Red Stars’ Kayla Sharples begins recovery from injury that ended Naperville North grad’s breakout season: ‘It will be worth it.’

Former Naperville North star Kayla Sharples has had to pass a number of tests while reaching the highest levels of her sport.

The stiffest test came this summer.

Sharples, a fourth-year defender for the Chicago Red Stars, was enjoying a breakout season, having played every minute of the first eight games.

The progress came to a screeching halt when Sharples tore the ACL in her left knee during a 1-0 victory over Orlando at SeatGeek Stadium on June 12. It is the first major injury of her career.

“It was really a bummer that I got injured because I felt I was doing well,” Sharples said. “I’ve improved every year.

“I knew I was going to have a much larger role, and I was ready to take it on. Getting an injury is always bad timing, but for me it was the worst timing possible because this year was really important to solidify myself as a great center back in this league.”

Sharples, 25, gained valuable experience in the winter while playing 12 games for Adelaide in Australia. She wasn’t expecting to start for the Red Stars, but Naperville Central graduate Casey Krueger’s pregnancy and Tierna Davidson’s torn ACL gave her an opening.

Suddenly, Sharples was the linchpin in first-year coach Chris Petrucelli’s three-defender system.

“It was a learning curve, but for me being the center of the back line, I think it played to my strength,” Sharples said. “I had to step up and really take on that leadership role, and I really had the confidence.”

The Red Stars were in first place when Sharples went down. Chicago captain and Waubonsie Valley graduate Vanessa DiBernardo said it was a big blow.

“It’s definitely a huge loss for us,” DiBernardo said. “It’s definitely hard, but I do think she’ll rehab and continue where she left off.”

DiBernardo is impressed with how Sharples has progressed since being drafted by the Red Stars in 2019.

“She has done super well in going overseas to play in the offseason to get better,” DiBernardo said. “She’s really put in the time into growing as a professional, and I think you got to see the payoff of that at the beginning of this year.

“This will be another challenge for her, but I think she’ll be good when she comes back.”

Seven weeks after surgery, Sharples is in physical therapy and maintaining a positive attitude.

“It’s definitely a mental and physical roller coaster,” Sharples said. “The first week was really difficult. I was in a lot of pain. Trying to do a leg raise is nearly impossible to do on your own for the first few days. Sometimes my parents had to help me do that.”

Doctors have told Sharples her recovery will take six to nine months. She’s hoping to be ready for preseason training in February.

In the meantime, she has been documenting her recovery through daily journal entries and has started her own TikTok channel, where she keeps fans and friends updated on her progress.

“This has been a journey for me,” Sharples said. “You will have two good days in a row, and randomly you’ll get a bad day where you couldn’t even do one of the exercises that you’ve been doing for five days straight. That’s really difficult.”

The most difficult part for Sharples is not being able to play the sport she loves. But she said she takes solace in talking to teammates and others who have come back stronger than ever.

“It’s a painful process, but it will be worth it,” Sharples said. “People tell me that when you come back, you appreciate the game so much more. I’m sure that’s something that will happen to me. I’m looking forward to it because I miss it already.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.