Chicago Stars FC (5-18-2, 17 pts) will travel east to take on Gotham FC (15-4-6, 51 pts) for the second time this season on Friday, September 25. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Prime Video. The Stars will look to get back in the win column while Gotham FC will look for its third straight victory.
Stream: Prime Video
CHI: The Stars fell 3-0 to the Washington Spirit at Martin Stadium on Sunday, September 20.
GFC: Gotham FC earned a 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage at First Horizon Stadium on Saturday, September 19.
On Sept. 17, Chicago Stars FC announced the club has added Vlatko Andonovski as Chief Soccer Officer. Bringing a wealth of experience as a sporting director, multiple-time NWSL Coach of the Year and champion, NWSL Shield winner, and U.S. Women’s National Team head coach, Andonovski will lead all technical and sporting initiatives at the club including working closely with the head coach on roster building, on-field strategy, scouting, transfers, and player development.
On August 12, Karina Báez was named as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season, leading the Stars for the first time during the team’s match at Seattle on Aug. 14.
Now in her third season with the club, Báez previously focused primarily on analytics as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Stars, Báez worked as a scout for the Mexico Women’s National Team, bringing extensive experience in player evaluation and match analysis. Before her national team role, Báez spent several years in Liga MX Femenil, serving as an assistant coach with both Pachuca and Tigres while also contributing to the development of each club’s U-15 and U-17 programs. In 2021, she was named head coach of Pumas UNAM Femenil, leading the team through the 2021-22 season and further establishing herself as one of the rising coaching talents in Mexican women’s soccer.
After week 22, Sam Staab leads the Stars with 2,198 minutes played, including 24 starts and appearances in all of Chicago’s 25 matches. Staab also leads the squad with 1,813 touches, 1,374 passes, 153 clearances, 30 blocks and 30 interceptions. Maitane leads Chicago with 27 tackles won while Nádia Gomes leads with 87 recoveries. Offensively, Julia Grosso leads Chicago with 22 chances created, while Gomes leads with 15 shots. Jordyn Huitema leads with four goals, followed by Gomes, Grosso and Swanson with two apiece.
The Stars are 10-8-12 against Gotham FC in regular season matches. Chicago also has a 6-5-5 advantage when facing Gotham on the road.
During Chicago’s last match against the Washington Spirit on September 20, Nádia Gomes made her 50th NWSL and club appearance. In this week’s match against Gotham FC, Julia Grosso could make her 50th regular season NWSL and club start.
Goalkeeper Katie Atkinson was announced by the league as the Chicago Stars’ nominee for the 2026 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, which recognizes an NWSL Player for outstanding service and character off the pitch and in the community. Atkinson will team up with Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The center is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for pediatric oncology and treats more children with cancer and blood disorders than any other hospital in Illinois. Before joining the Chicago Stars, Atkinson was previously Racing Louisville FC’s nominee for the 2024 edition of the award, partnering with another local children’s hospital, Norton Children’s. Lund worked extensively with pediatric oncology organizations throughout her time in Louisville and plans to continue doing so in Chicago, beginning with the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Lurie Children’s.
