👋 Good morning!
Question: What’s worse than the Bears being 0-1?
Answer: The Packers being 2-0.
Nothing ruins a Thursday night like watching Jordan Love hit wide-open receivers while the Packers’ defense has Jayden Daniels in hell.
Need a big bounceback on Sunday.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
September is Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Month!
CHGO and ALLCITY are proud to support their mission, and we’re raising money all month long.
You can donate — or even learn more about becoming a Big — at bbbs.org/allcity
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Heading into the All-Star break, the White Sox owned a 32-65 record. In their 50 games since the Midsummer Classic, the Sox are 25-25. Over their last 10? The Sox are 8-2.
So, what’s changed?
Shane Smith on the recent surge: “We’re coming out ready to play from the get-go. Our offense is putting up a lot of runs in the first inning as of late. We’re staying on the attack. Testament to the guys taking each pitch, bullpen’s been great, starters doing a pretty good job.”
Smith, the Sox’s lone All-Star, brought it again on Thursday night. In 5.2 scoreless innings, Smith allowed four hits, walked one batter and struck out four. It was the 25-year-old’s seventh scoreless outing of at least five innings.
Colson Montgomery drove in two runs on a one-out single in the first inning. Despite making his MLB debut on July 4th, Montgomery ranks third on the team in home runs (18) and fifth in runs batted in (49).
After the win, Montgomery said: “Our offense has been rolling and we are hoping to keep it going. It shows the future of this team and what we are capable of doing.”
Chase Meidroth added: “There’s a lot of belief. Every time we show up, it’s ‘Hey, we are going to win today.’ Every time we step in here, it’s a winning atmosphere. We’re coming here to win a baseball game. Everyone in here believes in the next guy and the confidence in each other is huge in this game.”
It’s a great sign for the White Sox’s young core. The pieces just continue to fit into the puzzle — and more importantly, they believe in the process.
The next step is shoring up the pitching staff, which’ll require some outside help, whether that comes via free agency or a trade in the offseason.
For now, the culture is truly changing for the better. Just ask first-year manager Will Venable.
“Obviously, that’s a big step forward for us, especially where the record was in the first half,” Venable said Thursday. “Just a testament to these guys and the work they’ve done, and continuing to go out there and fight every day.”
White Sox 5, Rays 1
THE PARTY’S OVER: The Sky’s dismal and disastrous season is mercifully over. At 10-34, the Sky tied the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the WNBA this season.
In Thursday’s season finale against the Liberty, rookie Maddy Westbeld led the Sky with 25 points off the bench, smashing her previous career-high in points (10). Angel Reese did not play due to a back injury.
Despite outscoring the Liberty by 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Sky finished the season on a four-game skid — their fifth streak of at least four losses in 2025.
Liberty 91, Sky 86
THE LOTTERY: The WNBA Draft Lottery ranks non-playoff teams by combining their records from the previous two seasons. As a result, the Sky have the second-best odds behind the Wings.
However, the Sky owe their pick to the Minnesota Lynx. Instead, they’ll have to hope the Connecticut Sun finish ahead in the lottery, despite owning just the fifth-best odds, as the Sky own the rights to their pick.
TOP THREE B1G GAMES
No. 4 Oregon at Northwestern
11:00 a.m. on FOX
Big Noon Kickoff is coming to the Evanston lakefront. If the Wildcats have a prayer in this one, they’ll need a heroic effort from RB Cam Porter. The Ducks have allowed just 190 yards on the ground this year. But Porter’s averaging 7.6 yards per carry.Wisconsin at No. 19 Alabama
11:00 a.m. on ABCAdvanced apologies to ALLCITY’s Adam Hoge & Kevin Kaduk — Wisconsin’s defense might be legit, but Luke Fickell hasn’t proven he’s capable of winning the big game with the Badgers and I can’t imagine that changes in Tuscaloosa.
Southern California at Purdue
2:30 p.m. on CBSIs USC for real? It’s too early to tell after wins against Missouri State and Georgia Southern. Regardless, QB Jayden Maiava has thrown six touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 96.7 QBR, which ranks first in the FBS.
Had a great time Monday with the @CHGO_Bears crew at their tailgate. Appreciate the time they spent talking with us. If you aren’t a @CHGO_Sports Diehard you are missing out on great content. Thanks @GBraggsJr23, @thecarm, @AdamHoge and @adamjahns
— #Gregg Elkin (#@gelkin24)
2:33 AM • Sep 12, 2025
Thanks, Gregg! Hope to see you and everybody else on the corner of Wabash and Cermak in two Sundays!
🐻 Hoge & Jahns
TBD on YouTube
⚾️ Cubs vs. Rays
1:20 on Marquee
📺 CHGO Blackhawks
2:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Bulls
4:00 on YouTube
⚾️ White Sox at Guardians
6:10 on CHSN
