Duke downs Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day 80-71
Cameron Boozer Puts In 35
By Christopher Pennant
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The trip to Chicago felt like a homecoming for Cameron Boozer, and he made sure to kick up his feet and get comfortable.
Boozer tied a season high with 35 points to lead No. 4 Duke University to an 80-71 win over No. 22 Arkansas in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic at the United Center.
Boozer’s father Carlos, who was in attendance, spent four of his 12 NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
Caleb Foster added 15 points for the Duke Blue Devils (8-0), who are undefeated through November for the first time in Jon Scheyer’s tenure as head coach. They’ll face No. 10 Florida at home December 2 before going on the road to No. 11 Michigan State December 6.
Darius Acuff had 21 points for the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2), who dropped their second game against a ranked opponent this season..
Windy City Bulls Bounce Back With Win Against Cleveland Charge
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
After losing against the Sioux Falls on Wednesday, Nov 26, the Windy City Bulls bounced back with a win against the Cleveland Charge on Friday. The win is the first of the two-game matchup against the Charge, putting the Bulls with a 4-3 record.
The game started with both teams scoring baskets at will. Behind a quick 7-point start from forward Trentyn Flowers, the Bulls had a strong offensive start, shooting above 50 percent from the field.
But the Charge woke up, shooting 70 percent from the 3-point line. Combining the shooting with former 2020 lottery pick guard Killian Hayes chipping in 13 points, the efforts put the Bulls at a 41-33 deficit. Recently acquired three-time slam dunk champion guard Matt McClung led the Bulls with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
The Charge’s offensive output continued to put a beating on the Bulls, shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line and 57 percent from the field. After being down by double digits, the Bulls made a comeback cutting the deficit to nine points, 74-69, behind the efforts of McClung and Flowers.
McClung and Flowers combined for 29 of the team’s 65 points in the first half. Forward Emmanuel Miller contributed with 11 points, while center Lachlin Olbrich scored 8 points.
The Bulls comeback continued in the second half, with the team eventually taking the lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. Guard Kevin Knox helped lead the comeback, coming alive in the scoring department by scoring 12 points, including a layup at the buzzer to help the Bulls get an 11-point lead on the Charge. Leading 105-94, Knox finished the quarter with 19 points, with five other players in double figures.
Knox picked up the same way he ended the third quarter, starting the fourth quarter with two open 3-point jump shots to extend the Bulls lead to 17 points. Knox’s scoring and defensive presence provided the Bulls an extra boost of energy that brought the Bulls the momentum to continue building on their lead.
The Charge continued to fight back, at one point cutting the lead to single digits, but despite Hayes’ 40-point night, Miller scored some timely buckets in the final minutes to keep the Bulls afloat to maintain the lead and secure the victory.
Knox led all scorers with 25 points, while Miller finished with 24 points, McClung chips in 22 points, Olbrich scoring 18 points and Flowers and Bulls rookie forward Noa Essengue with 15 points each.
Head coach Billy Donovan III was proud of the team’s efforts, including the third quarter where they held the Charge to only scoring 20 points and scoring 40 points themselves. With the fast style of pace, the team knows that turnovers will play a factor in games (they had 22 turnovers in this game), but they also know that playing tough defense positions them to play the style of play that they want. That is part of what Donovan wants to implement into the team.
“The guys like to play fast and get on the run, but if you want to get out and run, you have to give your best effort on the defensive end,” Donovan said.
In regards to the third quarter, Knox played a major role in helping the team win the quarter by scoring over half of his 25 points during that time. He is known for being a starter in the league, but coming off the bench, he’s showing that he is a team first player who understands his role and is doing whatever it takes to win.
“I can play [either starter or bench role],” Knox said. “In the G-League I usually start but I talked [head coach Billy Donovan III] and I know we got a couple two-way players so I’m being professional and doing whatever the team needs me to do. Whether I start or come off the bench, I have to stay aggressive regardless.”
Donovan praised Knox for her professionalism, stating that his work ethic, humility and leadership are what makes him stand out in times like this.
“[Kevin Knox] is one of the best professionals I’ve ever been around,” Donovan said. “He’s humble and all about the team, which I really give him credit for. The Sioux Falls game for the whole team was kind of a down game, but [Kevin Knox] got right back in the gym the next day, getting shots, putting in his work, and that was a result of what you saw today.”
The Bulls next home game is Sunday, Nov 30 at 2 pm against the Cleveland Charge.
Windy City Bulls fall under Cleveland onslaught for third loss in four games
By Christopher Pennant
Spors Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
For most people, the winter blues start to hit right after the New Year’s holiday. For the Windy City Bulls, the doldrums came right after tip-off Sunday afternoon.
The Cleveland Charge outscored the Bulls 43-20 in the first quarter and never trailed on the way to a 135-117 victory. The win earned Cleveland a split in the two-game weekend series, after the Bulls won Friday night 142-135.
Former NBA lottery pick Killian Hayes, who dropped 40 points on Friday night, finished with 26 points and eight assists. Kevin Knox led Windy City with 37 points and Mo Gueye added 25 and 15 boards.
The loss dropped the Bulls to 5-3. All three losses have come in their last four games.
“Outside of the first quarter, we won the game by five,” said head coach Billy Donovan III. “What drives me nuts is the body language, and when adversity hits, we don’t respond the right way.”
Windy City was without two-way players Lachlan Olbrich, Trentyn Flowers and Emanuel Miller, all of whom were called up to the Chicago Bulls’ roster for their Saturday game in Indianapolis. Those three totaled 57 points and 19 rebounds in Friday’s win.
Their presence was sorely missed in the return match. Cleveland went ahead 16-5 early in the first quarter as they were able to limit the Bulls’ inside game and second-chance opportunities.
They also finished with a 32-3 edge in fast break points.
“We were just coming off [three games in five days], which is hard physically and mentally,” said Donovan. “But I told the guys this before: we have a lot of veteran, experienced guys that know how to win and have been a part of winning, at the NBA and the G League level.”
A winter storm that dropped nine-plus inches of snow on the Chicago area may have kept the crowd sparse on Dog Day, as only 2,595 fans (plus pooches) came through the doors. The opportunity to take pictures with Bluey was about the only thing fans had to cheer about until the third quarter, when a 27-10 Windy City run cut the deficit to 23 points.
Still, the Bulls have equaled their win total from last year’s Tip-Off Tournament, a bright side in Donovan’s second season leading the team. They have two more games at home December 5 and 6 against the Motor City Cruise before heading on the road for the final four games of the tournament.
“We’re going to take it day by day, practice by practice, game by game, and see if we can get a little bit better,” said Donovan.
Windy City Bulls Victorious Against Wisconsin Herd
Windy City Bulls Secure Opening Night Victory
Windy City Bulls' Lachlin Olbrich (#47) goes up for a dunk against the Wisconsin Herd. Photo by Brandon Collier/ON AIR Daily News.
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
November 8, 2025
The Windy City Bulls start the 2025-26 season with a close win, defeating the Wisconsin Herd 110-107. The win puts the team at 1-0.
The Bulls got off to a rough start, going cold from the field shooting 33 percent from the field and struggling to slow down the Herd’s attack defensively. The Herd’s 55 percent shooting led to the Bulls taking a timeout, having a 13-5 deficit with 8:32 in the first quarter.
Despite the early deficit, Bulls guard Kevin Knox II kept the team afloat, scoring 10 of the team’s 32 first quarter points. Thanks to his leadership, the Bulls came back through consistent scoring in the paint. They ended the first quarter tying the game at 32.
The game continued in a back and forth fashion, with the Bulls starting the second quarter strong behind guard Trentyn Flowers’ 3-point shot. Flowers' offensive display kept the Bulls close while Knox was off the floor dealing with foul trouble for the majority of the quarter.
With additional help from center Lahllan Olbrich and forward Emmanuel Miller, the Bulls continued to make the game interesting, keeping up with a high powered Herd offensive that prevented the Bulls from getting over the hump and taking the lead.
Thanks to a 3-point play by Olbrich in the final Bulls possession of the half, the Bulls went into halftime tying the game at 53, finishing the half shooting 41 percent from the field and 26 percent from the 3-point line.
Olbrich leads the Bulls with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Knox followed right behind with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
The Bulls began an offensive attack in the third quarter, thanks to Caleb Grill leading the charge behind the 3-point line with 6 points after going scoreless in the first half.
The Bulls scored 34 points in the quarter to officially take the lead and expand the lead to double-digits, defeating the Herd 87-72.
The Herd didn’t go down without a fight, cutting the deficit down to 4 points, keeping themselves within striking distance. However, behind the leadership of guard Ryan Woolridge and Olbrich, the teams’ offensive output and defensive focus maintained, giving the Bulls the edge to seal the victory.
Windy City Bulls' Ryan Woolridge #3, Kevin Knox II #7, Lachlin Olbrich #47, and RJ Nembhard,#8 prepare to defend their lead against Wisconsin. Photo by Brandon Collier/ON AIR Daily News
Olbrich finished the game with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Knox contributed with 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Head coach Billy Donovan III praised Olbrich, stating that his efforts are essential to the team’s success on both ends of the floor, and he’s comfortable with putting him in situations as a focal point of the offense.
“He’s had a great summer,” Donovan said. “He wants to learn. He wants to grow. He wants to be the player he can be. His physicality on the offensive glass, through screening, he’s not afraid of contact. He connects both sides of the floor for us and is a focal point of our offense. We like playing through him.”
Olbrich appreciates the faith that Donovan has in him to make him a person he can rely on to go to in late game situations. However, he believes he can take his game to another level, and plans to do more in future games.
“Props to [Billy] for putting faith in me,” Olbrich said. “I appreciate it. I’m hoping in the future I can do better. That’s not my best, and I can give a lot more.”
The next Windy City Bulls home game will be Sun. Nov 16, 2025 at 2 pm.
Chicago Wolves Split Weekend Series Against Toronto Marlies
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
Nov. 1/Nov. 2, 2025
The Chicago Wolves split their weekend series against the Toronto Marlies, defeating the Maulies 4-1 on Saturday, Nov 1, 2025 and losing 4-2 on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. The two-game split puts the Wolves at a 4-3-1 record. Saturday’s goals were scored by Nikita Pavlychev, Evan V ierling, Dominik Badinka and Skylar Brind’Amour.
Photo Credit, John L. Alexander, ON AIR Daily News.
Sunday’s goals were scored by Gavin Bayreuther and Brind’Armour.
Photo Credit, John L. Alexander, ON AIR Daily News.
The team’s next game is Saturday, Nov 8 against the Iowa Wild.
Photo Credit, John L. Alexander, ON AIR Daily News.
Photo Credit, John L. Alexander, ON AIR Daily News.
Photo Credit, John L. Alexander, ON AIR Daily News.
Windy City Bulls Media Day
Windy City Bulls Expecting Playoff Contention Through New Vision For 2025-26 Season
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
Thurs. Oct. 30, 2025
After a disappointing last season where the Windy City Bulls finished with a below .500 record, the team is looking to bounce back in the upcoming 2025-26 season with a new set of expectations that includes a potential playoff berth.
Starting this year, the league has expanded its playoff pool, which now creates an additional 4 slots for teams to make the playoffs. General manager Josh Malone believes that despite the past few seasons with no playoff success, this can be the season for the Bulls to turn things around. How is that possible? By changing the team’s vision and style of play.
“We are going to play a really fun, fast style of basketball,” Malone said. “I think the fans are going to watch. When I think about the themes of the season, they are about playing hard, bringing tenacity every day and how we are going to impact each other every day.”
Malone collaborated with head coach Billy Donovan III this offseason to create a roster and style of play that is suitable for the Bulls direction toward playoff contention. Heading into his sophomore season as a head coach, the son of current Chicago Bulls coach and NBA Hall of Famer Billy Donovan opened up about an area that his dad helped shed light on for him to improve the chemistry in the locker room and front office.
“[Billy Donovan] helped me with building relationships with players (not to say that didn’t happen last year because it did), and communicating with the front office guys (players, coaches, staff, etc.) to see what they see,” Donovan said.
“We got a really good staff and a really good group of players. Training camp is coming up and I’m looking forward to building relationships with these guys.”
The Bulls brought in a couple veteran players that can help aid in bringing their vision to reality. Forward Emmanuel Miller came to the Windy City Bulls late last season with very little time to get acquainted with his teammates and a new system. He is now the only player remaining from last season’s roster with a chance to fully get acquainted at the start of the season. He believes that it is a good adjustment to have and wants to help set the standard of what it means to get better everyday with a desire to win games.
According to Miller, there are a couple ways that can take place. One of the ways is showing up every day and paying attention to the small details. Another way is leading the team defensively toward becoming the best defensive team in the league.
“I want to lead the team defensively, be that vocal leader that I can be and set the tone on the defensive end,” Miller said.
Forward Kevin Knox II is a journeyman who played in every level and aspect of the game. From being drafted to the New York Knicks as a 2018 top-10 pick to playing recently in the G-League with Santa Cruz, his goal has always been toward preparing for a chance to make it back to the NBA.
However, he understands the importance of being the leader on the team that has arguably had the most success regarding playing with top-tier talent. He wants to be the leader those guys were to him to the guys that are on this current team.
One of the ways he plans to bring leadership is through film sessions.
“Film is huge and I think I would definitely be on the guys, making sure that they are watching themselves and that’s how you build chemistry on and off the court with your teammates,” Knox said. “A lot of guys are already asking me questions about being the teams and players I’ve played with, so just being able to give that information. They look up to me since I’ve been in the league for a minute so they are definitely coming with questions.”
Another way he wants to lead is through his play on the court. He learned early on the business side of things in the league and what it means to play hard every night. He wants to use that experience to inspire the diverse age groups of the team to channel that focus and energy so that the team can be poised for a playoff push.
“We got a few rookies on the team now, but we also got a couple older guys that kind of know that once you step on the court it’s business and how hard we have to play,” Knox said. “So [I want] to bring the energy of being a leader.”
The Windy City Bulls started training camp on Monday, Oct. 27th and will continue through Wednesday, Nov. 5th. The Bulls first home game will take place Saturday, Nov. 8th against the Wisconsin Herd at 7:00 pm.
Windy City Bulls Players Making A Difference
Kevin Knox Plans To Make A Difference During Time With Windy City Bulls
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
Thurs. Oct. 30, 2025
Kevin Knox II has demonstrated himself as the definition of a journeyman. Coming out of Kentucky, Knox became the 9th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, drafted by the New York Knicks. After spending four years in New York, he bounced around from team to team experiencing stints with the Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors that included some G-League stops.
This year, he is finding himself entering year eight back in the G-League with the Windy City Bulls, looking to make a statement across the league. He wants to demonstrate that he can still hoop on the highest level, but he also understands the unique position he is in as a young leader on this current team.
. “I played with all-time players, top draft picks, MVP’s, so I just feel like going out there and applying what I learned and got from them,” Knox said.
A few of the all time players that he was referring to was his time in New York playing with forward Julius Randle, his time in Portland with guard Damian Lillard and his time last year in Golden State with guard Stephen Curry. All of those stops gave Knox a different lesson that he learned to prepare him for this current chapter.
In New York, Knox was Randle’s teammate during the time Randle won the 2020-21 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. He learned from Randle the importance of having a work ethic on and off the court.
“See how he worked on and off the court, watching film, taking care of his body in the morning, doing two-a-days, as a young guy you see that it’s something that you got to replicate to get to where you want to be,” Knox said.
With Curry, his lesson was more off the court, understanding the importance of developing relationships with teammates as a leader.
“People think [Steph] is to himself, but off the court he is asking questions, checking in with the family, having good conversation,” Knox said. “As a leader of a team, you have to have that relationship with all of your teammates so that they feel comfortable talking to you.”
Regarding Lillard, his leadership style relayed with Knox, showing him the importance of gaining everyone’s respect so that you can ensure chemistry and pushing the team in the right direction to accomplish the team’s ultimate goal.
“[Damian Lillard] was a guy that brought everyone together,” Knox said. “Everyone listened in the locker room, we were rapping, playing and having fun. That is something that you need to have as a team, especially as a young team. You got to be able to go to the young guys and get their respect, and the young guys respected those older guys.”
Knox has been in contact with head coach Billy Donovan III for the past couple weeks. Outside of the SEC background battles of Florida and Kentucky, Donovan has enjoyed getting to know Knox on a personal level.
“[Knox] loves the game and is a real thinker of the game,” Donovan said. “He’s smart, knows how to play and knows who he is as a player. He just wants an opportunity and a chance to play. I’m going to challenge him to support the rest of these guys.”
With his experience amongst the league’s great players, it is evident that the team expects Knox to get called up to a NBA roster at some point throughout the season. But the Bulls want to position Knox to establish his leadership rapport with the time, while also putting him in a position to get back to the NBA.
“Each of the years he’s been in the G-League, he’s got the call to the league, so there should be no reason why he is not able to achieve what he wants this year,” general manager Josh Malone said. “It works for him being here with us so that he can set the tone and help us find and locate our direction where I want to go from the start of the season.
“We want the good for him just as much as he wants the good for us in what he is doing,” Malone said.
Cubs Seal the Deal With 3-1 Win To Secure Spot in NLDS
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
Thurs. Oct. 2, 2025
The Chicago Cubs playoffs journey continues as the Cubs secured another 3-1 win in the third game of the best of three series against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Oct 2nd.
The win gives the Cubs a 2-1 series win, securing the National League Wild Card Series and punching their ticket to the National League Division Series. This will be the Cubs first chance at a NLDS since 2017.
Moving forward, the Cubs will be playing a best of seven series against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Game 1 taking place Saturday, Oct. 4th on TBS in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cubs Strike First With Big Win
Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Cubs to Take 1-0 Series Lead in NLWC Series
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
Tues. Sept. 30, 2025
Thanks to back-to-back home runs by catcher Carson Kelly and right fielder Seiya Suzuki, the Chicago Cubs started the playoffs on a positive note. They secured the 3-1 win against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, Sept 30th. The win gives the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the best of three series for the National League Wild Card.
The next game will be tomorrow, Oct. 1st at 2:00 pm CST on ABC. The winner of the series will advance to take on the Brewers in a best of seven series for the National League Division Series starting on Saturday, October 4th.
Joshua M Hicks, ON AIR Daily News Sports Editor and Drew Stevens of The Bigs Media, pose questions to Bulls coaches and team members during the 2025 Chicago Bulls Media Day at the United Center.. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Focusing on the youth movement and roster depth, Karnisovas started the press conference setting the standard for this season’s expectations.
Though he wants to win championships, they will be heavily focused on the development of the teams’ young players, including star like guards Josh Giddey and Coby White, along with forward Matas Buzelis.
Though the young guys have to develop, the depth of the team is a positive note that Karnisovas is proud of. When asked about not having any All-Star players coming off the bench that can compete with other teams around the league and more specifically the Eastern Conference, he already believes he has All-Stars on his team; Giddey and White.
“Team success is essential to getting your guys to become All-Stars,” Karnisovas said. “We are focused on winning and those guys have to get better this year. Team success will establish them if they are good enough to be All-Stars or not."
Executive Vice -President, Basketball Operations - Arturas Karnisovas answers reporter's questions about expectations for the coming season. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
"You can argue that if Josh [Giddey] and Coby [White] had those months like they did in December, January and March, they could’ve been there, he added. ”
Karnisovas’ belief in Giddey and White is not surprising. Giddey, who recently signed a four-year, $100 million deal to return to the Windy City, finished the season almost averaging a triple-double with 14 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds a game. His play led the Bulls to a strong finish to the regular season that put them in a position for the play-in tournament.
However, for the 2019 first-round draft pick who is now the longest tenured Bulls player on the current roster, White is coming off of a career year, averaging 20 points and 4 assists a game. Heading into his 6th year in the league and a contract year, White is now the face of the franchise, and is excited to take on the challenge of being the team’s leader. He stated that the ultimate goal is winning and getting better every day, but there are also some goals he would like to accomplish specifically for the season.
#0 Coby White, Guard, 6-5 210 , born 2/16/00, North Carolina/USA addresses issues raised by the media. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
“Winning is the top priority,” White told On Air Daily News. “But I think for myself taking that next step is becoming an All-Star caliber player and shooting 40 percent from the [3-point line]. I haven’t done that in my career yet and I should’ve already done it.”
Recent Hall of Fame inductee head coach Billy Donovan will be in evaluation mode come training camp, preparing his players for the next steps toward a successful season. With one of the youngest teams in the league, Donovan’s focus is not just about growth on the court, but helping players develop off the court.
“Every player is a little different and every player’s growth is a little different,” Donovan said. “It’s not about the minutes. [The players] all need minutes to grow, but it’s more about how to become impactful players where they are impacting their teammates and impacting winning. That covers a wide range of things: how they rest, how they eat, etc.”
HEAD COACH - Billy Donovan Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
“There is a process that these guys go through that you get help with besides ball handling, passing, shooting, just how to be a pro,” Donovan continued. “How to get yourself prepared, how to impact the game, how to pay attention to scouting reports and watch film…I think those are the things that you try to help players with and then those things transfer over to the court.”
Donovan’s expectations of growth and development will be huge when it comes to young stars like Buzelis. Buzelis is heading into his second year after an impressive rookie year that featured him in a dunk contest and earning All-Rookie second team honors. Though progress has been made for the rising star, Donovan is encouraging and challenging him as part of his mission around the development of him along with other players.
#14 Matas Buzelis F 6-9 196 10/13/04, G League IgniUSA, discusses the challenges he is working to overcome to get ready for the the season. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Buzelis understands the challenges that lie ahead. Despite those challenges, he has high expectations for himself, wanting to achieve the Most Improved Player of the Year Award along with All-Defensive honors.
But he most importantly wants to win championships and improve his game. One of the ways he is doing that is changing his body.
“I’ve been talking to Billy a lot and mostly picking everyone’s brain in the facility,” Buzelis said. “I’ve been in the weight room, but also maintaining my speed and agility. For me, it was the body change this offseason.”
Chicago Bulls 2025/26 TEAM ROSTER
Name, Position, Ht., Wt., Date of Birth
1. PATRICK WILLIAMS F 6-7 215 August 26, 2001
2. JOSH GIDDEY G 6-8 210 October 10, 2002
3. MOUHAMMADOU GUEYE F 6-9 210 July 6, 1998
4. EMANUEL MILLER (TW) F 6-7 215 June 19, 2000
5. YUKI KAWAMURA (TW) G 5-8 159 May 2, 2001
6. TRE JONES G 6-1 185 January 8, 2000
7. NOA ESSENGUE F 6-9 December 18, 2006
8. LACHLAN OLBRICH (TW) F-C 6-10 December 30, 2003
9. ISAAC OKORO G-F 6-5 225 January 26, 2001
10. JALEN SMITH F 6-10 215 March 16, 2000
11. KEVIN HUERTER G 6-7 190 August 27, 1998
12. MATAS BUZELIS F 6-10 209 October 13, 2004
13. ZACH COLLINS C-F 6-11 250 November 19, 1997
14. AYO DOSUMMO G 6-5 200 January 17, 2000
15. JEVON CARTER G 6-1 200 September 14, 1995
16. JULIAN PHILLIPS F 6-8 198 November 5, 2003
17. COBY WHITE G 6-5 195 February 16, 2000
18. NICKOLA VUCEVIC C 6-10 260 October 24, 1990
19. DALEN TERRY G 6-7 195 July 12, 2002
Aces Secure Playoff Spot With 79-74 Victory Over Sky
Las Vegas Aces' NaLyssa Smith (#3) heavily guards Chicago Sky's Ariel Atkins (#7) as she attempts to take a shot and even the score. Photo by Brandon Collier, ON AIR Daily News.
CHICAGO - The Las Vegas Aces secured a spot in the WNBA playoffs with their victory Monday night September 25, 2025 over the Chicago Sky, winning 79-74. Top scorer for the Sky was Ariel Akins (#7) with 30 points, and top scorer for the Aces was Jackie Young (#0) with 22 points.
A'ja Wilson added 18 points and nine rebounds to the Aces' score to clinch the win in a fight to the finish. The Aces pulled out front in the first quarter, leading 20 to 14, and widened the gap in the second quarter, scoring 24 points to the Sky's 18 points
But the Sky came back in the third quarter, scoring 24 points to the Aces 16, and ending the quarter with the Aces ahead 60-56, just four points, certainly within striking distance of a Sky win.
With the possibility of securing a spot in the WNBA playoffs on the line, both teams were under pressure in last quarter and the coaches huddled with their teams to plan strategies that would need to be well executed.
Celebrity couple Common and Jennifer Hudson arrive at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago to enjoy an exciting basketball matchup between Chicago and Las Vegas as ON AIR Daily News Publisher John Alexander gets his reporting team in position. Photo by Brandon Collier, ON AIR Daily News
The fourth quarter was a battle right down to the wire, with both teams hitting basket for basket, but in the end, the Aces scored 19 points in the quarter and the Sky came up short with just 18 points, handing a 79-74 victory to the Las Vegas Aces.
SKY SNAP LOSING SKID, BESTS WASHINGTON 78-64
The return of Ariel Atkins gives Chicago a spark en route to a much-needed win
Ariel Atkins cheers her team on from the bench in her first game back from injury. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
By Andy Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
Wintrust Arena played host to yet another Chicago Sky home game Tuesday night August 5, 2025, but this time, the Sky fans in attendance left as victors. The 8-game losing streak is no more, as the Sky defeated the Washington Mystics 78-64.
At times during this losing skid, it didn’t just look as though the Sky did not win, it seemed as though the Sky could not win. However, the return of scorer and playmaker guard Ariel Atkins did wonders to spark the Sky into a convincing victory they desperately needed.
“I hate not being out there with my team,” Atkins said postgame. “It felt good to be back out there with my teammates, playing with a smile, just was great to be back out there.”
Head coach Tyler Marsh agreed wholeheartedly with his shooting guard.
“She’s another experienced ball handler out there, it gives us more flexibility and more freedom,” said Marsh of the 8th-year veteran. “I thought more than anything, there was a rejuvenation and energy for everyone else that saw her put in all the work to get back on the court.”
Kamilla Cardoso defends a shot from Washington’s Kiki Iriafen in the first half. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
Rejuvenation is the perfect descriptor for what this win did for the Sky, who’ve struggled through injuries & roster turnover early and often this season. They ran out to a 25-10 lead in the first quarter, moving the ball much more fluidly and easily than we’ve seen recently. Open shots were plentiful. They also capitalized on a plethora of mistakes from the Mystics, who themselves were in some roster turmoil after trading all-star and leading scorer guard Brittney Sykes to Seattle.
The second quarter turned to favor the Mystics after they ramped up their defensive pressure on the Sky. Forcing nine turnovers along with increased shooting efficiency cut the Sky lead to just seven at the half. It looked as though it was another installment of the Chicago Sky failing to stay afloat after a hot start.
Marsh spoke to this specifically when asked about his mid-game messaging to the team.
“This was similar to the first game we played with Washington here in terms of getting out to a good start early and then putting us on our heels and ultimately winning the game,” Marsh said. We didn’t want a repeat of that tonight.”
Michaela Onyenwere elevates for a midrange jumpshot over Washington’s Stefanie Dolson. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
This time around, the Sky were not only treading water as the game progressed, but extending their lead. Angel Reese’s absence did little to slow the Sky from finding success in the post, with center Kamilla Cardoso and forward Williams wreaking havoc in the interior all game long.
Cardoso looked much more comfortable in the paint en route to a 16 point, 13 rebound performance on 67% shooting, marking her 7th-straight double-double.
As for the veteran Williams, you’d never know she had suffered a season-ending knee injury last season. “E-Will” led all scorers with 18 points along with 10 rebounds for a double-double of her own.
“I thought we played with good pace offensively… you can only do that if we’re in good space as well,” Williams said of the healthy-looking offense. “Having an extra spacer, an extra slasher (in Ariel Atkins) helps tremendously. I thought we cut really well off the ball as well.”
Atkins finished with 15 points and five assists on 70% efficiency, calling her own number when needed to make a few of her signature midrange jumpers.
Jade Melbourne of the Mystics gets into the paint and attempts a layup with defense from Rachel Banham. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
Her fellow starter in the backcourt in guard Rachel Banham had five points and four assists of her own, plus forward Michaela Onyenwere’s 12 points and newcomer forward Sevgi Uzun scoring six and assisting five times off the bench only made things easier down the stretch. Out of the nine Sky players that played more than a minute, all but one of them scored.
Angel Reese, who is still listed day-to-day with a back injury, supports her team from the sideline. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
A late run in the fourth quarter from the Mystics came up short in the end. Rookies guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen didn’t find the same success against the Sky they had previously.
Citron led the Mystics with 13 points and 4 steals while Iriafen notched 10 points and 6 rebounds.
With this generally ugly from them coming on the same day as trading away guard Brittney Sykes, the Mystics looked like a team searching for a new identity.The Sky, despite the win, are still trying to do much of the same. Their 8-21 record puts them 6.5 games out of the playoff picture.
They’re still without Angel Reese, who has no timetable to return and is still listed as day-to-day. They’ll finish out their homestand on Thursday night against the Atlanta Dream.
CHICAGO SKY FALL 73-66 TO GOLDEN STATE, LOSE 7TH STRAIGHt
Extended absences for Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins continues to spell doom
Rebecca Allen snags a rebound and looks to push the pace early in the second half. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
By Andy Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The Chicago Sky kicked off a 4 game homestand Friday night, August 1, 2025, coming up short against the Golden State Valkyries, 73-66. The Valkyries, in their first year of existence, have certainly been the premier story of the 2025 WNBA season thus far, and their latest chapter came at the expense of the struggling Sky.
Both teams were sporting a hefty injury report entering the contest. The Sky were once again without their two leading scorers in forward Angel Reese and guard Ariel Atkins despite Reese’s appearance in their game against the Mystics on Tuesday. Hailey Van Lith was also out with injury, leaving the Sky with only eight players active for the game.
Seeing her first action in a Sky uniform was Sevgi Uzun, who was signed earlier this week to fill a vacant roster spot. Golden State themselves only had nine players to go with.
Kia Nurse is fired up after successfully drawing a charge in the first quarter. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
At first, the Valkyries played as though nothing was amiss with their roster. Three offensive rebounds in the first three minutes led to some quick three-pointers, letting the Valkyries jump out to an 8-2 lead. A quick timeout from the Sky seemed to let them course correct before the teams battled to a 37-37 tie at halftime.
The Sky finished the first 20 minutes with 11 assists on 14 made field goals with only four turnovers. Starting guards Rachel Banham and Kia Nurse found their bigs in centers Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams on multiple occasions for easy buckets, but also called their own number for some timely baskets as well.
For a team that’s had its share of troubles in feeding the ball inside and turnover concerns in general, it was a healthy sign of progression. Kia Nurse was pleased with the majority of their offensive effort when asked about it postgame.
“The more we move the ball, the better we are,” Nurse said. “It's just creating advantages for one another & playing selfless basketball. I think we did a good job today of understanding and making those reads. We play really well with one another, and we play really well off of one another, and there was a lot of excitement and energy there built in.”
Despite the solid second quarter offense for both squads, neither team came out of the half firing.
Another low scoring period concluded with a two-point Sky lead heading into the fourth. But while the Sky avoided the third quarter woes that have so often plagued them this year, it seems those woes just came a bit later this time. The Sky scored only two points in the five minutes to start the fourth quarter, while the Valkyries capitalized and ran out to an eight point lead.
Williams was blunt when asked about the Sky’s troubles late.
“Some of it was just missing shots to be honest,” Williams said. “We weren’t getting as many defensive stops that would lead to some easier offensive shots, but I do think we missed quite a few shots.”
Elizabeth Williams gets up for a putback as part of her 15 point performance. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
Golden State started the game ice cold from the field, but found their stroke and began hitting open looks. Perimeter defense has been an exploitable aspect of the Sky’s game, which is precisely where the Valkyries looked to capitalize.
Much of the action they generated involved isolating backcourt defenders to get by them and bring in help defense, or it focused on forcing Cardoso to play defense outside the paint, freeing up a lot of space underneath. Guards Veronica Burton and Carla Leite finished with 18 and 11 points respectively, while center Iliana Rupert stretched the floor to knock down four of five threes off the bench.
Even then, the Sky used timely second chance points from Elizabeth Williams and a quick bucket of Cardoso’s to cut the deficit to a single point. With a chance to tie or take the lead, Nurse committed a costly turnover at the rim, which then sealed the game for the visitors.
Head coach Tyler Marsh took responsibility for the frustrating loss.
Rachel Banham faces tough defense from the Valkyries on a pullup jumpshot. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
“I thought the entire game came down to the execution, and Golden State was able to execute better than we were on both ends down the stretch…that starts and ends with me,” Marsh said.
Despite his sentiment, the box score was much kinder to the eyeball this time. Williams continued to thrive in her increased role without Reese, recording 15 points and eight rebounds. Cardoso wasn’t far behind with a double-double herself, consisting of 14 points and 11 boards, while Kia Nurse & Rachel Banham had seven assists apiece to go along with their double figure point totals. As a team, the Sky finished with 21 assists to only 10 turnovers for one of their better assist/turnover ratios on the season.
Still, lackluster contributions from the bench along with poor play in crunch time doomed them in the end.
Marsh has sailed through troubled waters in his first season as coach. He put forth a positive message for how his team should move forward the rest of the way.
“I think that we have to continue to use the togetherness that we have been building,” Marsh said. “At the same time, there's a level of professionalism to be a self-motivator, a self-starter, to finish out a season. We have a lot of games left to play. And so this season isn't over by any stretches. That's the mindset.
“That should be enough to continue to put forth the work ethic, continue to put forth the passion, the drive to be teammates. It's what we get paid to do, so we can't cash it in now. There's still a lot of basketball left to play.”
The Chicago Sky now sit at 7-20. They continue their homestand on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury. There has been no update on if Ariel Atkins, Hailey Van Lith or Reese will be active.
Angel Reese and Michaela Onyenwere support their team from the bench late in the first half. Reese was sidelined with a back injury. (Brandon Collier / On Air Daily News)
SKY SPLIT A PAIR OF GAMES AGAINST THE LEAGUE-BEST LYNX
Two close matchups in three days end two different ways for the Sky
The Sky bench celebrates a crafty finish by leading scorer Ariel Atkins in the second quarter of Saturday’s game. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
By Andy Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
Wintrust Arena played host to two exciting matchups between the visiting Minnesota Lynx and the hosting Chicago Sky. The first game on Saturday afternoon July 12, 2025 turned out to be a stunning upset of the league’s top team, with the Sky defeating the Lynx 87-81. Monday’s game July 14, 2025 was another close battle until the Lynx pulled away late in the fourth quarter to win 91-78. All three contests between these squads this season have been back-and-forth dogfights, with the Lynx winning 2 out of the 3.
Saturday’s matinee matchup was the better game to watch for the Sky faithful. From the moment the doors opened, fans and players alike possessed an even more electric energy than normal, likely aided by the celebration of forward Angel Reese’s appearance on the NBA 2K26 cover. Fans in attendance received a shirt celebrating Reese’s 2K shirt, and the team certainly fed off that excitement.
“[In the] first quarter, I felt like I was at the blacktop in Baltimore… Ariel (Atkins) hit a shot and was just like ‘damn!’” Reese said postgame.
Angel Reese, defended by Napheesa Collier, goes up for a layup in the first half of Saturday’s game. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
Indeed it was the tandem of Reese and Atkins that jumpstarted the Sky’s offensive production early. Reese accounted for 17 of the Sky’s 29 points in the first quarter, followed up by Atkins accounting for 12 of the Sky’s 28 points in the second. Both were able to feed off of an improved offense, as well as call their own number when necessary to get a bucket.
“Above all, I have to be aggressive,” Atkins said. “That’s how we get going, and if I am more aggressive throughout the game, I know it opens up things for my teammates, so I was just trying to keep my foot on the gas early on.”
Atkins ended the night with a game-high 27 points on 57% shooting, while Reese had 19 points on the same efficiency.
The team’s offensive flow also allowed for great nights from center Kamilla Cardoso and guard Rachel Banham. The 6 foot 7 inch Cardoso found space in the paint with ease, and either got a good-looking shot up or drew a foul to head to the line.
She finished with 17 points alongside Banham’s 12 points, with the sharpshooter finding some open three-pointers that were set up well by her teammates.
Ariel Atkins led all scorers with 27 points in Saturday’s contest. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
The hot-handed Sky rode their offense to a 57-44 halftime lead. Still though, it was evident the top-seeded Lynx would punch back, and they certainly did. MVP favorite forward Napheesa Collier continued her historic production, winding up with 26 points on a 50% clip. Her and sharpshooter guard Kayla McBride’s four three-pointers accounted for a majority of the Lynx’s increased scoring in the second half, with McBride’s 14 of her 17 points in the third and fourth quarters. Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said with his team’s faster pace of play, however, that the defensive effort was something he was satisfied with.
“We came and were locked into the game plan,” Marsh said. “I thought it was a really good effort from us on both ends of the floor… but overall I thought our defensive effort was really what carried us tonight.”
Another huge difference in favor of the Sky was the domination on the glass. They outrebounded the Lynx 45-28, including 13 offensive rebounds to the Lynx’s seven rebounds. Reese and Cardoso pulled down 11 and 15 rebounds, respectively, netting them both a double-double and giving Reese her 8th straight double-double. Forward Michaela Onyenwere was active on the boards as well, grabbing seven of them despite only averaging around two per game this season. Even though the Sky lost the turnover margin 17-9, the extra rebounds over their opponents gave them second chance opportunities and disrupted the pace the Lynx wanted to play at. It was a key reason for their upset victory on Saturday.
Rachel Banham sizes up her defender Courtney Williams and looks to pass. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
A confident Sky team headed into the rematch on Monday ready to once again shock the league. Early on in, the Sky were continuing to not only keep up with the Lynx, but possess meaningful leads as well. They sank four three-pointers in the first quarter alone to go along with seven Reese points. This time around, however, the Lynx exceeded the Sky in early production.
Forward Napheesa Collier and guard Courtney Williams combined to shoot 7 for 9 in the first 10 minutes, each scoring 10 points with two threes. The Sky responded in the second quarter with a huge run to propel them to a 10-point lead just before halftime, before the Lynx capitalized off some bad Sky turnovers to score eight points in 35 seconds to enter the locker room only down two. Marsh pointed to this as a catalyst for the Lynx.
“We ought to be able to capitalize when we have the lead to 10 points, but then they cut it to two going into the half,” Marsh said. “With a team like Minnesota, you can’t have those sort of lapses in that short of a time.”
With the Sky’s Atkins leaving the game with a leg injury at halftime, the momentum was now fully in Minnesota’s favor. They would finally recapture the lead in the third, aided by some timely scoring from guards Natasha Hiedeman and McBride.
The Sky’s starting five regroup after a foul call in Saturday’s matchup. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
The Sky remained in striking distance, but without possessing an overwhelming rebound advantage like they did in Saturday’s game, they could not meaningfully make up for their plethora of bad turnovers and stagnating offense down the stretch. A reduction in second half scoring once again plagued the Sky as the wheels fell off in the fourth, giving the Lynx the 13- point victory.
Reese again finished with a double-double, her ninth straight and 15th on the season. Her final statline of 22 points and 10 rebounds led the team in both aspects, as did her five turnovers as well. She now leads the Sky in points, rebounds, and assists on the season. Reese has shown prowess in generating offense by herself, but the Lynx’s team defense created difficulties taking care of the basketball for her and the Sky.
“Tonight I needed to do a better job kicking it out and not turning the ball over,” Reese said. “I’m definitely going to beat myself up about this one because I turned it over again way too many times.”
Banham recorded 15 points but also finished with five turnovers. While guard Rebecca Allen had 10 points off the bench, Cardoso had limited opportunities in the paint and only had six points. Michaela Onyenwere left the game in the fourth after a hard collision with Cardoso. There haven’t been any official updates on the statuses of her or Atkins released yet.
Meanwhile for the Lynx, league leading scorer Collier had a game-high 29 points on 50% shooting and a perfect 11 for 11 from the foul line.
Angel Reese stares down the cameras after drawing a foul and finishing the layup. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
Joining her in double figure scoring for the Lynx were Courtney Williams with 18, Kayla McBride with 17, and Bridget Carleton with 11.
Overall, for the Sky to be able to say they took down the Lynx in even a single game is an enormous accomplishment. Monday’s performance certainly looked like the Sky were reverting back to their early season form, with far too many turnovers, inability to get back on defense, and struggles working the ball inside.
But for a majority of this pair of contests, the Sky proved that they can hang with, quite literally, the league’s best. This is a much different team than the one we saw get blown out in the season opener in Indiana, despite the 7-14 record.
Marsh spoke to his team’s mindset coming out of these games, and his message to his team heading into the All-Star break.
“I think we’re getting everybody’s best shot and we want everybody to get our best shot, no matter who we’re playing,” Marsh said.
Reese closed out her presser with a similar sentiment. “It wasn’t a fluke the other night,” Reese said. “We can beat the best…We know we can run with the best. We have to continue to put our heads down and continue to work and move on.”
BANGED UP SKY SQUAD STRUGGLE MIGHTILY AGAINST THE DREAM, 86-49
The Sky huddle up after Kamilla Cardoso draws a foul in the first half. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
A Sky can’t find a win before the All-Star break without Reese, Atkins
By Andy Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The Sky finished out a homestand before the All-Star break with a blowout loss to the Atlanta Dream Wednesday July 16, 2025.
Despite Wintrust Arena being packed with some of the Sky’s youngest fans on summer camp day, the extra energy did not stop the Dream from running over a Sky team missing two of its best, guard Ariel Atkins and forward Angel Reese. Both were listed out with a leg injury, but while Reese’s exclusion from the game seemed precautionary, Atkins showed up in a boot on her injured leg. Head coach Tyler Marsh had few updates to share on the severity of Arkins’ injury.
Ariel Atkins, center, and Angel Reese, right, were both out for Wednesday’s game. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
“Ariel is still day-by-day… It’s her calf and lower leg,” Marsh said. “She felt it in the game (on Monday) and had to be evaluated.”
The Dream themselves were without second-leading scorer and All-Star forward Rhyne Howard, who is currently sidelined for the month with a knee injury. That didn’t stop the rest of the Dream’s roster from pushing the lead as high as 43 points early in the fourth quarter, thanks to five players finishing in double figures.
Veteran center Brittney Griner and all-star guard Allisha Gray led the way with 15 and 14 points each, in a game where they did not even need to play in the fourth quarter.
Zero Sky players recorded double-digit points. Rebecca Allen’s nine points off the bench was the high mark for Chicago, with Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams with eight points apiece.
Rachel Banham defends the Dream’s point guard Jordin Canada off of a ball screen. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
Rookie guards Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld saw extended playing time but combined to shoot 3 for 15 from the field.
The Sky shot 18 for 71 from the field overall for a 25.4% shooting clip, as opposed to the Dream’s 31 for 66 mark for 47% efficiency.
Needless to say, Atkins and Reese were surely missed. The pair account for a majority of the scoring as not only the team’s top-2 scorers but in sheer playmaking ability as well.
Without them on Wednesday, the Sky struggled to find any sort of open look in any consistent manner. Instead of the “structured freedom” offense that head coach Tyler Marsh has found success in installing, the Sky looked timid, frightened, and panicked. Possessions constantly ended in a heavily contested shot of some sort or a shot clock violation.
Kia Nurse and head coach Tyler Marsh discuss scheme during a Dream free throw late in the first half. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
“Our pace wasn’t as high as it has been in the last couple games,” veteran big Elizabeth Williams said. “Pace and space is how we want to play and since we weren’t doing that, that allows their defense to thrive.”
Missing guard Courtney Vandersloot for the season as well certainly has done them no favors either. The veteran floor general is still out for the year with a torn ACL, forcing some guards like Rachel Banham and Van Lith to step into a point guard role and away from their usual shooting guard or wing spots.
Banham has impressed at times as a point guard, but neither her nor anyone else in the backcourt could jumpstart the Sky offense Wednesday.
The Sky gave the ball up 13 times, a mark higher than their 12 total assists as a team.
Defensively, it was a similar story. Despite some solid defenders active on the roster, Atkins and Reese are so vital to the Sky’s defensive identity and makeup that the Dream were able to simply overpower them.
Atlanta dropped 26 assists to only 10 turnovers all while winning the rebounding battle by 9. Kamilla Cardoso’s prowess alone wasn’t enough to prevent the Dream from outscoring the Sky in the paint 40-18.
Without Atkins and Reese suiting up, the contest was essentially over after the first quarter.
A lot was asked of the rotation to make up for the absence of two of the game’s best, whether it was Moriah Jefferson making her first start in 2 seasons or the rookies both logging at least 20 minutes.
Losing by 37 points is bad no matter the circumstances, but a team is judged by its ability to bounce back after tough losses.
Players and coach Marsh all spoke optimistically on taking advantage of the All-Star break to come out firing in the season’s latter half.
Rookie Te-Hina Paopao is defended by longtime veteran Moriah Jefferson. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
“There’s positivity in that the break is coming at a great time for us to have a reset. Definitely won’t be like this coming back.” Michaela Onyenwere, one of the few returning players from last year’s roster, said.
Marsh echoed her sentiment in his postgame statements.
“We have to come back from the break understanding that we’ve been two completely different teams over the course of this season thus far,” Marsh said. “It’s on us to decide which team we want to be in that second half of the season.”
The Sky’s record now stands at 7-15, 11th overall in the league standings. Angel Reese is their lone representative in the All-Star game in Indianapolis this Saturday at 7:30 PM CST. The team returns to action at the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, July 22nd.
DePaul Suffers Home Loss To Villanova After Big Win Against Seton Hall
By Kalia Butler
DePaul’s hopes for continuing their momentum from Sunday’s win over Seton Hall were dashed on Wednesday night, February 5, 2025, as they fell to Villanova at home, struggling to match the Wildcats’ performance.
“Credit to Nova, I thought they just made a few more plays,” said Head Coach Chris Holtmann. “Effort, fight, and bite—those were all terrific. It was a great execution of the game plan… we just couldn’t make enough open looks tonight.”
Adding to the team’s challenges, it was announced that redshirt junior guard Conor Enright would miss the remainder of the season.
Enright’s absence is a significant blow to the Blue Demons, as the veteran guard has been a key floor general and a crucial part of their offensive strategy.
With multiple injuries limiting the team’s depth, DePaul’s bench has been shortened. However, the team has embraced a “next man up” mentality.
“We’ve been playing very consistently, and no matter who is down, we just have to keep that going and have the next man ready,” said senior JJ Traynor.
The Blue Demons began the game with strong defense, forcing five turnovers from Villanova in the opening five minutes. DePaul took their first lead of the game, 11-9, when David Thomas sank a three-pointer.
Villanova responded immediately with a three of their own, reclaiming the lead.
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
The game remained close, and with the score tied at 22, Villanova made three consecutive field goals, taking a three-point advantage into halftime.
In the second half, DePaul came out strong, hitting a pair of three-pointers, but then struggled offensively, going scoreless for a stretch. This allowed Villanova to extend their lead to six points, 38-32. Chris Riddle hit a three-pointer to keep the Blue Demons within striking distance, but DePaul couldn’t close the gap before the Wildcats pushed their lead to eight points. Despite a valiant effort, including another three from Thomas and a three-minute scoring drought for Villanova, the Wildcats secured the win with timely three-pointers from Tyler Perkins and Eric Dixon, ultimately winning by 10 points.
Looking ahead, DePaul has a week to regroup and prepare for their next contest—a tough matchup against top-10 opponent Marquette. The Blue Demons will face the Golden Eagles at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
By Kalia Butler
Hoffman Estates, Ill. -The Windy City Bulls dropped a hard-fought game to the Texas Legends on Friday night, Jan. 3, 2025, falling 95-98 in a closely contested matchup.
Matas Buzelis, currently on assignment with Windy City from the Chicago Bulls, led the charge for the Bulls with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks, co-leading all scorers in the contest. Julian Phillips, also on assignment from Chicago, made his G League debut for Windy City, recording a solid double-double with 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
“It was a tough game,” said Windy City forward David Muoka. “They’re high-level guys (Buzelis and Phillips) . They have a certain sense of experience from being in the league and a different skill set, so it’s great to play with guys like that.”
Muoka emphasized the importance of consistency and discipline, which ultimately eluded Windy City in the final moments.
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
The game got off to a rocky start for Windy City, as they trailed by four after the first quarter despite solid contributions from Buzelis and Phillips (7 and 6 points, respectively).
The Legends' bench proved to be a difference-maker, contributing 10 points to give Texas the advantage.
Texas extended its lead to as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but Buzelis' defense and six points from guard Alex Schumacher helped keep Windy City within striking distance by halftime.
Buzelis, who is no stranger to success in the G League after a 23-point, 10-rebound performance in his previous assignment, came through in the second half, scoring 10 points to help his team stay competitive.
However, despite the strong performances from Buzelis and Phillips, the Legends' Jordan Henderson proved to be the difference-maker. Henderson poured in 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping secure the victory for Texas.
Windy City Lose Close Game Against Texas Legends
Jarod Lucas co-led all scorers with 21 points, including five made threes, while Texas center Jamarion Sharp was dominant in the paint, collecting nine rebounds and adding 13 points.
Head Coach Billy Donovan noted that roster changes and injuries have played a role in the team's struggles but emphasized the adaptability of the G League environment.
"We don’t know if Matas and Julian will be with us tomorrow,” he said, referencing the uncertainty of their assignments.
“We’ve also got some guys out with illness and injuries, so we’re a little banged up. But that’s the beauty of the G League—you have to be ready for anything.”
Looking ahead to the rematch on Saturday, Donovan added with a laugh, “We have to figure out how to get Sharp away from the basket tomorrow. We also need to get back to our offensive identity and share the ball.”
Windy City will get another shot at the Legends when the two teams square off again on Saturday in Now Arena . Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
Windy City Bulls Suffer Loss at Home to Indiana Mad Ants
Bulls unable to recover from early shooting struggles and defensive lapses, fall 114-97 to the Mad Ants
By Emery Little
The Windy City Bulls fell short at home to the Indiana Mad Ants on Thursday, March 13, 2025 with a final score of 114-97, leaving the Bulls with a dismal 9-19 record and no chance of postseason play.
The first quarter felt hopeful for the Bulls with two early back-to-back threes from Ben Coupet Jr. and Emanuel Miller. The Bulls had several opportunities to sail ahead of the Ants, but a rushed offense and missed rebounds led to 7 lead changes in the first quarter.
Guard Javon Freeman-Liberty hit a late three-pointer to bring the Bulls within one, but a last-second shooting foul led the Ants to end the quarter ahead at 34-31. RayJ Dennis led the Ants with 13 first quarter points and ultimately earned his career high of 33 points as the game progressed.
The second quarter was back-and-forth, with the Bulls fighting to stay in the game with several key plays like a clutch three from Freeman-Liberty to help cut the deficit. The Ants went on a 7-0 run to take control with four minutes remaining in the second quarter, leaving the Bulls battling to catch up.
Fouled by Dennis with three seconds to go, Freeman-Liberty secured a four-point-play that kept the game within reach. The Bulls trailed by just three at the half (56-59).
The Mad Ants continued to pull away in the third, and the Bulls never regained the lead. The Ants' defense stifled the Bulls, and their offense kept pushing ahead with another double-digit quarter for Dennis. The Bulls were stuck chasing the Ants for the rest of the game. The deficit ranged from 6 to 7 points for most of the quarter before landing on 11 points heading into the fourth.
The Bulls struggled offensively throughout the game, shooting only 34 percent from the field while giving up 46 percent to the Mad Ants.
A brief 8-2 run from the Bulls in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter proved too little, too late. A late technical on Liddell further soured the Bulls’ performance, and the Bulls ended the game down by 17 points – their third straight loss.
Guard Jahmir Young led the Bulls with 21 points, followed by Freeman-Liberty’s 19 points. For the Ants, Dennis’s career high of 33 led the game, with 24 points coming from Dakota Mathias.
The Bulls will face the Raptors 905 on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, ON, CA.
SHORTHANDED DEPAUL ROSTER FIGHTS, FALTERS AGAINST VILLANovA
The Blue Demons continue to search for their third Big East victory this season
DePaul’s starting five regroups after CJ Gunn draws a foul in the first half. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The DePaul men’s basketball team was unable to takedown their conference opponent in Villanova on Wednesday February 5, 2025, falling by a score of 59-49.
The score speaks for itself, it was a forty-minute defensive battle with a ton of momentum swings that ended up favoring the Wildcats in the end.
DePaul entered the day knowing this matchup would be an uphill climb. Head coach Chris Holtmann announced that starting point guard Conor Enright will miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder injury.
CJ Gunn finishes off his steal with an emphatic jam at the other end. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
Enright was the definition of a solid floor general for the Blue Demons, starting in all 23 games he played with averages of 7.5 points and 6.2 assists. On top of that, big man David Skogman and wing Troy D’Amico were also out of the lineup nursing ailments of their own. Despite the hobbled lineup, DePaul came out looking to win.
The Blue Demons scrapped and clawed their way to forcing over a dozen turnovers, including CJ Gunn’s total of six steals. It was clear the focus against this Villanova team, who is top 20 in the country in offense, was shutting off the interior scoring from the NCAA’s leading scorer, Eric Dixon.
Villanova’s Eric Dixon takes to the free throw line late in the second half. Dixon leads all scorers in the country with an average of 23.8 points per game. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
The undersized Blue Demons were able to do just that, holding the veteran Dixon to just 4 of 14 from the field and forcing much of the Wildcat offense out of the paint. Coach Holtmann took this as a huge positive for his squad.
“I thought our defensive effort was as good as it's been all year,” Holtmann said. “I thought our bite and competitiveness was terrific. If we compete like this, we’ll play well, we’ll make shots more so than we did tonight.”
Unfortunately, as Holtmann alluded to, the other end of the court was not as friendly to the Blue Demons. DePaul finished the day shooting 30.8% from the field, going a measly 7-of-36 from the three-point line.
Head coach Chris Holtmann has led the Blue Demons to an 11-13 record so far in his first season. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
While they certainly got themselves open looks throughout the game, the Demons struggled to establish a consistent offensive identity in their time with the ball. Key contributors such as Isaiah Rivera, Layden Blocker, and Jacob Meyer had their impacts made minimal, with Meyer even held scoreless. David Thomas and his season-high 16 points off the bench kept the Blue Demons within striking distance, however. Even with only 3 reserves, DePaul’s bench of Thomas, JJ Traynor, and Chris Riddle combined for 23 points, compared with 26 points combined for the startersThomas spoke postgame on maintaining his composure when his number is called.
David Thomas heads towards the hoop to notch 2 of his team-leading 16 points against Villanova. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
“It's just unfortunate that we got some guys out, but coach has been telling me the whole season just stay ready,” Thomas said.”I just made sure that I come to practice not having a down mindset and practice like I'm going to play 30 minutes. I feel like that really helped me at this moment today.”
Holtmann said he did not have a timetable for the returns of David Skogman and Troy D’Amico, but said neither one is a “season-ending situation”.
Layden Blocker drives the lane and avoids the help defense to get to the basket. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
He concluded his postgame comments with some optimism on his young team’s development.
“I think we’d all love to be at full strength,” Holtmann said. “The difference between the last time we played them (Villanova) and now is night and day. This is the way this group has grown in the last month and gotten better.”
Villanova climbs to 13-10 overall and 6-6 in conference play, while DePaul falls to 11-13 and 2-11 in the Big East.
The Blue Demons have some time off before travelling to Milwaukee to take on Marquette on Tuesday, February 11th.