CHICAGO (October 13, 2023) — Cheyna Matthews, a forward for the Chicago Red Stars, will retire from professional soccer following the team's match against OL Reign (and Megan Rapinoe) on Sunday, Oct. 15, at SeatGeek Stadium. The Red Stars will celebrate Matthews at the conclusion of warmups prior to the match.
Matthews started her career in 2016 when the Georgia native was drafted by the Washington Spirit in 2016 as the seventh overall pick out of Florida State University. That year, Matthews played 17 matches, started in eight and scored three goals for the Spirit. Matthews spent five years in Washington before joining Racing Louisville FC for their inaugural season in 2021, when the forward played 17 matches, started in four and scored a goal.
On the international level, Matthews has played with the Jamaican Women's National Team since 2019. The forward's first minutes with the Reggae Girlz came in February of 2019 and was followed by another call-up to the national team for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Since then, Matthews has played regularly with the Reggae Girlz, most recently appearing with the team in the 2023 Women's World Cup. In that tournament, Matthews and the Reggae Girlz defied the odds and beat out powerhouse teams, France and Brazil, to win their group and advance to the knockout rounds. Prior to 2023, neither the men's nor the women's Jamaican National Team squads made it out of the World Cup group stages.
For the Red Stars this season, Matthews has been a bolt of energy every time she steps onto the pitch. Back in April, in a match against the Kansas City Current, Matthews stole the ball from a Kansas City defender in their own half of the pitch, dribbled into the 18-yard box before delivering a well-placed strike that hit the post, bounced off the keeper and rolled into the net. Later in that match, Matthews assisted on a goal by Penelope Hocking to help cap the Red Stars win. On September 17, in a crucial match against Los Angeles, Matthews came off the bench in the second half and helped Chicago earn a tie when the forward stole the ball off of LA's defender outside the 18-yard box and scored the game tying goal.
Fans attending the match Sunday, October 15, will find "Thank You, Cheyna" cards at Gate C plaza where they can leave a message for Cheyna. The Red Stars encourage fans to arrive early and be in their seats before warmups end to help celebrate Matthews before kickoff. Tickets for the October 15 match are available at chicagoredstars.com/tickets.
Over her eight-year career in the NWSL, Matthews has played 87 matches across all competitions, scored 13 goals and recorded 4 assists. The Red Stars extend their gratitude to Cheyna for spending her final year with the club and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
