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Former Elk Grove High School star living pro soccer dream at home with Chicago Red Stars

There's a cool thing happening in women's professional team sports right now.

The dreamers are now the players.

Elk Grove native Katie Naughton was an eager, impressionable, soccer-loving 13-year-old when the Chicago Red Stars, a professional women's soccer team, opened up shop in 2007.

Now, at just 25-years-old, it's as if Naughton's life has already come full circle.

"I remember going to Red Stars games when I was in junior high and high school with my club team and watching my role models play," Naughton said. "Now, I'm getting to play for the same team in front of young girls who are just like I was. It's pretty cool."

Naughton, who was a four-year starter for the Elk Grove High School soccer team before putting together a stellar career at Notre Dame, is now entering her fourth season as a defender for the Red Stars. Last season, she played more minutes than any other defender on the team.

This season, Naughton again has high expectations for herself as well as the team, which hosts its home opener at 2:30 p.m. today against the Portland Thorns at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. It is a doubleheader with Chicago's pro men's team, the Chicago Fire.

Naughton's high expectations aren't based on just wins and good statistics, though. They also include how well she and her teammates can serve as role models for younger girls, especially those girls who aspire to play soccer at an elite level someday.

"There's a phrase floating around right now that I really like, 'You can't be what you can't see,'" Naughton said. "Knowing the work that all the women before me put into this league to get it started so that I could play in it one day is empowering. I feel privileged to know that I am in this league now, and I don't take that for granted. I want to work hard for our team and put out all the positive vibes I can about our league (National Women's Soccer League) for the girls who come after me."

In the meantime, Naughton says that she is truly living the dream. Not only is she playing professional soccer, she gets to do so for the same team she grew up watching, and in front of her family and friends.

Her parents, Tom and Claire, still live in the northwest suburbs, and she lives with her cousin Jimmy Naughton to keep expenses down.

Friends and family regularly attend her games, as they have all through her long career. Naughton was a natural at soccer when she tried it at age 5 and was playing travel soccer with boys by second grade. She played for the Sockers club team from sixth grade up through high school.

"It was such a blessing to get drafted by the Red Stars," said Naughton, the 19th overall selection in the 2016 NWSL draft. She has played with only the Red Stars throughout her NWSL career, but also plays in Australia over the off-season to supplement her income and keep her skills sharp.

"I've got my family and friends nearby here. I love that," Naughton said. "It's awesome to have that support system."

Catching Stars: Catch these Red Stars while you can.

There are a handful of Chicago Red Stars who are under consideration for the U.S. Women's National team that will be competing in this summer's Women's World Cup.

Casey Short of Naperville, a defender for the Red Stars, is a candidate as are three teammates: defender Julie Ertz, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and defender Tierna Davidson. Meanwhile, forward Sam Kerr is up for a spot with the Australian national team.

Those players who make national teams for the World Cup will leave the Red Stars in mid-May and will likely miss around 10 games before returning to finish out the season.

The Women's World Cup runs June 7 to July 7 in France.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

Follow Patricia on Twitter: @babcockmcgraw

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