Kayla Sharples

[ KA-yl-a SAHR-puhlz ]

#27 - Defender

Height: 5’11"

Hometown: Naperville, Illinois

Country: United States

Date Of Birth: June 17, 1997

College: Northwestern University

Previous Club: Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)

Place Of Birth: Chicago, Illinois

Jersey Number: 27

ACQUIRED: Free agency, 12/21/23 

PROFESSIONAL 

2023: Appeared in 11 matches, earning eight starts…Tallied her first career NWSL goal against Kansas City (10/7)…Played in four games, earning three starts in the Challenge Cup. 2022: Started and played in eight matches for Chicago during the regular season…Played all 90 minutes in the Red Stars four Challenge Cup matches. 2021-22: Went on loan to play for Adelaide United in Australia. 2021: Featured in 14 games, making 12 starts…Logged a career-high 1,079 minutes…Started and played 90 minutes in two of three Challenge Cup matches. 2020: Appeared in three Challenge Cup matches, earning two starts. 2019: Selected in the third round of NWSL College Draft as the 26th overall pick by the Chicago Red Stars…Appeared in two games, logging 13 minutes…Made her professional debut as a substitute against Portland (6/2), logging 10 minutes. 

COLLEGE (NORTHWESTERN) 

2018: Started all 19 games, playing the entire possible 1,810 minutes this season…Netted three goals, all game-winners…Earned All-Big Ten First Team honors…United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team. 2017: Started all 23 matches and played all 2,146 minutes of the season…Helped lead the ’Cats to 11 shutouts and a runner-up spot in the Big Ten Tournament…Ended with three goals, including two game-winners…Also added three assists…Awarded First Team All-Big Ten honors…United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team. 2016: Started every match on the season, helping NU to a Big Ten Championship…Tallied three goals and two assists…Awarded First Team All-Big Ten honors…NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team…One of only three team members to play over 2,000 minutes…Played every minute in 20 of 23 games, including each of the last 18…Helped anchor a defense that shut out the opponent 17 times, including eight times against conference opponents. 2015: Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team…Started all 22 games and played every minute except for two halves the entire season…Played in all 11 shutouts. 

Kayla Sharples

Get to know Kayla

Full Name: Kayla Lynne Sharples

Best Soccer Memory: Scoring the golden goal to win Northwestern Women’s Soccer First Big Ten Tournament Championship. Or scoring my first pro goal last year vs KC.

Favorite Soccer Player: Abby Wambach

Fun fact about you?: I’ve been to and traveled 17 countries.

If you were an emoji?: 😋

Accolades: 2X All-America, appeared in 48 Career NWSL Matched, Played abroad in Finland and Australia.

Favorite Food in the Bay Area: Thai Food and Sushi

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