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Chicago Teams Open Seasons With Playoff and Roster Focus

The Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Stars FC and Hounds enter their campaigns at key stages with defined records and targets.

By Chicago Sport Desk · Published July 18, 2026

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The Chicago Bears opened their 2026 season with receiver Zavion Thomas, the 89th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, joining the roster.

Bears Season Opening

Thomas arrived as the 89th selection and immediately entered the active roster for the campaign start. This addition supplies a new option in the receiving group as the team begins its schedule. The development aligns with standard roster construction for the NFL year.

Bulls Midseason Standing

The Chicago Bulls currently sit at 15-16 as the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their 29.5 assists-per-game pace ranks fifth in the league. These figures reflect the team's current offensive output and conference position.

Blackhawks Conference Chase

The Chicago Blackhawks are 17-18-7 with 41 points as of January 2026. They sit four points behind the final Western Conference playoff spot. The margin keeps the team within reach of postseason qualification at that stage of the season.

Stars FC Playoff Push

Chicago Stars FC stands at 2-11-10 with 12 points and targets a playoff push with eight matches remaining in the 2024 NWSL Regular Season. The remaining games provide the opportunity to improve the total and reach the postseason threshold.

Hounds Home Schedule

The Chicago Hounds play a 10-game season with their home opener set for April 12 at SeatGeek Stadium. The fixture marks the first of the team's home dates in the Major League Rugby calendar.

Each squad now moves forward with its established record and remaining contests. Continued performance in upcoming games will determine final outcomes for the year.

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