ANDREW SELIGMAN Sports Writer.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver, right, is stopped short of the end zone by Chicago Bears defensive back Jonathan Owens during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

J.J. McCarthy rallies Vikings in 4th quarter of his debut for 27-24 win over Bears

J.J. McCarthy threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes and ran for another in his long-awaited NFL debut, and the Minnesota Vikings rallied for a season-opening 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears. Chicago’s Caleb Williams had his first career rushing touchdown and threw for a score in Ben Johnson’s first game as the Bears’ coach. McCarthy delivered down the stretch after struggling through the first three quarters. The Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell are counting on the former Michigan star after he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury, and he delivered when it mattered.

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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announces that Wrigley Field will host the 2027 All-Star Game as Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts looks on during a baseball news conference Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Andrew Seligman)

Wrigley Field chosen to host 2027 All-Star Game. Manfred downplays spat with Phillies’ Harper

The Friendly Confines are set to host The Midsummer Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday that the 2027 All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field. The announcement came during a news conference at home plate with Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Baseball’s second-oldest ballpark hasn’t hosted an All-Star game since 1990. Manfred cited the “amazing transformation” of the ballpark and surrounding streets in the past decade as part of a massive renovation by the Ricketts family. He also downplayed his recent confrontation with Phillies star Bryce Harper over the looming labor battle between the league and its players.

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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese shoots during a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Chicago Sky are struggling out of the gate with a new coach and revamped roster

The Chicago Sky are struggling with a new coach and revamped roster. They are 2-6 following a lopsided road loss to the New York Liberty. A season-ending knee injury to franchise career assist leader Courtney Vandersloot only added to their difficulties. The slow start comes on the heels of a 10th-place finish in the WNBA. The Sky dropped 12 of their final 14 games last year, then got busy reshaping the roster. Chicago fired coach Teresa Weatherspoon after one season and hired Las Vegas Aces assistant Tyler Marsh. The Sky brought in veteran leadership to help Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. They reunited with Vandersloot and acquired two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, battles for the ball with Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, center, during the second half an WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

With record crowd watching, Sky get blown out by Fever in first WNBA game at United Center

The Chicago Sky hosted the Indiana Fever in the first WNBA game at the United Center. It was a big moment even if the result wasn’t what they wanted. The Sky got blown out 79-52 in a game that was moved from the smaller Wintrust Arena even though Indiana was without Caitlin Clark. The 2024 Rookie of the Year missed her fourth straight game because of a quad injury and watched the primetime, nationally televised game from the sideline. The enthusiastic crowd of 19,496 surpassed Chicago’s previous high of 16,444 in 2016 at Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont, though tickets weren’t hard to find. They were listed on StubHub for as little as $9 a few hours before tipoff.

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