Chicago Stars FC (5-17-2, 17 pts) will return home take on the Washington Spirit (13-7-4, 43 pts) on Sunday, September 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT on ESPN and the ESPN App. Stars will look to build off their momentum from last week's draw while the Spirit will look to get back in the win column.
At Sunday’s match, Chicago Stars FC will celebrate Neighborhood Night, presented by Sloan. Fans can get a special Neighborhood night patch and a Rally Wave at the gates. In the Fan Zone, presented by Jameson, fans can meet with multiple Chicagoland organizations tabling at the match and take part in fun activities to represent their neighborhood pride. As part of the club’s merchandise collaboration with local favorite, Alice & Wonder, fans can bring any one of the four hats from the collaboration to the match and receive a special patch pressed onto their hat in the Fan Zone, presented by Jameson.
Stream: ESPN and ESPN App
CHI: The Stars earned one point in a 1-1 draw against Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park on Sunday, September 13.
WAS: The Spirit fell 3-0 to Boston Legacy FC at Audi Field on Sunday, September 13.
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.
Chicago Stars FC announced that it 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.
In his role, Andonovski will oversee all sporting efforts at the club, including working closely with the head coach on roster building, on-field strategy, scouting, transfers, and player development. The Stars will soon add leadership positions reporting to Andonovski across its sporting ranks as the club finalizes a structural rebuild.
After week 21, Sam Staab leads the Stars with 2,108 minutes played, including 23 starts and appearances in all of Chicago’s 24 matches. Staab also leads the squad with 1,746 touches, 1,324 passes, 149 clearances, 30 blocks and 30 interceptions. Maitane leads Chicago with 27 tackles won while Nádia Gomes leads with 79 recoveries. Offensively, Julia Grosso leads Chicago with 21 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 11-11-8 against the Spirit dating back to the inaugural NWSL season in 2013. Last time the Stars faced the Spirit, Chicago picked up a point in a 1-1 draw on August 31, 2025, at Audi Field.
During Chicago’s last match against Portland Thorns FC on September 13, Taylor Wood scored her first professional goal to help Chicago earn a point in a 1-1 draw. Forward Brianna Pinto made her 100th regular-season NWSL appearance. This weekend against the Washington Spirit, Nádia Gomes could make her 50th regular season NWSL appearance.
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.
