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2023 Chicago Red Stars in Review: Ally Schlegel

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Joe Chatz | Last updated Dec 7, 2023 3:15 PM ET

It’s never easy to find a significant role as a rookie second-round pick in the NWSL, but Ally Schlegel managed to make a mark on the 2023 Chicago Red Stars season as an energy option off the bench.

Schlegel, 23, found her footing as a high-pressing forward off the Red Stars’ bench in her first professional season after a standout career at Penn State. The Colorado native made 17 appearances (two starts) in all competitions as a rookie, scoring twice while collecting a single assist. Schlegel hit the target on 60% of her shots during her rookie season, good for the best mark among Red Stars players in 2023.

Donning her patented pink headband, Schlegel made an instant impact in her NWSL debut against OL Reign on April 22. After replacing an injured Cheyna Matthews in the first half, Schlegel brought Chicago within a goal less than a minute after halftime. The rookie bullied Emily Sonnett off the ball before ripping a shot into the net, showcasing all her skills in the process.

“It was just bouncing around the box and we talk about this on the opposite side of the goal, like you have to have intensity inside the box and there’s a lot of things bouncing around in there,” said Schlegel after the match in April. “And I just tried to put my body between me and her and spun her. And then when I’m in the box it doesn’t always have to be a banger. You just have to place it well. And I think that was really what I was going for: just place it into the corner and celebrate.”