Best Illinois & Chicago-Based Sports Teams

Surprising Bulls are Back in the NBA’s Elite Club

Thanks to the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Fighting Illini, things aren’t looking too bleak in Chicago, Illinois sports land right now. Generally speaking, the state of Illinois hasn’t had a lot to celebrate since the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship season.

The Blackhawks’ NHL dynasty that won three Stanley Cups in six seasons (2010, 2013, and 2015) ended five years ago. They’ve consistently tanked near the bottom of the standings since 2018, with the exception of the 2020 bubble (an expanded 24-team playoff format) that helped them sneak into the postseason.

The Bears haven’t won a playoff game since 2010. The team just fired head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace after a disappointing 6-11 season. And finally, the Cubs tore it all down last year and decided to engage in a full-scale rebuild. Long gone are franchise pillars Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, and Anthony Rizzo.

But the Bulls’ major investments in Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan (both acquired via sign-and-trade deals) have paid off immensely. The DeRozan acquisition was widely panned at the time, but it has been one of the most impactful pickups in recent memory. DeRozan’s Bulls are neck-and-neck with the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks for the top record in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls are one of the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. This is significant as sports betting apps in Illinois are expected in March 2022. With DeRozan, Ball, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vučević rounding out a top-flight scoring unit, the Bulls have the pieces in place to go on a deep playoff run.

White Sox a Top Contender for 2022 World Series

The Chicago White Sox are coming off a second straight postseason appearance as well as their first division title since 2008. But simply making the playoffs will not be enough in 2022. The franchise brought Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa out of retirement a year ago, hoping his renowned winning culture and leadership would be the final piece of a championship puzzle.

Chicago finished 93-69 and cruised to the AL Central Division crown. However, their strong pitching rotation and deep lineup couldn’t keep pace with the Houston Astros, who dispatched them from the ALDS in four games. The White Sox are bringing back most of their core players from last year, and they added veteran pitcher Kendall Graveman in free agency before the lockout commenced.

It’d be a massive surprise if Chicago didn’t repeat as AL Central champions, given their star power and elite rotation. On top of that, Chicago’s four division rivals are all in rebuilding or retooling periods, too. But it’s a whole new ballgame in the postseason.

Can the White Sox go head-to-head with another AL powerhouse like the Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, or New York Yankees in the postseason? There’s a great mix of young and veteran stars here. Chicago will push for the top record in baseball next year, but make no mistake: Anything less than an ALCS appearance will be deemed a disappointment.

Fighting Illini Look to Get Back on Track as March Madness Nears

Last season, the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team looked ready for a deep March Madness run. That didn’t end up happening. A team that wound up accumulating a 24-7 record was eliminated by Loyola-Chicago in the second round of Midwest Regional play. The Fighting Illini overcame a sluggish 2-2 start and proceeded to win 11 of their next 12 games. They were seemingly sitting pretty at 13-3, but that was before consecutive losses to Purdue (Jan. 17) and Maryland (Jan. 21).

Illinois still has five games left against teams that currently rank in the AP Top 25. They have just over a month to rediscover their top form before the 2022 March Madness tournament commences. The offense continues to run through star center Kofi Cockburn (also one of the nation’s top rebounders) and the dynamic guard duo of Alfonso Plummer and Trent Frazier. 

But the Fighting Illini desperately need scoring production all across the roster come playoff time if they’re to avenge last year’s unexpected and untimely March Madness exit. That’s all for another day. Right now, the Fighting Illini need to focus on breaking out of this mini-slump and regaining some momentum ahead of the postseason.