Venue Location: Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Evanston, Illinois (capacity ~4,000+ for this match; natural grass surface). This marked Chicago Stars FC’s first home game in their new stadium for the 2026 season. Attendance was 4,192.
Kickoff at 1:15 PM CT (2:15 PM ET).
Broadcast: ESPN2 and ESPN app (national); additional local radio and streaming options.
Weather Updates
Cold and challenging early-spring conditions in the Chicago area. Kickoff temperature was around 37°F (about 3°C) with windy conditions that affected ball flight and passing accuracy throughout the afternoon. Skies were mostly clear, but the low temperatures and gusty winds created a gritty, physical environment typical of Midwest early-season play, favoring teams that could adapt to set pieces and direct play over intricate build-up.
Injury Report / Player Availability
Kansas City Current (2025 NWSL Shield winners):
OUT: Alana Cook (knee – SEI), Clare Gagne (head – SEI), Temwa Chawinga (hip – SEI), Mary Long (D-45), Meila Brewer (knee), Bayley Feist (thigh), Vanessa DiBernardo (maternity leave).
QUESTIONABLE: Rocky Rodriguez (lower leg), Lo’eau LaBonta (knee); Ellie Bravo-Young dealt with a knee issue and received a yellow card in the match.
Key absences included star forward Temwa Chawinga (long-term) and several defensive pieces, forcing rotation and depth usage on the road.
Chicago Stars FC:
OUT: Kathy Hendrich (lower leg), Jordyn Huitema was available and scored (though listed in some broader reports as questionable pre-match; she started and played until the 61st minute), Natalia Kuikka (knee – SEI), Halle Mackiewicz (hand – D45), Mallory Swanson (maternity leave), Taylor Wood (knee).
Chicago fielded a competitive lineup with rookie Tessa Dellarose making her first professional start.
Projected / Actual Starting Lineups
Chicago Stars FC – Strong home performance with clinical finishing.
GK: Alyssa Naeher (c)
DEF: Tessa Dellarose, Sam Staab, Bea Franklin, Michelle Alozie (sub 61’ Aaliyah Farmer)
MF: Maitane Lopez, Manaka Hayashi (sub 88’ Leilanni Nesbeth), Ryan Gareis, Julia Grosso, Brianna Pinto
FW: Jordyn Huitema (sub 61’ Jameese Joseph)
Kansas City Current
GK: Lorena
DEF: Izzy Rodriguez, Gabrielle Robinson, Kayla Sharples, Ellie Bravo-Young
MF: Katie Scott (sub 85’ Gianna Paul), Debinha, Lo’eau LaBonta (c, sub 61’ Rocky Rodriguez)
AM/FW: Croix Bethune (sub 75’ Penelope Hocking), Ally Sentnor, Michelle Cooper (sub 46’ Haley Hopkins)
Key Player Matchups to Watch
Tessa Dellarose (CHI rookie) vs. KC defense: Dellarose scored the opening goal in the 42nd minute—her first professional goal in her first start—exploiting set-piece or transitional opportunities.
Jordyn Huitema (CHI) vs. KC back line: Huitema added the second goal in the 50th minute (assisted by Ryan Gareis), showcasing her aerial and finishing ability despite injury concerns.
Haley Hopkins (KC, sub) vs. Chicago defense: Hopkins pulled one back in the 57th minute with a historic assist from defender Izzy Rodriguez, highlighting KC’s second-half response.
Alyssa Naeher (CHI) vs. KC attack (Debinha, Sentnor, Bethune): The veteran keeper anchored a resilient defensive effort.
Midfield control: Julia Grosso and Maitane Lopez for Chicago battled Debinha and Lo’eau LaBonta for Kansas City in a physical central contest affected by the wind.
Team Recent Form
Chicago Stars FC form: Entered 0-1-0 after a heavy 4-0 road loss to Angel City FC in Week 1. They rebounded impressively in their home opener, improving to 1-1-0 with a gritty 2-1 victory that snapped an early skid and earned their first points of 2026.
Kansas City Current form: Entered 1-0-0 after a come-from-behind 2-1 home win over Utah Royals in Week 1 (as defending Shield winners). They dropped to 1-1-0 after this road loss, marking their first defeat of the season and the start of a tough three-match road swing. The Current showed fight with a second-half goal but struggled to convert chances late.
Series History
Historically competitive matchup between the sides (formerly Chicago Red Stars). Entering this game, Kansas City Current held a slight edge overall (roughly 7 wins to Chicago’s 5-6, with 4 draws in 16-17 prior meetings). KC had been unbeaten in their last 7 encounters (5W-2D). Chicago’s 2-1 win here was a notable upset, improving the all-time balance. The return fixture is scheduled for later in the 2026 season (e.g., around May or September at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City).
Betting Trends
Road favorites in early NWSL weeks (especially Shield contenders) often cover, but home openers with passionate crowds and weather factors can produce upsets.
Chicago, coming off a blowout loss, showed resilience at home; unders or low-scoring trends appeared in windy/cold conditions, but this game featured three goals.
KC’s games trended toward BTTS in Week 1; historical H2H often saw competitive, goal-involved results.
Big underdogs hosting early in the season (post-bad loss) have occasional cover success when leveraging set pieces and home energy.
MATCH ODDS
Kansas City Current – 170
Chicago Stars FC + 525
Draw + 260
Over 2.5 + 110 Under 2.5 – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, March 21, 2026
