After a month and a half on the road, Reign FC return to Cheney Stadium for a World Cup homecoming match. They’ll welcome home the nine players who featured in the World Cup this summer, as the club takes on the Chicago Red Stars in front of more than 7,000 fans.

A win would put the Reign in third place with a game in hand. But this won’t be an easy match for the Tacoma-based club. They are facing a Red Stars squad that just defeated the 2018 NWSL Champions, the North Carolina Courage.

While she will be in attendance, World Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner Megan Rapinoe will be resting for Sunday’s match as she recovers from an inflamed Achilles. That hopefully means she’ll be back for the Reign’s next home match, a midweek battle against Portland — a matchup Rapinoe hates to miss.

The rest of Reign FC’s World Cup players, aside from Lydia Williams and Rumi Utsugi, will be available for selection on Sunday. As the team continues to struggle with injuries, any one of the players who take the field could make an impact.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Reign FC

OUT: Taylor Smith (SEI – Right Knee), Jasmyne Spencer (SEI – Left Knee), Michelle Betos (SEI – Right Achilles), Jaycie Johnson (SEI – Right Knee), Scout Watson (SEI – Concussion), Jessica Fishlock (SEI – Left Knee), Lydia Williams (45D – Left Ankle), Megan Rapinoe (Left Achilles), Darian Jenkins (Left Hamstring), Stephanie Cox (Right Calf), Rumi Utsugi (Left Calf)

QUESTIONABLE: Celia Jimenez Delgado (Right Groin)

Chicago

OUT: Alyssa Mautz (Right Knee), AJ Jahansouz (Right Knee), Michele Vasconcelos (Left Knee), Danielle Colaprico (Left Knee)

QUESTIONABLE: Tierna Davidson (Right Thigh), Vanessa DiBernado (Left Hip)

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Maria Sanchez (MEX)

Keys to the Match

• Always mark Sam Kerr and don’t let her turn you
• Pressure Chicago’s defense into mistakes
• Dictate the pace of the game

Lineups

Morgan Andrews, Jodie Taylor and Allie Long are back in the lineup!

Chicago starting lineup. Vanessa DiBernardo is healthy enough to get on the field.

Highlights

4’ - Not the start the Reign wanted. Casey Murphy doesn’t quite get enough on her punch and Arin Wright is at the back post to bury her shot. 1-0 Chicago.

14’ - The midfield got pulled a bit out of position, leaving Vanessa DiBernardo far too open at the top of the box. This happened. 2-0 Chicago.

51’ - F-U-R-T. Theresa needs to do better there on the back post.

81’ - Ugh. Another Chicago goal. Balcer keeps Kerr onside on this one.

How to Watch

When: Sunday, July 28, 1 PM PT

Where: Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, WA (Everything you need to know about Cheney)

Live stream (for users in the U.S.): Watch on Yahoo! Sports

Live stream (for users outside the U.S.): Watch on NWSL

More info: How to stream NWSL matches in 2019

Join the Discussion

This is your Reign FC v. Chicago Red Stars gamethread. Head to @rovalks on Twitter for real-time updates, or join the conversation in the comments below.