Chi-Lights: A doubleheader and a double treat

PREFACE: This has not been said in quite some time, but it is genuinely fun times to be a Fire fan. The Fire have gone 4-1-1 in league play since the 7-2 thrashing at Nashville and are in the US Open Cup quarterfinals–and that’s not the half of things there. The Stars enter Saturday’s Soldier Field doubleheader off a draw against Angel City. They have played better, but they’re still bottom of the NWSL. Outside the doubleheader, the Hounds enter the MLR playoffs at home against Old Glory DC. Last time the sides had a doubleheader (2022) neither Chicago side scored. Hopes are for goals and wins this time around. Here are the details:

FIRE: Joe Mansueto hinted both at privately financing any new stadium for the Fire and eyeing “The 78” as one of the potential sites. Both were announced on June 3rd. It’s the continuation of a string of good news for the Fire as their form has been a phoenix rising from the smolder of the 7-2 thrashing back on April 26th. It could have collapsed further against Orlando the next week after Chris Brady was sent off, but the Fire held their nerve and held out for a 0-0 draw.

From there, they’ve gone 4-1-0 in league play and returned to the playoff places after a 7-1 thrashing of DC United despite a depleted roster. It had been 24 years since the Fire put seven past an opponent. Now the challenge begins as in their half in Saturday’s doubleheader against the very team that beat them 7-2 in Nashville. What has been clear in recent weeks is that the Fire have depth for the first time in a while and the team is thriving under Gregg Berhalter’s system.

As for the upcoming new stadium, there is still some stuff to do with the city in terms of zoning and preparing the land, but anything with as less public finding as possible would get fast tracked to the light of day considering three other teams in the city (Bears, White Sox, and Stars) are also seeking new stadiums and some sort of public funding. It also speaks to Mansueto as someone who wants to do good by the city of Chicago and is getting to explore his vision through the Fire starting with the Endeavor Health Performance Center and now with this new stadium due to open in 2028.

But first thing’s first, gaining some semblance of revenge against Nashville on Saturday in the second half of Chicago soccer’s doubleheader.

STARS: The Stars did get a draw against Angel City, but it doesn’t hide that they club are still bottom of the NWSL, bottom in terms of goals scored, and bottom in terms of goals conceded. The Stars hope to rectify the defensive end with the signing of German international Katherin Hendrich. Having Natalia Kuikka back from injury also helps.

It can be said that plans were made based on the assumption that Mallory Swanson would be on the pitch, but there are things you just cannot plan for such as Swanson’s announced pregnancy. The Stars either need someone on the current roster to score the goals or sign someone from the outside to do that in Swanson’s absence. The playoffs are looking more unlikely in 2025 and more uncertainty rests with where the Stars will play home games in 2026 with their lease expiring at SeatGeek Stadium at the end of this season. On Saturday, the Stars will host Seattle Reign at Soldier Field (4pm CT, Ion).

HOUNDS: The Chicago Hounds are calling SeatGeek Stadium home and they will be home for their Eastern Conference playoff match against Old Glory DC on Saturday at 6pm (WPWR/ESPN+). The Hounds finished the regular season strong with three straight wins and secured a home berth for the conference semifinals. They will face either New England Free Jacks or Miami Sharks in the conference final should they win on Saturday.

A special note must be made of the record crowd the Hounds had for their May 31st match where they drew 4,889 at SeatGeek for their penultimate home tilt against NOLA Gold. That is a club record and maybe showing signs of some growth for the club. Best of luck to the Hounds as they enter the playoffs for the second straight year.