Chicago Stars Fire Martin Sjögren Following 4-1-13 Record and -24 Goal Differential

The Chicago Stars dismissed head coach Martin Sjögren on Wednesday with the team sitting four points adrift at the bottom of the NWSL standings.

The Chicago Stars fired head coach Martin Sjögren on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, following a 4-1-13 (W-L-D) start to the NWSL season. Through 18 games, the club sits at the foot of the standings, four points adrift of the nearest competitor. The team currently holds a minus-24 goal differential, which ranks as the worst mark among the 16 teams in the league. Sjögren’s departure comes amidst a five-game winless streak in which the Stars managed to score only one goal.

Assistant coach Karina Báez has been appointed as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 campaign. This transition marks the fifth coaching change for the Chicago franchise since the beginning of 2025. Alongside Sjögren, assistant coach Anders Jacobson was also dismissed from his position on Wednesday. To bolster the technical staff, the club announced that former head coach Lorne Donaldson will return to the organization immediately to serve as the interim director of coaching through the end of the current season.

Historical Context of Sjögren’s Tenure

Martin Sjögren, the former manager of the Norway women’s national team, was originally hired by Chicago in August 2025. His appointment followed the April 2024 firing of Lorne Donaldson. Despite being hired last summer, Sjögren did not oversee his first match until the start of the 2026 season due to ongoing contractual obligations with a previous employer in Sweden. During the interim period in late 2025, Anders Jacobson led the squad as the team finished at the bottom of the NWSL standings.

Sjögren’s official debut on the Chicago sideline resulted in a 4-0 loss to Angel City. His exit follows a turbulent year for the front office, which included the firing of general manager Richard Feuz in May 2026. The club's leadership is now looking toward a long-term restructuring of the sporting department as they navigate the final portion of the 2026 schedule.

Front Office Strategy and 2027 Rebuild

Chicago Stars president Karen Leetzow stated that the organization has a plan in place to transform the club into a serious NWSL contender starting now and moving into the 2027 season. Leetzow expressed gratitude to Karina Báez for assuming the leadership role and thanked Lorne Donaldson for his willingness to return and guide the team through this transition. The president noted that these changes are part of a broader effort to rebuild the infrastructure of the sporting department.

While the Stars struggle at the bottom of the table, other league developments include the Gotham FC squad taking over as the new leaders in the NWSL Power Rankings behind an ongoing unbeaten streak. Additionally, the league saw a significant injury update as USWNT and Portland Thorns star Moultrie was ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. The Chicago Stars will now focus on the remainder of their 2026 fixtures under the direction of Báez and Donaldson as they attempt to improve upon their current four-win record.