Chicago Stars FC lose again and the organizational as a whole needs to be more accountable for this dreadful run

The 2026 Chicago Stars FC roster entered the season having no chance of being a serious threat in the NWSL and that roster build is clearly holding back the club through nine matches.

Chicago Stars lost 3-0 to the Kansas City Current on Sunday afternoon, marking the club’s eighth loss in ten league matches to begin the season. To make matters worse, Chicago has not scored a single goal in any of their seven losses and have only scored four goals on the season through nine matches.

In short, this team does not have even close to enough in its attack for Mallory Swanson’s return from Maternity Leave to be anything other than a boost that will steal them a goal or two on the counterattack while still operating as a side in need of offensive help. What kind of help do they need? Literally anything would be good enough for this Chicago side that is without a goal in its 309 minutes on the pitch, which is somehow only their second-longest goalless run after going 320 minutes without a goal earlier this season. 

Sunday’s loss to Kansas City was just another data point to show that this club isn’t good enough in its current form, regardless of the injury crisis the club is dealing with at the fullback spot (maybe they should’ve signed more than one fullback with NWSL experience in the offseason, just a thought considering we all knew this was going to be an issue as it has for years now). 

Temwa Chawinga, the two-time reigning NWSL MVP who did not play for Kansas City when they lost to Chicago in Evanston earlier this year, made it look easy as she scored a hat trick for her side at CPKC Stadium to down the Stars and move her side up the table after their own slow start to 2026 under new head coach Chris Armas. 

The Chicago Stars were clearly behind the eight ball at the beginning of season when they acquired forward Jordyn Huitema, who has been arguably their most important attacking player in 2026, on the eve of the season. This move happened only weeks after Chicago Stars general manager Richard Feuz alleged that forward Ivonne Chacón, whose release clause had to be activated in order for Chicago to acquire her last year from Levante in Spain, was brought in as an anticipation of 2025 leading goalscorer Ludmila’s departure in the offseason. 

Chacón only has two goal contributions (both last season) and has only made one start for Chicago Stars in 2026, which it appears Chicago’s coaching staff realized Chacón was not a serious replacement for Ludmila and forced them to push for the move to acquire Huitema. 

Chicago Stars FC head coach Martin Sjögren said his side didn’t really “give themselves a chance to win this game” after the loss to Kansas City, a refrain we’ve heard from Chicago Stars and Chicago Red Stars coaches for years now after losses.

At a certain point, the organization as a whole needs to take accountability for the team’s lack of progress since Laura Ricketts and co took over as owners. 

If they don’t Chicago will be an afterthought before Mallory Swanson even has a chance of saving them from [gestures wildly] whatever this has been.