Former Kentucky star playing for NWSL championship in Louisville on Saturday
University of Kentucky Hall of Famer Arin Wright will have an opportunity to win a championship in her home state this weekend.
Wright, who went by Arin Gilliland during her playing days at UK, leads the Chicago Red Stars against the Washington Spirit in Saturday’s National Women’s Soccer League championship game at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville.
The match kicks off at noon and will be televised live on CBS. Tickets are on sale online at RacingLouFC.com/NWSL-Championship.
The NWSL announced last month that it was moving its championship match from Portland, Oregon, to Louisville after the league’s players raised concerns about the original site.
Wright, Kentucky’s Miss Soccer in 2010 at West Jessamine High School, is a defender for the Red Stars, who entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed but turned back No. 5 New Jersey/New York Gotham FC 1-0, then pulled off a road upset at No. 1 Portland, 2-0, to reach the finals.
Chicago (11-8-5) enters Saturday’s championship on a five-match win streak.
Washington (11-7-6) brings a ton of star power to Louisville. Four Spirit players — defender Emily Sonnett, midfielders Ashley Sanchez and Andi Sullivan plus forward Ashley Hatch — are on the roster for the U.S. Women’s National Team’s upcoming trip to Australia. Chicago defender Tierna Davidson is also part of that U.S. roster.
Washington’s Hatch scored 10 goals in 20 regular-season games to claim the NWSL’s Golden Boot award. Also keep an eye out for the Spirit’s Trinity Rodman, the No. 2 NWSL Draft pick — and the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman — who at 19 years old totaled six goals and six assists as a rookie.
Washington, the No. 3 seed in the six-team NWSL playoffs, reached the finals by defeating the No. 6 North Carolina Courage 1-0 and the No. 2 OL Reign 2-1.
Washington and Chicago met three times during the regular season. They tied 1-1 at Chicago on June 19. The Red Stars won 1-0 at Washington on July 2 and 3-1 at Chicago on Aug. 1.
Wright will be looking for a better outcome than her previous visit to Louisville, when the Red Stars were tied 1-1 by Racing Louisville on Aug. 18.
Earlier this month, Wright was one of six athletes inducted to the 2021 class of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. Wright was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference First Team selection from 2012-14 and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. She was the No. 8 overall pick by Chicago in the 2014 NWSL Draft and became the first UK soccer player to receive a call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Saturday
Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit
What: NWSL championship game
Where: Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville
When: Noon
TV: CBS-27