On April 30, the Chicago Stars FC announced that the club is parting ways with head coach Lorne Donaldson.
First assistant coach Masaki Hemmi will be interim head coach while the team searches for a replacement. Hemmi joined the club from the United Soccer League club New Mexico United, where he was director of player personnel and first assistant coach.
The Stars currently have one win versus five losses and zero ties, and the team is 14th in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) standings.
Donaldson joined the club in 2024, led the Stars to a 10-14-2 regular-season record and qualified the club for the 2024 NWSL playoffs after finishing at the bottom of the league in 2023. “We are grateful to Lorne Donaldson for the culture, respect and sense of self-belief he helped build within our squad. We appreciate his work and wish him the best for the future,” said Chicago Stars General Manager Richard Feuz.