Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W Prediction: Preview and Tips

Chicago Red Stars W welcome San Diego Wave W to SeatGeek Stadium on 31 May 2026 in NWSL Women Group Stage action, with the two sides entering the contest from very different positions in the table. Chicago sit 15th with 9 points from 11 matches, fighting to claw their way off the foot of the standings, while San Diego arrive in Illinois riding high in 3rd on 22 points from 12 games and firmly in the NWSL Women (Play Offs: Quarter-finals) positions.

For the hosts, this fixture is about survival and momentum. They have lost 8 of their 11 league games and scored just 5 times, and their goal difference of -17 underlines how fragile they have been at both ends of the pitch. Turning SeatGeek Stadium into a tougher place to visit is essential, and a result against one of the league’s leading sides would be a major statement.

San Diego Wave W, by contrast, are focused on consolidating a top playoff seed. With 7 wins and a positive goal difference of +4 (17 scored, 13 conceded), they have been one of the more balanced outfits in the division. Their away form has been especially impressive, with 4 wins from 6 on the road and 10 goals scored, and they will expect to assert that superiority again in Bridgeview.

Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W Key Stats

• Chicago Red Stars W are 15th with 9 points from 11 matches, having scored 5 and conceded 22 in the league.
• San Diego Wave W have won the last three meetings between the sides, including a 2-0 home victory on 29 March 2026 in the NWSL Women Group Stage.
• Chicago average just 0.5 goals per game this season, while San Diego average 1.4 goals per game and concede only 1.1 on average.

Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W — Tale of the Tape

• Position: 15 vs 3
• Points: 9 vs 22
• Goals For: 5 vs 17
• Goals Against: 22 vs 13
• Clean Sheets: Chicago Red Stars W 2; San Diego Wave W 2

The league table paints a stark picture. Chicago Red Stars W have taken 9 points from 11 games, with 3 wins and 8 defeats. Their attack is the weakest in the division so far with only 5 goals scored, while their defence has leaked 22, an average of 2.0 goals conceded per match. At home they have been slightly better, winning 2 of 5, scoring 4 and conceding 8, but the margins remain thin.

San Diego Wave W, meanwhile, are in a strong position in 3rd place. They have collected 22 points from 12 matches with 7 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses. Their 17 goals scored and 13 conceded reflect a side that generally controls games, and their away record is particularly impressive: 4 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat on the road, with 10 goals scored and 8 conceded. With a description of “Promotion - NWSL Women (Play Offs: Quarter-finals)” attached to their current standing, they are already in the playoff zone and will see this as a must-win to keep pressure on the teams above.

Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W Key Matchups

Chicago midfield unit vs Dudinha

Chicago lack a standout goalscorer in the current league charts, so much of their hope will rest on collective organisation in midfield to contain San Diego’s creative hub. That task is complicated by the presence of Dudinha, who has been one of the league’s most influential attacking players. She has 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 appearances, starting every game and logging 856 minutes. With 17 shots (9 on target), 15 key passes and 42 dribble attempts with 26 successful, she is a constant threat between the lines and in wide areas. Chicago’s midfield and back line will need to double up effectively to prevent her from dictating the tempo and creating overloads in the final third.

Chicago back line vs L. E. Godfrey

Alongside Dudinha, L. E. Godfrey offers another potent attacking outlet from midfield. She has matched Dudinha’s goal tally with 4 strikes of her own and added 2 assists in 12 appearances, despite starting only 8 of those matches. Her efficiency is notable: 10 shots with 9 on target and 17 key passes from 216 total passes at 80% accuracy. For a Chicago defence that has already conceded 22 league goals and averages 2.3 goals against per away fixture but 1.6 at home, tracking Godfrey’s late runs from midfield and closing down her shooting lanes will be crucial to keeping the scoreline respectable.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

The rivalry between Chicago Red Stars W and San Diego Wave W has been competitive but recently tilted towards the Californian side. Across the last five NWSL Women meetings listed below, San Diego have three wins and Chicago two, with no draws.

• 29 March 2026: San Diego Wave W 2-0 Chicago Red Stars W (NWSL Women Group Stage)
• 19 October 2025: San Diego Wave W 6-1 Chicago Red Stars W (NWSL Women Regular Season - 25)
• 26 April 2025: Chicago Red Stars W 0-3 San Diego Wave W (NWSL Women Regular Season - 6)
• 22 September 2024: Chicago Red Stars W 1-0 San Diego Wave W (NWSL Women Regular Season - 16)
• 29 June 2024: San Diego Wave W 0-3 Chicago Red Stars W (NWSL Women Regular Season - 11)

Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W Prediction

All indicators point towards San Diego Wave W having a clear edge. Chicago’s league form of WLLLL and their broader run of LWLLLWLLLLW in the comparison data highlight a side struggling for consistency and goals. They average only 0.5 goals scored per game and have failed to score in 8 of their 11 fixtures, while conceding an average of 2.0 goals.

San Diego’s form line of LDWWL in the league, underpinned by a broader pattern of LWWWWWLLWWDL, suggests a team capable of stringing together long winning runs. Their attack averages 1.4 goals per game and they concede just 1.1 on average, with a particularly strong away record (4 wins in 6). The head-to-head trend is also in their favour, with three straight wins over Chicago since April 2025 and an aggregate score of 11-1 across those matches.

The prediction metrics give San Diego Wave W a 50% chance to win and 50% for the draw in the win/draw split, with Chicago effectively rated at 0%. With the advice leaning towards a “double chance: draw or San Diego Wave W” and San Diego’s superior attacking options, the visitors should control territory and chances. Chicago may tighten up at home, but their lack of firepower makes an upset unlikely.

Predicted Score: Chicago Red Stars W 1-2 San Diego Wave W

Chicago Red Stars W League Form

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San Diego Wave W League Form

LDWWL

Chicago Red Stars W Possible Starting Lineup

K. Lund; M. Alozie, S. Cary, K. Hendrich, S. Staab; J. Grosso, B. Franklin, B. Pinto, M. Hayashi; J. Huitema, I. Chacón.

Chicago have typically lined up in a back four, with their season usage showing a preference for a 4-2-3-1 shape, occasionally switching to 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. With limited goals in the side, the onus will be on creative midfielders like J. Grosso and B. Pinto to link play and support the front line, where J. Huitema and I. Chacón can offer movement and aerial presence. Defensively, experienced figures such as K. Hendrich and S. Staab will be central to any attempt to contain San Diego’s multi-pronged attack.

San Diego Wave W Possible Starting Lineup

Luisa Agudelo; P. Morroni, K. McNabb, K. Pickett, D. Árias; L. E. Godfrey, K. Dali, L. Fazer; Dudinha, Gabi Portilho, A. Leon.

San Diego have alternated between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 this season, and both systems suit their technically gifted midfield and pacey forward line. At the back, P. Morroni offers energy and ball progression from full-back, while the central pairing of D. Árias and K. McNabb provides experience. In midfield, the combination of L. E. Godfrey’s late runs and K. Dali’s control should give them a strong platform, with Dudinha operating either wide or as a central creator behind a front line that can include finishers like Gabi Portilho and A. Leon.

Chicago Red Stars W Team News

No significant absences reported.

San Diego Wave W Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Chicago Red Stars W:

• None reported.

San Diego Wave W:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

• Result Tip: Back San Diego Wave W to win. The prediction metrics give them a 50% win probability with a 50% chance of the draw and effectively no chance assigned to Chicago, while the comparison data favours San Diego 71.0% to 29.0% overall. Their superior league position and away form support this. Among the available prices, Marathonbet and Betfair both offer around 1.36 on the Away win, while Betano goes as high as 1.45, which is the standout price for San Diego to take all three points.
• Goals Tip: Back under 3.5 total goals. Chicago average just 0.5 goals scored per match and have gone under 2.5 goals in all 11 of their fixtures, while San Diego’s matches also skew towards moderate scorelines with only 2 of 12 going over 2.5. The head-to-heads feature some high-scoring outliers, but Chicago’s current attacking woes suggest a more controlled affair. Look for bookmakers pairing goal lines with the strong away favourite prices, using odds in the 1.36–1.45 range on San Diego as an anchor for conservative goals multiples.
• Value Tip: Consider San Diego Wave W to win and under 4.5 goals in a bet builder-style approach. San Diego’s attack, led by 4-goal contributors Dudinha and L. E. Godfrey, should be enough to break down a Chicago defence conceding 2.0 goals per game, but Chicago’s own lack of firepower makes a goal glut less likely. With straight Away prices ranging from 1.36 (Marathonbet, Betfair) to 1.45 (Betano), combining a San Diego win with a low-to-medium goal line can push the odds into a more attractive value zone while still aligning with the underlying stats.

How to Watch Chicago Red Stars W vs San Diego Wave W

Broadcast coverage varies by region. General guide:

• Spain: Movistar LaLiga
• UK: Premier Sports
• Australia: beIN Sports
• India: FanCode
• MENA: beIN Sports
• South America: ESPN / Disney+
• Africa: SuperSport

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.