Chicago basketball report: Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo shines, but WNBA players consider strike action
The Chicago Bulls' February slump continues, with no wins recorded (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/chicago-bulls-no-wins-february/). The Sky, meanwhile, await a timeline for WNBA free agency as the players' union and the league approach a March 10 deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Notre Dame's women's basketball team is gaining momentum, with star guard Hannah Hidalgo leading the way. Hidalgo, named ACC Player of the Week for a league-record seventh time this season, averaged 28.5 points, six steals, nine rebounds, and seven assists in two games against Syracuse and Louisville (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/01/notre-dame-louisville-hannah-hidalgo/). Her single-season steals record now stands at 162.
Hidalgo's impact on the team is evident, as Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey praises her consistency and leadership. "Phenomenal and consistent" is how Ivey describes Hidalgo, who plays with heart and soul, leading the team as their engine. The Irish are set to play in Duluth, Georgia, against the winner of the Stanford-Miami game.
In other basketball news, the WNBA players are considering a strike as the March 10 deadline for a new CBA approaches. The league and players' union have exchanged counteroffers, with players expressing encouragement over recent concessions. However, revenue sharing remains a key issue, with players pushing for a share of gross revenue, while the league offers a share of net revenue.
The potential impact of a strike on the WNBA season is a concern, with the league and players working to avoid it. The Sky, for instance, have only four players under contract for the 2026 season, and general manager Jeff Pagliocca faces a challenge in filling the roster in a limited time frame.
Mid-major tournament action is also underway, with the Missouri Valley Conference tournament opening on Thursday. Belmont is the top seed, but three Illinois teams are among the top five seeds, including Bradley, Illinois State, and UIC. Valparaiso, led by former Joliet West and Illinois player Roger Powell Jr., is the No. 7 seed and hopes to make a run in St. Louis.
The Bulls' February slump is a stark contrast to their performance in March, where they started with a blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The team's losing streak in February is the worst in franchise history, with 11 losses in the month. However, the Bulls are determined to turn things around, with players like Anfernee Simons and Coby White returning to the team.
Looking ahead, the Bulls have a busy schedule, with games against the Thunder, Suns, and Kings. The best college basketball games of the week include Oregon men vs. Illinois, Illinois women vs. Wisconsin, Villanova men vs. DePaul, and more. Senior night honors are also in store for Illinois and Northwestern.
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