I’m tired of this, Grandpa
By Lesley Ryder
Very little has changed for the Chicago Stars in the last calendar year. Some names may be different, but the results are mostly the same. The team’s primary scoring threat is out for the remainder of the season. The injury bug has been relentless. The midseason transfer window brings in weathered European players with no experience in a league like the NWSL. Technical staff decisions, and off-field dealings put the club’s future on unknown ground.
Desperate for points, the Stars faced a last-place Louisville team with nothing to lose. I invite you to look at this shotmap from @nwslstat on BlueSky. Which of these teams played their third match in seven games?
Louisville. The answer is Louisville. The Chicago Stars got their lights put out by a club that is struggling so hard, their star striker reportedly wants out.
The Stars’ game summary could be copied and pasted for much of the season. A slow first half gave way to an opponent opening the scoring in the second half. A crucial turnover led to a goal. The Stars lose, and fall back into last place.
I’m tired of this, grandpa.
The good news is Nadia Gomes broke a nearly 4-game scoreless streak for the Stars. In a touch of good fortune, Gomes’ strike from distance. Bloomer appeared to have a bead on it, but the ball deflected off her punch, and into the net. The Stars nearly found an equalizer, but were correctly ruled offside.
With last night’s loss, the Stars return to last place on the NWSL table. They’re 11 points out of a playoff position, with 13 games to go. Anything can happen in the NWSL, but so far this Stars team gives us no reason to believe they’re just one result away from kickstarting a big run.
The good news is the Stars have made some interim signings that ought to be helpful in the long run. Over the break, they signed Kate Cohen, a scout and analyst who worked with the KC Current, the Matildas, and the USWNT. She joins as the club’s interim technical director. Also joining the Stars is Garga Caserta as interim high-performance director. He’s also worked for the KC Current, and the USWNT. It’s a moment of serious behavior from the Stars’ front office, and it’s long overdue. But there’s much more work to do to make this Stars team successful again.
Quotent Quotables
- Martin Sjogren on the offensive drought: “We don't have players available, but that's the way it is. So it's no excuse. It's just an explanation why we are having a bit trouble in maybe finding the score sheet.”
- Bea Franklin on the goal’s boost for the team: “I think sometimes we just think we have to make everything look almost perfect. And it was a great shot by Nadia, but also like you never know what's going to happen when you shoot, so just a good reminder to we don't have to have the perfect chance. We need more chances, so take advantage of the ones you get”
Notent Notables
- Folks may have been surprised to see Mal Swanson sit this one out. She was named to the roster, but Sjogren told us after the match that she was a late scratch. “It started yesterday, but we hadn’t made a decision til today.”
- Anna Gasper made her debut for the Stars in the second half, and Leila Ouahabi got her first start.