Nicole: It is not about whether they can play. It is about whether they want to win. The Chicago Stars are sitting at five wins, two draws, and twenty-one losses. That is a number that hurts to say out loud.
Kevin: Fifteenth in the league. Sixteenth in the standings. And yet, we have new signings, a new chief soccer officer, and a massive opportunity on the horizon for the city itself. There is a lot happening behind the scenes of this rebuild.
Nicole: Welcome to today’s episode of Beatline Sports Network, where we break down the NWSL one team at a time. I’m Nicole, and I’m joined by Kevin. We are diving deep into the Chicago Stars FC power rankings for October nineteenth, 2026. Kevin, let’s set the stage.
Kevin: Right. We have been tracking this team closely since early October. You predicted Maitane would be released. You predicted zero to two more wins. Today, we look at the record, the roster moves under Vlatko Andonovski, and what it all means for the club's future.
Nicole: Here is your roadmap for today. First, we will rank the Stars in the context of their division and the wider NWSL landscape. Second, we will break down the tactical strengths and the glaring question marks left by that recent loss to Angel City. And third, we will give you our final season outlook and win projection. Let’s get into it.
Nicole: Okay, Kevin. Let’s start with the hard truth. Five wins, two draws, twenty-one losses. They are sixteenth in the NWSL. When you look at the divisional picture, where does Chicago actually sit?
Kevin: They are firmly in the basement of the Eastern Conference conversation, though technically the conference structure is fluid this late in the year. But looking at the points percentage, they are trailing almost every other team in their geographic cluster. It’s a stark contrast to the hype surrounding the 2031 Women’s World Cup bid.
Nicole: Right! Because the headlines are saying Chicago and Portland are joining the race to host those games. It feels like two different worlds. On one hand, you have international prestige. On the other, you have a team that just got crushed.
Kevin: Exactly. It’s a duality. The infrastructure investment is real. But the on-field product has to catch up. In terms of pure ranking, if we look at the ESPN NWSL Power Rankings from this week, San Diego is number one after clinching a playoff spot. Chicago is nowhere near that tier. They are struggling to find identity.
Nicole: And we saw that identity crisis last weekend. Angel City hosted them on March fifteenth—wait, hold on, the data says the last game was March fifteenth against Angel City, but today is October? This is a retrospective analysis based on the final stretch or the most recent completed fixture data available.
Kevin: Correct. The API shows the last completed match was that 4-0 defeat to Angel City FC. Maiara Niehues had five shots for Angel City. Gisele Thompson had forty-three accurate passes. For Chicago, Maitane only managed two shots. Julia Grosso had thirty-one accurate passes. Alyssa Naeher made two saves. It was a defensive collapse.
Nicole: Thirty-one passes from Grosso while losing four-nil. That tells me possession wasn’t even the issue; it was penetration. Or lack thereof. So, in the power rankings, how do you value a team that has lost six consecutive games leading into this point?
Kevin: You penalize the momentum heavily. Even with the Kundananji signing, the table doesn't lie. They are sixteenth. In a division that is becoming increasingly competitive, being at the bottom means you are fighting for survival, not supremacy. The gap between Chicago and the playoff teams is massive right now.
Nicole: It’s tough. But we have to acknowledge the changes. Vlatko Andonovski is the chief soccer officer. He brought in Racheal Kundananji from Bay FC for seven hundred thousand dollars in intraleague transfer funds. That is a statement move.
Kevin: It is a statement, but it’s also a band-aid on a broken leg if the system isn’t fixed. Kundananji is a star, yes. But she needs service. And when Maitane was creating only two shots against Angel City, the service line was dry. Andonovski knew he needed to clear house.
Nicole: Which brings us back to the prediction we made earlier this week. We said Maitane would be released. Do you think that decision alone shifts the power ranking position, even if the record stays the same?
Kevin: It shifts the *future* potential. The current ranking reflects the past performance. The release of Maitane signals to the rest of the league that Chicago is willing to make painful cuts. That might earn them respect in locker rooms across the league, but it won’t change the sixteenth-place standing immediately.
Nicole: So, as of today, October nineteenth, the Stars are still stuck in the mud. Sixteen. But there is hope on the horizon with the World Cup bid. That’s our first segment. Stick with us, because things get tactical in the next few minutes.
Nicole: Before we dive into Segment Two, I need to talk to you, our listeners. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or your commute, a small tip is exactly what keeps this show free and coming to you every single day. Please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. It helps us keep the journalism sharp and the passion high.
Kevin: Thanks, Nicole. Alright, let’s talk strengths and question marks. We’ve established the weakness is obvious: defense and finishing. But what is actually working for Chicago right now?
Nicole: I’d argue experience. Julia Grosso is still there. She had thirty-one accurate passes against Angel City. That’s composure. And Alyssa Naeher is in goal. Two saves in a four-goal loss is tough, but she’s a veteran presence. Is that enough of a strength to build on?
Kevin: Grosso is the engine. Her distribution is elite. But the question mark is everything else around her. Specifically, the attacking output. Maitane only took two shots. Where were the runs? Where was the width? Against Angel City, they were suffocated. That’s the biggest question mark: Can they create chances against organized defenses?
Nicole: And now we have Racheal Kundananji. She’s a Zambia international, a star forward. But remember, she just signed. Does she fit the system? Andonovski is known for his tactical discipline. Will Kundananji thrive in that structure, or will she need time to adapt?
Kevin: That’s the risk. Kundananji is used to carrying offensive load. If the midfield isn’t providing consistent quality balls, she’ll be isolated. The question mark is connectivity. Can Grosso connect with a new striker quickly? Or will there be a lag in understanding?
Nicole: There’s also the international duty angle. Michelle Alozie scored for Nigeria recently against Comoros. She’s healthy and scoring abroad. But are there other players affected by international calls? We heard about Zambia players missing games due to Ebola travel restrictions. Could that impact Chicago’s depth?
Kevin: That is a huge variable. If Kundananji gets called up to Zambia for qualifiers or tournament play, Chicago loses their new marquee player mid-season. That would be a catastrophic blow to their limited remaining schedule. It’s a strategic vulnerability.
Nicole: So, strength: Experience in Grosso and Naeher. Weakness: Attacking creativity and defensive solidity. Question mark: Kundananji’s integration and availability. Is that a fair summary?
Kevin: Perfectly fair. And don’t forget, Denver Summit FC played them recently. Highlights exist from that match on October fifth. Did they improve against Denver? Probably slightly better than Angel City, but still not enough to climb the rankings significantly.
Nicole: Right. So the tactical takeaway is: they need to stop leaking goals and start creating volume. Two shots against Angel City is unacceptable for an NWSL team. That has to change if they want to compete next season.
Kevin: Agreed. The press needs to be higher. The build-up needs to be quicker. Andonovski has the tools, but the execution has been poor. Until the xG (expected goals) numbers go up, the results won’t follow.
Nicole: Let’s bring it home. What is the realistic season outlook? We predicted zero to two additional wins earlier in the week. With the record at 5-2-21, do we stick with that projection?
Kevin: We stick with it. The margin for error is gone. They are sixteen. Catching up is nearly impossible unless the teams above them collapse. But for Chicago, the goal should be development. Two more wins would signal a turnaround in attitude. Zero wins confirms the struggle.
Nicole: And what about the roster? We talked about Maitane being released. Are there other names on the chopping block? Andonovski is cleaning house. Who stays? Who goes?
Kevin: Grosso stays. Naeher stays. Those are anchors. Everyone else is up for grabs. The signing of Kundananji suggests they want more firepower. They might look for another forward or a creative midfielder. But the core must remain stable.
Nicole: So, the outlook is grim but hopeful. Grim because the record is terrible. Hopeful because they have a clear plan: Andonovski, Grosso, Naeher, and now Kundananji. They are building for the future, specifically that 2031 World Cup.
Kevin: Exactly. They are playing for the long term. The short term pain is necessary for the long term gain. If they can stabilize the defense and integrate Kundananji properly, they could be a playoff threat in 2027. But 2026? It’s over.
Nicole: Final prediction then: Chicago Stars FC finishes the season with exactly one additional win. Just enough to show progress, but not enough to change the standing. One more victory in the books. Five wins total, maybe six if they upset a tired opponent.
Kevin: I’ll take that bet. One win. Maybe two if the defense clicks. But definitely not three. The gap is too wide.
Nicole: There you have it. The Chicago Stars are rebuilding, retooling, and preparing for a big future. But for now, they are sixteenth, struggling, and looking for answers. Thanks for listening to today’s episode of Beatline Sports Network.
Kevin: If you enjoyed this deep dive, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you listen. Share this episode with a fellow soccer fan. Let’s grow the community.
Nicole: Keep your head up, Chicago. The work is just beginning. See you tomorrow for another episode!