NWSL season on the road against Houston.

Coach Rory Dames returns 16 players from last year's team, which made the playoffs for the third straight season. It also features four U.S. Women's National Team players (Julie Ertz, Sofia Huerta, Alyssa Naeher and Casey Short), plus some new faces in 2017 Golden Boot and MVP winner Sam Kerr, former Sky Blue FC midfielder Nikki Stanton and former New Zealand international Rosie White. Two former college draft picks Emily Boyd (2018) and Michele Vasconcelos (2017) has signed with the Red Stars for the season.

Goalkeepers (2): Emily Boyd, Alyssa Naeher.

Defenders (6): Taylor Comeau, Arin Gilliland, Sarah Gorden, Samantha Johnson, Katie Naughton, Casey Short.

Midfielders (8): Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, Julie Ertz, Lauren Kaskie, Alyssa Mautz, Nikki Stanton, Michele Vasconcelos, Rosie White.

Forwards (5): Summer Green, Sofia Huerta, Sam Kerr, Stephanie McCaffrey, Yuki Nagasato.

Five Red Stars players have local connections: Naughton, a 24-year-old defender, is a native of Elk Grove Village; Short, a 27-year-old defender, is from Naperville; DiBernardo, who turns 26 in May, is a midfielder from Naperville; Gorden, a 25-year-old defender, is from Elk Grove Village; and Dalton, a 29-year-old goalkeeper, is from Mount Prospect.

The Red Stars will return to Toyota Park on Saturday, March 31, against the Portland Thorns. as part of a doubleheader event with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. Tickets are available at chicagoredstars.com.