We’re back and boy is there a lot of offseason news to catch up on, as new head coach Martin Sjogren and his staff have been busy. The Chicago Stars said goodbye to a couple of mainstays but have made a whole bunch of new additions to replace them. Alyssa Naeher is back, Mallory Swanson is a mom, the Stars are building a new team headquarters and are also trying to stay in Evanston for the long-term.

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The good news is that the 2025 Chicago Stars season has finally come to an end. With just 3 wins in 26 games, it’s the worst year the club has had in it’s 17 years of professional existence. The team had more coaches than it had wins, which underscores the disfunction that plagued the year from start to finish. Are there any positives to take? What of this is fixable in the short term and what will take time? We recap the last few games of the season, including a farewell victory at SeatGeek Stadium, continue are player evaluations from last episode with the midfielders and forwards, and stare into unknown of an offseason that could be just as challenging as the 26 soccer games that preceded it. Alex is joined by Joe Chatz and Lesley Ryder for this season finale of CHGO Stars

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Well, this mostly mess of a season is almost over for the Chicago Stars. They did show well in their debut at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in Evanston (their temporary, probably, home next season) as they smashed a reeling Orlando Pride team 5-2 with goals from five different players.

But since? No more wins and and stuck at the bottom of the NWSL standings.

The team though feels already on to next year with interim coach Andres Jacobsen (the 4th different person in charge this year) now settled in. What have we learned from this recent series of games? Is there anything to be learned over the next three? Alex is joined by CHGO Stars emeritus host from CBS Sports and The Attacking Third podcast Sandra Herrera for her perspective

Also, we begin looking back on the season starting with the goalkeepers and defenders.

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The Chicago Stars have a new head coach: Martin Sjogren. But he’s not going to be here until next year? And his assistant is showing up at some point? Meanwhile, the Stars still can’t win but they can create absolute chaos. Ella Masar has four draws in her four NWSL games in charge, and the last two have seen six goals including four by Ludmila and one by… Alyssa Naeher?! Wild times indeed! Alex is joined by Lesley Ryder of GalPal Sports to try and make some sense of this team.

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The Chicago Stars returned from their summer break on Friday night, drawing 1-1 at home against Gotham FC in Ella Masar’s first league game in charge as the second interim head coach of the season. That draw was certain an improvement on the two games Masar took charge of at the Teal Rising Cup, where the Stars lost 1-0 to Corinthians and Palmeiras respectively (but if nobody saw the games, did they really happen?). Sam Angel and Kathrine Hendrich have arrived, but that’s been the extent of the transfer business for the Stars. If you’re looking for good news, at least Alyssa Naeher is back! Also, Utah Royals made a trade that should seal their spot as the worst team in 2025 despite the Stars doing their best (worst?) to challenge them for it.

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The Chicago Stars decided the morning of this podcast was a good time to for a giant news dump! Interim Head Coach Masaki Hemmi has left the team to “pursue other opportunities,” short term contracts have been both extended and torn up, and there are a lot of players on the NWSL’s free agency list for the coming offseason.

On the soccer side of things, as the NWSL begins its summer break the Stars will probably be glad to get away from the field for a while. Multiple blown leads, including one at Soldier Field created by two great Ludmila goals, and a boring loss in Portland leaves them in second to last (thanks Utah?) and winless in nine. The stars now prepare for a weekend tournament in Kansas City in two weeks amid the backdrop of roster churn and uncertainty.

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Since firing head coach Lorne Donaldson at the end of April, things haven’t gotten any better for the Chicago Stars. In fact, they may haven only gotten worse. After a 0-0 draw in New Jersey, the Stars have lost their last three in a row and are adrift at the bottom of the NWSL table. Will things get better any time soon?

Off the field, general manager Richard Feusz definitely said some stuff, Mallory Swanson is pregnant, and the Stars are going to play a game at Northwestern’s ramshackle soccer-turned football lakefront stadium.

It’s a lot to get through, most of it not good, and Alex is once again joined by Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports to go over it all. Oh, and did we mention Alyssa Naeher’s hurt now? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Lorne Donaldson has been fired as head coach of Stars FC, in a surprising move that’s shaking up the club. The CHGO Stars crew breaks down in this emergency pod to what led to Donaldson’s dismissal, the team’s recent performance, and what’s next for the Stars. Who could be the next head coach, and how will this affect the squad in the future? Don’t miss our full Stars FC coaching change analysis, reactions, and insider breakdown! 

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Well, the Chicago Stars did win for the first time this season back on April 13th at Bay FC! Unfortunately they’ve lost the two since without scoring a single goal. Are the team’s problem’s fixable? Would even the return of Mallory Swanson do anything to help? Things don’t get any easier with Gotham, the Spirit and Current all on tap in May. Then, Tara from the Scuffed Podcast and their recently launched ‘Boots on the Ground’ podcast focusing on the US Women’s National Team and the NWSL joins the show to check in on news and notes from the last month.

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Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Instacart by going to https://coorslight.com/CHGOGoal. Celebrate Responsibly. Coors Brewing Company, Golden, Colorado.

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Two games into the NWSL season and things couldn’t be going much worse for the soccer team formerly known as the Chicago Red Stars. An underwhelming rebrand, lack of reinforcements and absent Mallory Swanson led into what’s been a terrible start on the field. Alex recaps a drubbing in Orlando and blown lead at home before being joined by Lesley Ryder of Gal Pal Sports and Defector to commiserate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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