Masaki Hemmi leaves club to pursue other opportunities
By Lesley Ryder
Chicago Stars FC announced several changes to the roster ahead of the July transfer window. Masaki Hemmi will leave the club to pursue other opportunities, replaced by Ella Masar. Masar previosly served as interim head coach at the end of the 2023 season. Alyssa Naeher and Jameese joseph move to the 45-day injury list, and the club will not be renewing Catherine Barry’s short-term contract. The club also came to a mutual agreement with Justina Gaynor to terminate her contract.
Contract updates
Jameese Joseph and Alyssa Naeher have been moved to the 45-day injury list. Joseph has been out for the last three games after suffering a lower leg injury. Naeher has also missed three games this season with an upper-body injury after taking a hard shot off the hand from Temwa Chawinga in Chicago’s match against Kansas City. Then-interim head coach Masaki Hemmi said in a prematch press conference described the issue as a thumb injury.
The Stars also announced the Jameese Joseph has been signed to a contract extension through the 2028 season, with an option for 2029. Joseph started her 2025 season at the USWNT futures camp, and has made multiple appearances in U-23 camp.
Nadia Gomes’ short-term contract has been extended for an additional month, through July 30th, and goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski’s replacement player contract is extended to July 29th.
The Stars will be parting ways with Justina Gaynor and Catherine Barry. Both players earned contracts after preseason camp with the Stars. Barry was originally signed as a roster relief contract, and was later extended to June 30th. Gaynor signed a one-year contract with the club in March, but both parties came to a mutual agreement to terminate.
Free agent list
The NWSL announced Chicago’s free agents for 2026:
- Camryn Biegalski
- Ava Cook
- Chardonnay Curran
- Bea Franklin
- Shea Groom
- Halle Mackiewicz
- Alyssa Naeher
- Cari Roccaro
- Ally Schlegel
Schlegel has a club option for 2026, but was not marked as having one in the league’s list, and was not listed in the club’s contract update.
Interim to the interim
Interim head coach Masaki Hemmi has announced he’ll be leaving the club to pursue other opportunities, effective July 3rd. Hemmi was appointed interim head coach after the club fired Lorne Donaldson. Hemmi will be succeeded by assistant coach Ella Masar. The longtime member of the Chicago Stars roster previously served in the role for the last match of the 2023 season.
The Stars announcement offered their first official update in months on the head coaching search. “We have narrowed down the candidate pool and expect to appoint a new head coach soon. While we have a lot of building ahead, we look forward to turning the page to the second half of our season and starting a new chapter for the team,” said Chicago Stars FC president, Karen Leetzow.
Chicago Stars FC will resume play July 12th in Kansas City for the Teal Rising Cup.