Bold headline: The stakes are rising for Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and a WNBA landscape on edge—the rest of the Chicago scene is watching closely.
But here’s where it gets controversial: as February’s results fade, both the Bulls and the Sky face pivotal hurdles that could shape the rest of the season and beyond. This week’s update breaks down the nervy race for a playoff push, the college window widening for the Irish, and the high-stakes talks around the WNBA’s next collective bargaining agreement.
Irish momentum builds
Notre Dame’s women’s team regrouped after some tough stretches and closed the regular season strong, clinching a No. 5 seed and a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament. The Irish defeated Syracuse and then a top-10 Louisville squad, signaling their readiness for postseason play. Guard Hannah Hidalgo exploded in the two wins, averaging 28.5 points, six steals, nine rebounds, and seven assists, and she earned ACC Player of the Week for a league-record seventh time this season.
Her performance against Louisville set a new single-season steals record, bringing Hidalgo’s total to 162 steals. Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey praised Hidalgo’s consistency and leadership: “Phenomenal and consistent” is how she described a player who leads with heart, both on the court and in practice. Hidalgo is described as the team’s engine, the driver of energy and effort that lifts the entire squad.
Looking ahead, the Irish travel to Duluth, Georgia, to face the winner of Stanford versus Miami, in a test that could further elevate their NCAA tournament positioning.
WNBA talks: a strike seems unlikely, for now
As the March 10 deadline for a new CBA approaches, WNBA players appear to be cooling on the idea of a strike. Both sides have exchanged counteroffers in recent weeks, with the season still set to begin in May and a hard deadline looming that could trigger a work stoppage if no agreement is reached.
Positive signals from the players include concessions on housing provisions, higher salaries across experience levels, and a faster path to maximum deals for All-Rookie players. However, the sticking point remains revenue sharing. The league has proposed taking revenue from net revenue (after expenses), while players want a share calculated from gross revenue (before expenses). The math question is simple in principle: bigger slices of a smaller pie versus smaller slices of a larger one.
ESPN reported a recent offer of 70% of net revenue for the players’ share, while the players are pushing for 26% of gross revenue. The debate is fundamentally about how income should be measured and distributed, and it’s a thorny issue that could determine whether the season starts smoothly or faces disruption.
WNBPA vice president Kelsey Plum emphasized the urgency of keeping players on the court: “We’re going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion, but obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides.” If an agreement lands before March 10, teams still have a sprint ahead to finalize rosters and contracts for a May 8 opening.
What’s next in the schedule could be hectic. Possible near-term plans include an April 1–6 expansion draft, a short window for free-agent qualifying offers, and a tight three-day free-agency period before deals are finalized by mid-April. That compressed timeline will challenge teams looking to maximize free agency while preparing for the season.
For the Chicago Sky in particular, the roster situation is tight. Only four players—Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, and Maddy Westbeld—are currently under contract for 2026. Courtney Vandersloot is expected to re-sign, and Ajša Sivka (from Europe) plus a lottery pick will fill additional spots. General manager Jeff Pagliocca will need to assemble the majority of the 2026 roster within an 18-day window as the team aims to improve its standing as a preferred destination for free agents.
Mid-major tournament watch
With major conferences closing the regular season, the Missouri Valley Conference begins its tournament on Thursday. Belmont earned the top seed at 26-5 overall and 16-4 in MVC play. Illinois programs also feature strongly: Bradley sits second, while Illinois State and UIC hold third and fifth seeds, respectively. Valparaiso, led by former Joliet West standout Roger Powell Jr., sits seventh and seeks a run in St. Louis.
Valpo has won six of its last eight, including a late-3-pointer upset of Drake by Bolingbrook graduate JT Pettigrew, bringing their record to 17-14, 11-9. Powell’s rebuilding effort has yielded the Beacons’ best conference mark since joining the MVC in 2017-18.
Stat to watch
Number of the week: 11. The Bulls went 0-11 in February, marking the franchise’s worst single-month ever. While not the longest losing streak in Bulls history, it stands out as the first time they’ve gone winless in back-to-back months, a historically challenging stretch that tests a team’s resilience and leadership.
The team turned the page with a decisive 120-97 win over Milwaukee to start March, signaling a potential rebound.
Week ahead: Bulls schedule
- Tuesday: vs. Thunder, 7 p.m. ET
- Thursday: @ Suns, 8 p.m. ET
- Sunday: @ Kings, 8 p.m. ET
Week ahead: college highlight games
- Tuesday: Oregon at No. 11 Illinois, 8 p.m.
- Wednesday: Illinois women vs. Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament, 5 p.m.
- Wednesday: Villanova at DePaul, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: No. 15 Purdue at Northwestern, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday: Notre Dame women vs. Stanford/Miami in ACC Tournament, 12:30 p.m.
- Sunday: No. 11 Illinois men at Maryland, 2 p.m.
Senior-night honors
Illinois and Northwestern will honor standout seniors: Champaign native Kylan Boswell for Illinois, who has anchored the Illini on both ends, and Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, as their respective seasons wind down.
Outlook for Notre Dame and Illinois women
Both Notre Dame and Illinois women head into conference tournament play with eyes on strengthening NCAA Tournament resumes, hoping to ride momentum into March Madness.
What we’re reading today
- Column: Chicago Bulls say goodbye to February, as fans brace for March Madness
- Big Ten Tournament seedings and matchups for Illinois women
- Michigan’s win over Illinois clinches Big Ten title in the men’s bracket
- Anfernee Simons’ wrist injury adds to Bulls’ trade-deadline drama
- Coby White’s return to Chicago with the Charlotte Hornets
Quote of the week
“That physicality, that nastiness, that grit, that fight—that’s on me. I’ve got to do a much better job getting us nastier in those situations. We scrimmaged Florida, and we fought harder there than we did tonight. That’s because we’ve gotten a little comfortable, and that’s on me.” — Illinois coach Brad Underwood, reflecting on team intensity ahead of the NCAA Tournament after a loss to No. 3 Michigan.
