Categories: Chicago Stars FCNWSLWomen's Football

Stars part ways with Sjögren, install Donaldson as director of coaching

Courtesy: Chicago Stars FC

CHICAGO, IL–Chicago Stars FC has parted ways with head coach Martin Sjögren and assistant coach Anders Jacobson with immediate effect and appointed Katrina Baez as interim manager for the remainder of the season. In addition, the club has hired former coach Lorne Donaldson as interim director of coaching–also thru the remainder of the season overseeing all technical and analytical aspects while reuniting with a familiar roster and staff.

Lorne Donaldson, seen here in April 2024, was rehired by the club on Wednesday as interim director of coaching. (Photo: Leslie Smith)

Earlier this season, the Stars parted ways with general manager Richard Feuz. The Stars currently sit bottom of the NWSL on just 13 points and are on pace for a second consecutive wooden spoon and third in four years. While they have exceeded their win total from last season, they have already exceeded last season’s loss total as they are now 4-13-1. Most alarmingly is that the Stars have scored just nine goals all season and have been shut out 13 times this season. Only Racing Louisville have allowed more goals.

The Stars have not been helped by injuries to players such as Mallory Swanson (who returned from maternity leave) and Jordyn Huitema. They have not been helped by the move to Evanston’s Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern University as the Stars also currently rank last in average attendance in the NWSL by over a 1,000 per person behind second bottom Racing Louisville.

“We are determined to make our club a serious contender in the NWSL and have a plan in place to do so beginning now and leading into the 2027 season,” said Chicago Stars FC President Karen Leetzow. “We wish Martin and Anders the best in their future endeavors, and we’re grateful to Karina for stepping into this leadership role, as well as Lorne Donaldson for his disposition to return to our club and help guide the team during this transition period as we rebuild the infrastructure of our sporting department.”

Now in her third season with the club, Báez previously focused primarily on analytics. 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.

Donaldson returns to the Stars following a hiatus after his departure from the club in April 2025. The Jamaica native and former professional player first joined the Stars ahead of the 2024 NWSL season. During his tenure, he led the Stars from a last-place finish in 2023 to a playoff berth in 2024 with a 10-14-2 regular-season record that year.

“This is a group of players I truly care about, and I’m very happy to return to the Chicago Stars for the next several months,” said Donaldson. “I’m excited to reunite with some familiar faces, for the opportunity to meet new players, and I look forward to working together with the staff to earn some wins in the final stretch of the season.”

Nikole Luick is also joining the Stars as a full-time assistant. Lukic was the former head coach of Spokane Zephyr in the USL Super League and as Director of Talent Identification for U.S. Soccer’s Women’s Youth National Teams.

COMMENT: If ever there was an organization in need of a complete audit, it’s Chicago Stars FC. Much like the Fire a few years ago, they cannot afford to be bad and boring in a crowded sports landscape to the point where no one goes to the games. Sadly, the club has not emerged at all from the scandals that plagued it under the former ownership and coach. The Ricketts Group and Leetzow need to reassess the soccer operations from top to bottom to explore where things need to be improved in addition to the four areas in which it is obvious–goalkeeping, defending, midfield, and attack. It’s not helped by the facts that Alyssa Naeher has lost her starting spot on her way to retirement, the defense still cannot stop attacks, the midfield lacks a #10 (and a #6), and no one outside of Swanson and Huitema can score goals on a consistent basis.

Hiring Donaldson back as a director will at least help in that regard, but like the WNBA Sky, there are tons of problems that need to be addressed and there is a question as to whether the ownership really has all the answers.