Miley Pegg is the Wildcat Chronicle’s Sports Writer, and she occasionally writes opinions. The views in this column are her own.
Cubs versus White Sox to Packers versus Bears, Chicago sports are so back. For the first time in years, Chicago teams are finally showing signs of potential – and fans are obsessed.
“Da Bears”
The Chicago Bears are currently first in the NFC North for the first time since 2018. Being 7–3 is rare for the Bears, especially after the late, game-winning field goal against the Minnesota Vikings. The 56-yard kick completely shifted momentum. This has been how the Bears have ended the past few weeks: fans get excited to watch their team play, it becomes the most stressful thing ever during the second and third quarters, the Bears keep a decent first-quarter lead, lose it, and then make an insane comeback during the final quarter. After the first few games this year, it looked like the Bears were heading toward another losing streak, but they turned it around. Whether this is due to Ben Johnson’s coaching or simply strong execution remains the question.
“Here we go, Hawks, here we go!”
9-5-4. Let’s break it down: Connor Bedard is easily the standout player of the Chicago Blackhawks at only 19 years old — with 10 goals, 16 assists, and 26 points so far this season. On the player front, Nick Foligno will be out for multiple weeks, up to four, after taking a puck to the hand. According to Ryan Clerk from ESPN, “The absence of Foligno, who has six points in 15 games, means the Blackhawks will be without their fourth-line center who was anchoring a combination featuring Sam Lafferty and Landon Slaggert.” So, now what? Louis Crevier filled in temporarily, and with Crevier in, the Hawks won 5–3 against the Flames, suggesting he may be a strong long-term option.
“Go Cubs Go”
Even though the LA Dodgers are World Series Champions for the second year in a row, the Chicago Cubs did get to play in October at the NLDS (National League Division Series). Three Cubs earned 2025 Gold Gloves: Pete Crow-Armstrong(CF), Ian Happ(LF), and Nico Hoerner(SS). PCA was the most impressive winner of this award because it was his first Gold Glove in center field, and he tied for the most Outs Above Average (+24). The Cubs had the potential to go further in the playoffs, but the Brewers had a solid season and didn’t make it past the NLCS against the Dodgers.
“South Side!”
Since the focus is on Chicago sports, the Chicago White Sox do count, even though they went 60–102 this season. Every Chicago fan can agree that the Cubs are a better team right now. While both franchises have three World Series titles, their trajectories differ. The Cubs last won in 2016 — the peak Rizzo/Báez era — whereas the White Sox have not won in nearly 20 years. The cultural divide between fanbases, especially during the North-South Showdown, remains strong. The Sox may not be the city’s powerhouse team, but a competitive matchup against teams like the Brewers can still rally Chicago support.
“Bulls! Bulls! Bulls!”
The Bulls are currently 6-6, being carried by Josh Giddey. Giddey has honestly been a pretty key player on the Bulls, averaging about 22 points per game (PPG) and 9.7 assists per game. Overall, the Bulls have an average of 121 PPG, 47.6 RPG, and 29.7 APG. They are also ranked as 8th overall in team stats. Giddey is currently putting in the work to bring the Bulls into a better season; he has become the central playmaker driving the team through the 2025–26 campaign.
Final Take
Chicago sports are entering a genuine resurgence. The Bears have momentum with Caleb Williams and D’Andre Swift, the Blackhawks show promise with rising talent, and the Bulls have a strong statistical foundation to climb higher in their conference. Together, these performances signal a shift in how other markets view Chicago athletics: no longer as underdogs, but as teams capable of contending at the highest level.
Editor’s note: This column reflects data and team standings as of Nov. 17.
