Chicago Red Star Brittany Klein: Light at The End of The Tunnel

As a member of the Chicago Red Stars, Midfielder Brittany Klein has started every game, is one of six team members to have scored a goal this season, and has been a major factor on both sides of the field for her team.

She was selected by Chicago in the second round WPS General Draft, 14th overall.

Walking out of the tunnel in St. Louis before the WPS season opener stands out in her mind as the highlight of her soccer career thus far, but Brittany Klein has achieved much in her beloved sport prior to making that walk.

As a member of the U-23 National team, Klein scored the game-winner against England in January of this year. She also helped that team win the 2008 Nordic Cup, starting every match of the tournament, tallying the lone goal in a win over Switzerland and adding another in a 3-0 win over England. She was a member of the pool for the US National U21, U20, U19 and U17 teams.

In 2008, along with Red Star teammate Danesha Adams, Klein played in five games for the W-League Pali Blues, helping them win the W League Championship.

Brittany is one of three Red Stars, all starters (the other two being Marian Dalmy and Chioma Igwe), who played their college ball at Santa Clara. At Santa Clara, Brittany was team captain as a senior in 2007, starting all 21 games. She was tied for first on her team with seven goals scored and second with 16 points, and recorded a team-high three game-winning goals.

Also as a senoir at Santa Clara, Klein was named to the All-West Coast Conference first team. In her junior year, she earned All-WCC second team honors, and All-Freshman team recognition in 2004. Klein also took part in team's 2004 appearance in the NCAA Women's College Cup. 

As a high school player in Arcadia, California, she was named the 2003 Gatorade California High School Girls Player of the Year, the 2004 McDonald’s All-American and Parade Magazine All-American. 

Klein was also a member of the 2002 and 2005 USYSA National Championship teams.

When asked when she knew she wanted to be a professional soccer player, she responded, "You know the question, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'  I don't recall ever responding with anything other than 'a soccer player.'  A defining moment in my goal-setting was the '99 World Cup.  I was inspired by the women's national team and saw that there was opportunity for girls to continue to play soccer."

Klein cites her family, friends and all her coaches as key soccer influences in her life, but gives special mention to her youth coach, Abner Rogers, who, "provided me with a top-class environment to develop and to reach the next level," and her college coach, Jerry Smith, who, "challenged me to be a better player day-in and day-out and played a huge role in my development on and off the field."

When asked how she will evaluate her career, Brittany replied, "Playing for the women's national team has always been a goal of mine, but with the WPS it is not the only goal I have for myself. The WPS has provided a league in which I can continue to be a part of a team, and of course, at the club level, finding success as a cohesive group will always be a huge focus." 

"With all of this in mind, I do believe that I will feel completely satisfied with my career if I make a positive impact in my club, give my all each time I step on the field, and continue to make positive strides toward reaching my potential each year." 

Klein majored in psychology at Santa Clara and plans to further her education in this field as she continues her soccer career. After soccer, she is leaning toward a career that utilizes her education, possibly in counseling.