Wave beat Stars, vault back into first place in final match before NWSL break

The San Diego Wave scored in the very beginning and at the very, very end, beating the Chicago Stars 2-0 on Sunday in Evanston, Ill., in their final match before the National Women's Soccer League's international break.

The victory improved the Wave to 8-4-1 this season, vaulting them back into first place in the league standings.

San Diego opened scoring in the third minute, when the Wave - playing 11-on-10 with Stars standout Mallory Swanson on the ground and pleading for a penalty call - pounced. Lia Godfrey passed ahead to Brazil's Dudinha, who angled a low shot to the right of Chicago goalkeeper Katie Atkinson.

The teams then traded scoring chances - but no goals - until the 103rd minute, when Trinity Byars rattled in a shot from the top of the box to put the Stars away. Chicago, which entered Sunday having scored the fewest number of goals and allowed the most goals in the NWSL, fell to 3-9-0.

San Diego outshot Chicago 17-10, and had more shots on goal (7) than the Stars (3).

Both teams could benefit from the return of star players after the break. Chicago's Swanson returned to the roster two weeks ago after missing nearly 18 months following the birth of her child, while Taylor Wood made her 2026 debut Sunday.

San Diego is still waiting on Catarina Macario. The Torrey Pines High School product signed a record-breaking contract with the Wave in late March but has yet to make her debut with the club while she recovers from an undisclosed injury.

The Wave will play a June 28 exhibition against the Thorns in Portland, then return to NWSL action on July 4, when they host NJ/NY Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff for the Independence Day match is 5:45 p.m.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 2:18 PM.