Bold opening: A season of momentum hinges on a single breakthrough, and the stakes aren’t just wins and losses—they shape futures for players, teams, and even leagues. But here’s where it gets controversial: the path to that breakthrough is crowded with competing interests, timing, and high-stakes negotiations that could redefine the game.
Chicago basketball news round-up: Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame’s ascent, plus WNBA labor negotiations loom large
The Chicago Bulls entered February without a single win amid a chaotic trade deadline, while the Sky await a potential timetable for WNBA free agency as both the league and the players’ association press toward a March 10 deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Each Tuesday, the Tribune will recap recent developments and forecast what's ahead for the Bulls, Sky, and nearby college programs.
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Irish on the rise
After a rocky stretch, the Notre Dame women’s team finished strong, winning their last five regular-season games to clinch a No. 5 seed and earn a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
They defeated Syracuse and No. 10 Louisville recently, with guard Hannah Hidalgo posting averages of 28.5 points, six steals, nine rebounds, and seven assists across those two wins. Hidalgo also set a single-season steals record, moving her total to 162 for the year and earning ACC Player of the Week honors for a league-record seventh time.
Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey praised Hidalgo: “Phenomenal and consistent. She’s been this way since she arrived at Notre Dame. She plays with heart and soul every game and in practice. She’s our engine, and we go as she goes. This year she’s also grown into a strong leader under a lot of pressure, and her effort is contagious for our team.”
The Irish next face the winner of Stanford vs. Miami in Duluth, Georgia, on Thursday.
WNBA strike talk intensifies, but caution remains as March 10 deadline nears
As the March 10 deadline approaches for a final WNBA collective bargaining agreement, players signaled continued reluctance toward a strike, even as negotiations remain under pressure.
The league and the WNBPA have exchanged multiple counteroffers in recent weeks. Both sides recognize the season’s May start, and a hard deadline could trigger a work stoppage if no deal is reached.
Players welcomed concessions from the league on several fronts—housing provisions, higher salaries across experience levels, and a quicker path for All-Rookie players to reach maximum deals. Yet revenue sharing remains a deep split.
The league has proposed revenue sharing based on net revenue (revenue after expenses), while players argue for a share of gross revenue (before expenses). The latest offer reportedly proposes 70% of net revenue for players, whereas the players are pushing for 26% of gross revenue. The calculation question is simple but crucial: should players take a larger slice of a smaller pie, or a smaller slice of a larger one?
Amid ongoing talks, union leadership indicated some concession might be necessary to prevent a shortened season. WNBPA vice president Kelsey Plum said, “We want to play, and we’re going to negotiate to get this done on time, but a strike would be the worst outcome for everyone.”
If a deal emerges before March 10, calendars will still need to be rushed to start the season on May 8. The Associated Press outlined a possible remainder of the preseason: an expansion draft (April 1–6), a brief window for free-agent qualifying offers, and a three-day free-agency window before deals are finalized by April 18. Even with this sprint, teams would have roughly three weeks to assemble rosters before opening day.
This compressed timeline presents a real challenge for teams like the Sky, who currently have just four players under contract for 2026: Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, and Maddy Westbeld. Veteran Courtney Vandersloot is expected to re-sign, and Ajša Sivka (from Europe) plus a lottery pick are anticipated to fill two more spots. GM Jeff Pagliocca then faces the task of rebuilding more than half the roster within an 18-day window to position Chicago as a free-agent destination.
Mid-major tournament watch and other notes
While power conferences wrap up the regular season, the Missouri Valley Conference opens its tournament on Thursday. Belmont earned the top seed after going 26-5 (16-4 MVC). Illinois-based teams occupy the top seeds as well: Bradley sits second, while Illinois State and UIC are third and fifth. Valparaiso, coached by Roger Powell Jr., is the No. 7 seed and aiming for a late run in St. Louis.
Valpo has won six of its last eight, including a dramatic late 3-pointer by Bolingbrook alum JT Pettigrew to beat Drake, improving to 17-14 overall and 11-9 in conference play. Powell’s rebuilding arc at Valpo looks notable after two rough seasons—the team’s best MVC record since joining the league in 2017–18.
Bulls’ February: a historic winless month
The Bulls went 0-for-February, marking the franchise’s worst single month ever. Although no season-long drought has matched the 0-for-February run, this marks the first time the team endured back-to-back winless months in a calendar year. The Pistons flirted with a similar fate in 2023–24, but finally won on Dec. 30 to end a long drought.
March began with a different tone for Chicago, as they crushed the Milwaukee Bucks 120–97 on the road.
Week ahead: Bulls schedule
- Tuesday: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m. local time
- Thursday: at Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m.
- Sunday: at Sacramento Kings, 8 p.m.
Week ahead: notable college games
- Tuesday: Oregon men visit No. 11 Illinois, 8 p.m.
- Wednesday: Illinois women vs. Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament, 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: Villanova men at DePaul, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: No. 15 Purdue men at Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday: Notre Dame women vs. Stanford or Miami in ACC Tournament, 12:30 p.m.
- Sunday: No. 11 Illinois men at Maryland, 2 p.m.
Senior nights and honors loom
Illinois and Northwestern will honor key players on senior night: Kylan Boswell will be celebrated in Champaign for his leadership and defense, while Northwestern will honor Purdue’s leading scorer Nick Martinelli as they host Purdue.
Beyond the rosters, Notre Dame and Illinois women aim to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resumes as conference tournaments approach.
What we’re reading today
- Column: Bulls say goodbye to February as March Madness begins
- Big Ten Tournament seedings for Illinois women
- Michigan clinches Big Ten title with a win over Illinois
- Anfernee Simons’ wrist fracture adds to Bulls’ post-trade concerns
- Coby White returns to Chicago with the Hornets, reflecting on what could have been for the Bulls
Quote of the week
“I’ve got to bring more nastiness and fight in those moments. We scrimmaged Florida and showed more grit then than tonight. That’s on me for letting some complacency creep in.” — Illinois coach Brad Underwood, after a recent loss to Michigan, outlining what his team must address before the NCAA Tournament.
