Three Chicago Stars players were injured by the 55th minute, deepening a season marked by poor results, coaching turnover, and a three-goal deficit. Jameese Joseph entered as a late substitute after recovering from a May injury and helped activate forward Ludmila. Ludmila, who has scored a third of the team's goals and was omitted from Brazil's Copa América roster, scored a brace including a 73rd-minute goal after Joseph drew defenders. Seattle had taken an early lead through Jess Fishlock, then Jordyn Huitema and Emeri Adames added goals. After Ludmila's strike, momentum shifted toward Chicago, making a comeback possible but uncertain.
The injuries came as fast as the goals. One, two, three Chicago Stars players were down and out by the 55th minute of Monday's match against the Seattle Reign. That moment felt like a low point in what's already been a dire season for Chicago: second-to-last in the table, a sad succession of head coaches and interims, and now a three-goal deficit to match the number of key players injured for who-knows-how-long.
Even after Ludmila put the scoreline at 3-1, it didn't feel like the Stars would complete the comeback, not really. Not when Seattle had gone up like they did: blazing and assured, the match going exactly how manager Laura Harvey had drawn it up. Welsh extraordinaire Jess Fishlock had scored in the third minute, her third goal in as many matches.
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