On August 12, Karina Báez was named as the Chicago Stars’ interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season, leading the team for the first time during its match at Seattle on Aug. 14 and securing her first win on Aug. 23 as the team beat Racing Louisville 3-2.
Now in her third season with the club, Báez previously focused primarily on analytics as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Stars, Báez worked as a scout for the Mexico Women’s National Team, bringing extensive experience in player evaluation and match analysis. Before her national team role, Báez spent several years in Liga MX Femenil, serving as an assistant coach with both Pachuca and Tigres while also contributing to the development of each club’s U-15 and U-17 programs. In 2021, she was named head coach of Pumas UNAM Femenil, leading the team through the 2021-22 season and further establishing herself as one of the rising coaching talents in Mexican women’s soccer.
