The Houston Dash will host the Chicago Stars in tonight’s midweek matchup following their 3-2 win on the road against the North Carolina Courage on Sunday night.

Despite Chicago’s struggles this season, the Stars have historically had the upper hand in this matchup, with 14 wins to the Dash’s 11. Recently, however, Houston has begun to turn the tide and will look to continue that trend tonight.

It has been a roller-coaster season for the Stars, who currently sit at the bottom of the table and are winless in their last six matches. With the playoff race beginning to take shape, Chicago is in desperate need of a turnaround if they hope to put themselves back in contention.

By the Numbers

Goals per 90: 0.47 (16th in NWSL)
Goals conceded per 90: 1.79 (15th in NWSL)
Possession: 47.4% (11th in NWSL)
Top scorer: Jordyn Huitema (4)
Most assists: Ryan Connaughton (2)

Head Coach

Karina Báez

With the departure of Martin Sjögren earlier this month, Báez will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the year. As a former scout for the Mexico Women’s National Team, Báez brings a strong background in analytics and player identification, with much of her experience focused on developing young talent through Mexico’s youth programs.

While her head coaching experience includes a brief spell with Pumas UNAM Femenil, Báez has spent the past three years as an assistant with the Stars and now finds herself in the position to guide the team through the remainder of the season and hopefully steer them in a more positive direction.

Last Five Matches

July 18 - Chicago 0-2 Angel City
July 24 - Orlando 1-0 Chicago
August 1 - Louisville 2-1 Chicago
August 9 - Chicago 0-0 Bay
August 14 - Seattle 1-0 Chicago

Last Match Staring XI (from FotMob)

Here’s how Chicago lined up for their last NWSL game, a 1-0 loss against Seattle.

2026 Roster

Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher, Halle Mackiewicz, Katie Atkinson

Defenders: Sam Staab, Michelle Alozie, Oihane Valdezate, Natalia Kuikka, Taylor Wood, Elise Evans, Aaliyah Farmer, Leila Ouahabi

Midfielders: Julia Grosso, Brianna Pinto, Manaka Hayashi, Bea Franklin, Emma Egizii, Anna Gasper, Tessa Dellarose, Maitane

Forwards: Jenna Bike, Jameese Joseph, Mallory Swanson, Nadia Gomes, Simone Charley, Micayla Johnson, Ryan Connaughton, Jordyn Huitema

Enemy Scouting Report: Chicago Stars

Houston Dash Look to Build Momentum Against Struggling Chicago Stars

Houston Dash at North Carolina Courage: Highlights, stats, and quotes