The rebranded Chicago Stars are ready to open the 2025 season against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2024 when they were known as the Red Stars.
The Stars open the NWSL season at 7 p.m. March 14 at 7 p.m. at defending league champ Orlando. The Stars dropped a 4-1 game in the opening round of the playoffs to the Pride on Nov. 8 to end their season.
But the Stars did make it to the eight-team postseason party and finished with a 10-14-2 record. They’re aiming to improve on that mark.
“I think everyone is excited,” second-year coach Lorne Donaldson said. “There is less nervousness now with the players who were here last year. Some of the rookies from last year are calling themselves veterans. It’s good to see them go out there and try to show some leadership.
“This year we have a foundation.”
The status of top scorer Mallory Swanson continues to be a mystery. She missed camp for personal reasons.
The Colorado native was interviewed during a Denver Nuggets broadcast in February, but she was not asked about her Stars absence. She is not featured on any promotional material. Last year, she scored seven goals to share the team lead with Ally Schlegel.
Schlegel is back as is world-class goalie Alyssa Naeher and a combination of veterans and newcomers. Second-year midfielder Jameese Joseph, who had three goals and two assists last season, has Donaldson intrigued. She was named to the United States Women’s National Team’s Futures Camp in January.
“Jameese always thought she was a talent and I think it’s fantastic that what that does for her is validate her with her peers,” Donaldson said. “She is getting noticed not just from this organization but outside the organization.”
Second-year general manager Richard Feuz is excited for the season but knows that success doesn’t happen overnight.
“Perfection is impossible to reach,” he said. “We wake up every single day to try to make the cornerstone of stability.
“A lot of people care about the new players, but I also care about the players who were here last season. Obviously, the new players are going to have to adapt to this team. We wanted to keep the stability of the coaching staff and make it one of the best coaching staffs in the league.”
Overall, he is happy with the direction of the team.
“We needed to shift the culture,” he said. “We needed to bring back the fun in training and bring back the fun to the long season that we are living. I think Lorne did that perfectly.”
The Stars announced that on June 14, they will be a part of a Solider Field doubleheader with the Chicago Fire. They will face the Seattle Reign in the 4 p.m. game followed by the Fire hosting Nashville at 7:30 p.m.
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