Chicago Stars FC 0-3 Washington Spirit
EVANSTON, IL–Chicago Stars FC are looking to the future as they finish the 2026 season. The Stars would like to see better results down the road.
This past week, the Stars brought in a new Chief Soccer Officer in Vlatko Andonovski to reshape and make the club better going into next season.
“It’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel after a long season,” Chicago Stars forward Jenna Bike said. ‘”He’s coming in effects 2027. He and everyone still cares about 2026. It’s all steps going into a good direction. I feel it’s a statement. I think the front office has a lot of weight to it. How do we want to write our story. Do we want keep doing our cycle of every year seeing this. This league, every year, is anyone’s game and anyone’s table. They wanted to make a splash in hiring Vlatko.”
Chicago (5-18-2, 17 pts) are still trying to find its game, but have been hampered by injuries for most of the season.
“The moment is good with the perspective of how we’re playing,” Chicago interim coach Karina Baez said. “Players are stepping forward. I can do this and I can play. It’s difficult that we don’t have minutes with some players. We do have players that want to play and play for the team.”
On the Field, Chicago saw one of the best teams in the NWSL beat them 3-0 at Northwestern Medicine at Martin Field on Sunday afternoon. Trinity Rodman led the Spirit (14-7-4, 46 pts) with a goal and an assist. Andi Sullivan and Tamara Bolt had the other two goals.
Trinity Rodman opened the scoring for the Washington Spirit in the seventh minute. She took down a ball from an assist from Hal Hershfelt and delivered a shot near the back post for a 1-0 lead. The Stars had an unfortunate handball in the penalty area off of Bea Franklin in the 33rd minute. Spirit was given a penalty kick after a video review.
Andi Sullivan converted the penalty kick into the lower right corner for a 2-0 Washington advantage in the 34th minute. Tamara Bolt added a third Spirit goal in the 85th minute. Rodman picked the assist on the goal.
Chicago will be next on the road to play defending champion and league leading Gotham City FC Friday at 7 p.m.
While Washington will next host Angel City at Audi Field Saturday at 5:30 p.m
SCORING SUMMARY:
WAS-Rodman (Hershfelt) 7
WAS-Sullivan (PK) 34
WAS-Bolt (Rodman) 85
BOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Franklin (yellow, handball in box) 33
Starting Lineups:
CHICAGO STARS FC: #1-Naeher, #14-Wood, #17-Lopez, #3-Staab, #29-Quahobi, #11-Gomes, #7-Grosso, #10-Pinto (#34-Dellarose), #20-Franklin (#31-Gasper 60), #5-Alozie (#28-Egezii 60), #4-Bike.
Subs not used: #22-Mackiewicz, #27-Atkinson, #6-Valdezate, #15-Evans, #18-Charley.
WASHINGTON SPIRIT: #18-Maclver, #14-Carle, #24-Morgan, #9-Rudd, #13-Di Gugliemo (#26-Metayer 46), #12-Sullivan (#8-Ngock 76), #17-Hershgfelt, #7-Bethi (#16-Bolt), #18-Kousassi (#33-Hatch 46), #27-Cantore (#21-Cantore 86), #2-Rodman.
Subs not used: #28-Wojdelko, #11-Martinez, #29-Gaines-Ramos, #35-Haugen.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 11-16 WAS
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-4 WAS
FOULS: CHI 14-9 WAS
OFFSIDES: CHI 3-1 WAS
CORNER KICKS: CHI 3-4 WAS
SAVES: CHI 1-5 WAS
Referee: Brandon Steves
Assistant Referees: Sean Yinka-Kehinde and Ethan Buege
Fourth Official: Ryan Shanklin
VAR: Mark Verso
Assistant VAR: Melissa Beck
Weather: Cloudy and 64
Attendance: 5,762
Photos by Len Cederholm
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