The 2026 Chicago Stars FC season is the team's eighteenth as a professional women's soccer team, and thirteenth in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States. Stars FC is based in Evanston, Illinois, having moved there from their prior home in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Background
In 2025, Chicago started off the year with a string of poor performances that culminated with the firing of head coach Lorne Donaldson. Masaki Hemmi and Ella Masar went on to spend stints as interim head coach throughout the season before both individuals moved on. In August 2025, the Stars announced the signing of Martin Sjögren as new head coach, effective at the start of the 2026 season. After being eliminated from playoff contention in late September, the Stars went on to finish the season at the bottom of the NWSL table.
Kit changes On February 26, 2026, the Stars unveiled its new primary uniform, the 'DNA Kit,' featuring a design paying tribute to Chicago's history in skyscrapers and general architecture. Featuring a color scheme of red, white, and blue, the new jersey also pays homage to multiple landmarks around Chicago.
Stadium and facilities After a ten-season stint at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, 2026 is the Stars' first season playing at the lakefront Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern University. Chicago had already previously played a match at Martin Stadium in 2025, a 5–2 victory over the Orlando Pride that set a second-highest season attendance marker for the Stars.
Team
Current squad
Player Nation
Out on loan Player Nation
Coaching staff
The Stars fired the club's general manager Richard Feuz on May 27, dividing his responsibilities between assistant general manager Beatrice Caliani and president Karen Leetzow. The Stars fired the club's head coach Martin Sjögren and assistant coach Anders Jacobson on August 12, and assigned assistant coach Karina Báez as interim coach, re-hired former coach Lorne Donaldson as interim director of coaching, and hired former Spokane Zephyr FC head coach Nicole Lukic as assistant coach.
On September 17. 2026, the Stars announced the hiring of Vlatko Andonovski, previously the sporting director of Kansas City Current and a former United States women's national soccer team head coach, as the club's chief soccer officer.
Coaching staff
Competitions
Regular season
Regular season standings
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches
Statistics
Appearances and goals Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
! colspan=14 style="background:#072743; color:#FFFFFF; " width:110px;" text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style="background:#072743; color:#FFFFFF; " width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Defenders
! colspan=14 style="background:#072743; color:#FFFFFF; " width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Midfielders
! colspan=14 style="background:#072743; color:#FFFFFF; " width:110px;" text-align:center;" |Forwards
|colspan=14 style="background:#072743; color:#FFFFFF; " width:110px;" |Players away on loan:
Transactions
Contract operations DatePlayerFee/notesContract untilNovember 4, 2025 Julia GrossoMFRe-signing2028December 10, 2025 Alyssa NaeherGKFree agent re-signing2026December 22, 2025 Nádia GomesFWFree agent re-signing2026
Transfers in DatePlayerPrevious clubFee/notesContract untilDecember 1, 2025 Brianna PintoMF North Carolina CourageFree agent signing2027December 3, 2025 Ryan GareisFW Houston DashFree agent signing2028December 15, 2025 Katie LundGK Racing LouisvilleFree agent signing2028December 23, 2025 Michelle AlozieDF Houston DashTraded for $40,000 in allocation money2026 + mutual optionJanuary 16, 2026 Elise EvansDF Stanford CardinalCollege signing2028January 17, 2026 Tessa DellaroseMF North Carolina Tar HeelsCollege signing2028January 19, 2026 Emma EgiziiMF UCLA BruinsCollege signing2028February 3, 2026 Aaliyah FarmerDF Tigres UANLUndisclosed transfer2028March 12, 2026 Jordyn HuitemaFW Seattle ReignTraded for $300,000, and $200,000 in allocation money2028June 16, 2026 Leila OuahabiDF Manchester CityFree agent signing2028July 9, 2026 Anna GasperMF BenficaUndisclosed transfer2027
Transfers out DatePlayerDestination clubFee/notesDecember 1, 2025 Camryn BiegalskiDF Denver SummitOut of contract Meg BoadeMF Denver Summit Ava CookFW Carolina Ascent Shea GroomMF Carolina Ascent Cari RoccaroMF Ally SchlegelFW North Carolina Courage Stephanie SparkowskiGK Piteå IFJanuary 8, 2026 Hannah AndersonDF Orlando PrideTraded for $70,000 in intraleague transfer fundsJanuary 13, 2026 LudmilaFW San Diego WaveTraded for $800,000 in intraleague transfer fundsMarch 12, 2026 Mackenzie WoodGK Portland ThornsLoaned through the 2026 NWSL seasonMay 30, 2026 Taylor RathGKShort-term contract expiredJune 30, 2026 Leilanni NesbethMFMutually agreed to part ways ahead of contract expirationJuly 18, 2026 Sam AngelDF DC Power FCLoaned through the 2026 NWSL seasonAugust 6, 2026 Kathrin HendrichDF FC KölnTransferred out
References