Everything to know before the Stars take the lakefront field

The 2026 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is gearing up for another season, with this year’s match schedule set to start mid-March.

This time around, Wildcat fans will welcome Chicago Stars FC, Chicago’s NWSL team, to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. After announcing their move to the lakefront this past September, red and light blue will now adorn Northwestern’s campus at least until late 2026.

If you haven’t been in the loop of Chicago Stars news, no worries. Here is everything you need to know to be up to date before the ball gets rolling.

When is the Stars’ debut on Northwestern soil?

The Stars will play their first home game in Evanston on March 22 against the Kansas City Current, the reigning NWSL Shield winners, after leading the 2025 season with 65 accumulated points. The Stars will feature in 15 home matches by the lakefront, from March to October, with several match theme nights expected throughout the season.

Just a few notables, announced in a press release on Feb. 18, include: Celebration of Black Culture on April 25 against Boston Legacy FC, Independence Day Celebration on July 5 against Utah Royals FC, Pride on August 9 against Bay FC and Nuestra Ciudad on Oct. 4 against Denver Summit FC.

How has the team performed throughout NWSL history?

Before being Chicago Stars FC, the team played under the name Chicago Red Stars. In October 2024, they announced the name change, which went into effect for the 2025 season. The team joined the NWSL in 2013, and since then has reached the NWSL Championship game in 2019 and 2021.

Last season, the Stars finished last in the 14-spot standings, with a mere 20 points and only three wins under their belt. One of those was their “Lakefront Faceoff” against the Orlando Pride at Martin Stadium.

Scanning through the roster, the Stars will start the season without prominent forward Mallory Swanson, who continues to be on maternity leave after missing out on last season. The team announced it did not expect her to return to playing time to begin the 2026 season, but did expect a later return with no specific date mentioned. Swanson led the team’s 2024 season statistics with seven goals and four assists, making her return a highly anticipated moment for all.

On goalkeeping, the Stars have kept Alyssa Naeher after signing her on a one-year contract extension for her 11th season in Chicago. The U.S. Women’s National Team’s decorated goalkeeper has been a continuous asset for the Stars since 2016. She holds the club’s record for most regular season starts and appearances (165), minutes played (14,821), saves (512) and clean sheets (46).

How are the team’s relocation plans looking?

Keeping in mind that the team’s 10-year lease at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill. expired at the end of 2025, a move to Martin Stadium was the team’s best bet. As of now, the Stars are only confirmed to play this season by the lakefront.

In early January, the team announced it had filed a unique-use permit application with the City of Evanston to play upcoming seasons at the yet-to-be-complete Ryan Field. This special permit is in accordance with Evanston’s current zoning code, which does not allow professional sports at Ryan Field, making the Stars’ case a “one-of-a-kind” use that makes its circumstance “of substantial land use” or of “economic benefit to the City.”

82% of Evanston residents are in favor of the move, according to a 2040 Strategy Group community poll commissioned by the Stars. Still, the announcement has faced backlash from residents who are worried about the negative impact a move might have on the nearby neighborhood.

According to the Evanston Roundtable, if the city approves the permit, the Stars could play up to five seasons at Ryan Field, which will open by Fall 2026. As the team, and the city, await a decision, all we can do as of now is prepare to witness how the team will perform on Northwestern’s campus once the season gets underway.