San Diego Wave Blank Chicago Stars 2-0 as Trinity Byars Scores the Latest Goal in Club History

For about a minute of stoppage time, the Chicago Stars thought they had a draw. Then video review took it away, and four minutes after that Trinity Byars made sure nobody would be talking about the review at all.

San Diego Wave FC beat the Stars 2-0 on Sunday at Martin Stadium in Evanston, with Dudinha scoring in the third minute and Byars adding a second in the 13th minute of stoppage time. According to the Wave, Byars' goal was the latest in club history and the second-latest ever scored in the NWSL. It also sealed San Diego's third clean sheet of the season in front of 6,014 fans.

Dudinha Wastes No Time

San Diego came out sprinting. Melanie Barcenas was flagged offside twice in the first two minutes, and on the next push the Wave got it right. Rookie Lia Godfrey dribbled through traffic in midfield and slipped the ball to Dudinha, who finished from the center of the box with her right foot.

That goal carried some weight. The Wave said it was Dudinha's fifth of the season, the most on the team, and her 10th for the club, tying former forward Makenzy Robbe for third in club history. It was also her third career goal against Chicago, which San Diego said is the most any Wave player has scored against a single opponent.

Chicago did not fold. Ryan Gareis forced DiDi Haracic into a save in the 13th minute, Jenna Bike had a shot blocked a minute later, and Julia Grosso tested Haracic from distance in the 29th. San Diego's discipline wobbled in between, with Kenza Dali booked for simulation in the 18th minute and Perle Morroni cautioned four minutes later.

The Wave controlled the back end of the half. Godfrey forced a save from Katie Atkinson in the 26th minute, Kimmi Ascanio had two headers saved by Atkinson in the 38th and 45th, and Dudinha blazed over in first-half stoppage time. One goal felt light.

Atkinson Keeps the Door Ajar

The second half followed the same script. Ludmila sent a shot just wide in the 52nd minute, then saw a close-range header saved by Atkinson four minutes later. Atkinson needed treatment after that sequence but stayed on, and she made five saves on the afternoon. Ascanio dragged another effort just wide in the 62nd.

Chicago's biggest storyline sat on its right wing. Mallory Swanson started for the first time since Nov. 8, 2024, according to the Stars, and played 64 minutes before Jameese Joseph replaced her. Taylor Wood also made her first appearance of the season off the bench.

The Stars pushed late. Leilanni Nesbeth fired over in the 77th minute, Grosso had a shot blocked, and Bike forced Haracic into a save from outside the box in the 82nd. Mimi Van Zanten went off injured for San Diego in the 89th minute, and the fourth official put up 12 minutes of stoppage time.

The Turning Point: VAR Giveth, Byars Taketh

Deep into that added time, Jordyn Huitema finally put the ball in the net for Chicago. Chicago had about a minute to enjoy it, until VAR determined she had been offside and the goal came off the board.

San Diego made the most of the reprieve. In the 13th minute of stoppage time, Dudinha picked off a pass in the attacking third and fed substitute Gia Corley at the top of the box. Corley flicked a first-time ball to Byars on the right, and Byars took it on her chest before hitting a half volley into the bottom left corner. Game, set, record book.

Star Turns

Dudinha took three shots, scored once and was involved in both goals. She is the engine of this attack, and she knows where Chicago's goal is.

Lia Godfrey set up the opener and forced a save of her own. The Wave said the assist was her third of the season, the most by any rookie in the league.

Trinity Byars entered in the 73rd minute and scored on her second shot. San Diego said it was her third career goal and her second off the bench.

Katie Atkinson made five saves and did everything possible to keep Chicago within one, including two stops on Ascanio headers.

Kimmi Ascanio put two of her three shots on target and was a nuisance in the air all day.

Stats That Matter

• Shots on target: San Diego put seven on frame to Chicago's three.
• Total shots: the Wave led 17 to 10.
• Possession: San Diego 55.9 percent, Chicago 44.1 percent.
• Offsides: San Diego was flagged six times, a sign of how often it was trying to run in behind.
• Interceptions: Chicago made 18 to San Diego's eight, which helped keep this one close for most of the day.

What It Means

San Diego moved to 8-1-4 with 25 points and bounced back from a 1-0 home loss to the Orlando Pride a week earlier. It was also the Wave's second 2-0 win over Chicago this season, after the first came in San Diego on March 28. The club noted that it has scored 13 second-half goals, the most of any NWSL team. The league now pauses for a CBA-mandated break and the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, per the Wave, and San Diego returns on July 4 against Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium.

Chicago fell to 3-0-9 with nine points. A week after a 1-0 win at Bay FC, the Stars were shut out for the fifth time in six matches, and this was their third straight home loss after defeats to Gotham FC and the Portland Thorns. Chicago resumes play at home on July 5 against the Utah Royals.

The Closing Take

Stoppage-time drama usually breaks one of two ways. Either the underdog steals a point, or the favorite twists the knife. Chicago got the first version for roughly 60 seconds before the screen in the VAR booth said otherwise, and San Diego immediately delivered the second. Byars' goal will not change the standings much. It will, however, live in the Wave's record book for a long time.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Match details and notes as reported by San Diego Wave FC and Chicago Stars FC.