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In 2015, Niles West graduate Jewell Loyd decided to leave the University of Notre Dame after her junior season and enter the WNBA draft . Not only did Loyd become the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA by the Seattle Storm, she also became the Gold Mamba, a nickname given to her by her mentor - the late Kobe Bryant. Already a two-time WNBA champion, and has three-time gold medalist as a member of USA Basketball at the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2010, the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in 2014 and... Full story
With a 90-75 win over Japan, the United States women's Olympic basketball won its seventh consecutive Gold medal. The biggest story of the game was guards Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi winning their fifth Gold – becoming the only player, men or women, to accomplish that feat. And, while Bird and Taurasi are the storyline, there are six members of the US team in their first Olympic games – one of them being Niles West graduate Jewell Loyd. The 27-year-old Loyd, who recently mad... Full story
Former Bolingbrook High School and Ohio State University linebacker Tuf Borland will continue his football career with the Minnesota Vikings after signing as an undrafted free agent. He joins the team coached by another local product in Lockport Township High School graduate Mike Zimmer - one of the few defensive minded head coaches in the NFL. "I just learned about that connection earlier in the process before the draft," Borland said of Zimmer's ties to the area. "It is... Full story
Mike Foltynewicz is at home again in Texas. Coming out of Minooka High School in 2010, the man they call Folty signed to play collegiate baseball for the University of Texas in Austin, however, after being the Houston Astros' first-round draft, 19th overall selection of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, he decided to sign and play professionally. Foltynewicz made his major league debut for the Astros on August 2, 2014 and after 16 relief appearances, he was traded in the... Full story
In the sixth inning of a game that saw the Chicago White Sox losing 6-0, Downers Grove native Zack Burdi lived a childhood dream. The former Downers Grove South Mustang, Burdi made his Major League debut after a path to the pros that had been anything but easy. As he walked to the mound in the empty stadium, television cameras caught him look around the ballpark and soak in the moment. In his first inning with the Sox, Burdi threw 21 pitches, allowed an infield hit and struck... Full story
On a day when Allie Quigley should have been preparing for the Euro League semifinals, she was instead filming a H-O-R-S-E competition that featured six players from the NBA and one other from her WNBA ranks. The competition aired on ESPN in a two-night event and saw Chicago Sky sharpshooter Quigley, a native of Joliet who starred at both Joliet Catholic Academy and DePaul University, win her first game against 10-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Chris... Full story
The act of stealing signs has come under immense fire recently with a scandal that has rocked the world of sports. Never has the art of decoding messages been more taboo. The Chicago Steel Hockey Team (USHL) will attempt to change that narrative on Friday, April 3 when they present “STEEL”ing Signs for Good” in partnership with the Chicago Hearing Society, a night intended to bring attention to sign language interpreters in our community who work to improve access for deaf/...
This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited edition bobblehead featuring Chicago Cubs star shortstop Javier Baez riding a cub. This is the newest addition to the extremely popular Riding Bobblehead Series and comes as Baez and the Cubs prepare for their first Spring Training game on Saturday. The bobbleheads are being produced for the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum by FOCO, an official licensee and manufac... Full story
The shortlist for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Women's Footballer of the Year award was announced, with Chicago Red Stars captain Julie Ertz among the five nominees. Ertz was a focal point for both the Red Stars and the United States Women's National Team. The U.S. WNT went on a 23-game unbeaten streak in 2019 with Ertz earning 22 starts during that run. She made five starts in six matches during the FIFA World Cup, scoring her first career tournament goal... Full story
The 2020 National Women's Soccer League Draft has concluded, with Chicago acquiring forward Rachel Hill and making five Selections. The Red Stars began the draft by acquiring the second and third overall selection in exchange for the 4th and 5th overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and allocation money. Chicago then acquired the 15th and 16th overall selections in the 2020 NWSL Draft and allocation money from the Portland Thorns in exchange for the 2nd overall selection in the... Full story
The Chicago Red Stars announced a deal to acquire forward Kealia Ohai from the Houston Dash. In exchange, the Dash receives the 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and defender Katie Naughton. Chicago acquired the 9th and 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL Draft from the North Carolina Courage in exchange for Chicago's sixth overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. "Any team in the league would jump at the opportunity to add Kealia to their... Full story
Two of Independent Professional Baseball's oldest and most established Leagues are pleased to announce that they will join forces. Beginning with the 2020 season, five former members of the Can-Am League will merge into the Frontier League. Members of the Frontier League and the new teams from the Can-Am League will make up the 14-team circuit. The New Jersey Jackals, Quebec Capitales, Rockland Boulders, Sussex County Miners and Trois-Rivieres Aigles will play in the Can-Am... Full story
Route 66 Raceway announced today that tickets for the 2020 Route 66 NHRA Nationals are on sale. The renewal period is the optimal time for fans to receive the best-priced tickets to the 2020 Route 66 NHRA Nationals. In addition, fans can take advantage of a monthly payment plan for the first-time ever. The 2020 Route 66 NHRA Nationals will feature three new racing classes – NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, Pro Mod and Top Fuel Harley – adding fresh content to the 2020 race wee... Full story
Retirement plans vary from person to person. For Bill Leibforth, there is no taking a break during retirement. A resident of Chicago his entire life, he fell in love with baseball at the age of eight and the game has always been a big priority in his life. He authored the book "Baseball's Forgotten Black Heroes" and discussed it recently at the Lisle Library, "I never really thought I was ever going to be an author even though that I love baseball," Leibforth said. "I've... Full story
The Joliet area has been one to produce a plethora of talented high school and major college basketball players. That has not, however, resulted in sending players to the professional ranks in the National Basketball Association. Sure, several have found success in the professional ranks overseas, but the NBA is the pinnacle of any player's career and few have broken through. Three years ago – as a second round draft choice of the Philadelphia 76ers – Lockport High School grad... Full story
While several thousand people filled the streets surrounding the Rialto Square Theater in downtown Joliet for the 18th annual Race Fan Rally ahead of the yearly NASCAR weekend, there were two men whose credentials outweighed anyone else there. Brothers Bobby and Donnie Allison, a pair of NASCAR legends, made a repeat appearance to the rally to sign autographs, take pictures with fans and participate in an on-stage question and answer session with WJOL’s Mike Guglielmucci. Outside of being known for their superb driving s... Full story
To say the road has been easy for Mike Foltynewicz would be a lie. The Minooka High School graduate, who had all the scouts buzzing as a senior, did not have a smooth ride once he was drafted in 2010, but while he has faced adversity, Foltynewicz has always kept progressing and that hard work has paid off this season as he was named to the National League All Star team. The game will be played Tuesday night in Washington. He enters the game with a 7-5 record for the Atlanta Braves with a 2.66 ERA and 120 strikeouts. His... Full story
Coming into this season, former Niles West superstar Jewell Loyd had a full list of accolades already in her career. She tallied more than 3,000 points for the Wolves, as a senior at Notre Dame, she was the ACC Player of the Year as well as ESPN women's college basketball player of the Year, she left the Irish after only three seasons, yet still walked away with 1,909 points in her college career, Notre Dame's fifth-highest total ever. After departing the Fighting Irish, Loyd... Full story
To look at Allie Quigley's career over the last two years, it is hard to believe the former Joliet Catholic Academy and DePaul University standout almost walked away from the WNBA. But she did. After being drafted by Seattle with the 22nd pick in the 2008 draft, Quigley bounced around, playing in only 34 games total and was out of the league in 2012. She got the call to play for the Chicago Sky, which was a call that had it come with a different area code may not have gone the same way. "Chicago is my fifth team and when I... Full story