The Utah Royals FC will travel to face the Chicago Stars on Sunday, July 5, marking the club's first NWSL regular season match in over a month following the international break. The Royals enter the contest with a 7-3-2 record and are looking to extend a 10-game unbeaten streak, the longest in franchise history.
Royals Seek Historic Win
The Royals' upcoming match at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium follows a recent 2-2 draw against the Portland Thorns at Providence Park. During that match, Kiana Palacios and Cloè Lacasse scored for Utah to erase an early Portland lead, a result that ended the Thorns' seven-game home shutout streak.
As reported by the Utah Royals, the club is seeking its first-ever victory against Chicago on their home pitch, though recent trends favor Utah. While Chicago holds a 6-4-1 advantage in overall history dating back to 2018, the Royals are currently unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Stars.
Chicago Struggles to Score
The Chicago Stars enter the match with a 3-0-9 record and are looking to return to the win column after a 2-0 loss to San Diego Wave FC on May 31. The Stars have struggled offensively this season, becoming the first team in NWSL history to fail to score in nine of their first 12 league matches.
Chicago's roster features several key contributors, including defender Sam Staab, who leads the league in clearances with 76. Goalkeeper Katie Atkinson also remains a central figure for the Stars, ranking second in the NWSL in save percentage at 89.66 percent.
Independence Day Festivities
The Stars will host an Independence Day Celebration during the Sunday match. The event includes a live band and multiple food trucks in the Jameson Fan Zone, along with a station for fans to write "Letters to Service Members."
A live Oath of Enlistment ceremony is also scheduled for halftime, where new recruits will participate in a ceremony marking the start of their military service.
New Faces and Departures
The Stars have also undergone significant roster and staff changes. The club recently signed Spanish international defender Leila Ouahabi, who joins from Manchester City. Additionally, the Stars announced that Kate Cohen will join as an interim Technical Consultant to assist with recruitment and roster construction.
On the coaching staff, the Stars are led by head coach Martin Sjögren. The club also noted that Assistant Coach Mariana Cabral, who previously coached for the Utah Royals in 2025, mutually agreed to part ways with Chicago on June 17.
Broadcast and Next Match
The match is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. MT kickoff and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network. Fans can also watch the game via KMYU or listen on KSL Sports Radio.
Following this away trip, the Utah Royals are scheduled to return to America First Field on Friday, July 10, for a home match against Gotham FC.
