Donaldson, a respected figure who led the Jamaican women’s national team to the knockout stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, was in his second year with the Stars. Despite guiding the team to the playoffs last season with a 10-14-2 record, his tenure was cut short following a disappointing campaign marked by offensive struggles and defensive lapses.
This season, Chicago has lost five of six games, scoring only three goals—the fewest in the 14-team league—while conceding a league-worst 14 goals. The team’s poor form has been compounded by the continued absence of star forward Mallory Swanson, who has not featured this season due to unspecified personal reasons.
In a statement, Stars general manager Richard Feuz acknowledged Donaldson’s contributions: “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.”
Assistant coach Masaki Hemmi, who steps into the interim role, will look to turn the team’s fortunes around beginning this Sunday, when the Stars face Gotham FC on the road.
The Chicago Stars now face a critical juncture in their season, needing both leadership stability and a resurgence on the pitch to climb back into playoff contention.