Media Day at the NWSL Championship has significant absences on Thursday: The Chicago Red Stars were without Mallory Pugh and Kealia Watt — their two leading scorers — and Casey Krueger and Kayla Sharples. Watt has been a question since leaving the semifinal with a knee injury. Pugh and Sharples missed the semifinal due to COVID-19 protocols. No official word yet, but their absences suggest they won’t be available for the final.
