The WNBA announced the five finalists for the Most Valuable Player award Friday in what’s expected to be a close decision.
Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces joined Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell in the top five in voting.
The league will announced the winner Sunday morning. It has been viewed as a three-woman race among Wilson, Collier and Thomas.
Wilson, vying for her fourth WNBA MVP award in eight seasons in the league, also won it in 2020, 2022 and 2024. She helped the Aces end the regular season on a 16-game winning streak, averaging 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.3 blocks per game in that run.
In 40 games this season, she averaged a league-high 23.4 points plus 10.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Wilson also won co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside Minnesota’s Alanna Smith this week; Wilson ranked second in the league in blocks (92) and third in steals (64).
Collier, 28, was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year and the 2025 All-Star Game MVP. She became the second woman in league history to post a 50-40-90 shooting season, following Elena Delle Donne in 2019; Collier finished the year shooting 53.1 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 90.6 percent at the foul line.
Collier averaged 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per contest over 33 games.
Thomas, who received MVP votes four of the last five seasons and was runner-up in 2023, averaged 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and a league- and career-high 9.2 assists over 39 games.
Mitchell played all 44 games for the Fever and averaged 20.2 points — third in the league to only Wilson and Collier — and 3.4 assists.
Gray put up 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 42 games for the Dream. She finished third in voting for the Most Improved Player award.
Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said Friday the franchise is preparing for star forward Angel Reese to be on the roster next season despite a rocky finish to the 2025 campaign that saw the All-Star suspended and sidelined.
Reese, 22, missed the final two games of the year with what the team called a back injury after being issued a half-game suspension on Sept. 7 for criticizing the organization in an interview. She apologized to teammates, but frustration over the Sky’s direction lingered with fans late in the season.
‘Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who’s had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago,’ Pagliocca said Friday. ‘Obviously we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it. She spoke to her teammates, she spoke publicly. We moved on as a team. She’s a special player. And I have good conversations with Angel daily, with her team daily. They’re constant, and they’re productive.’
Reese led Chicago with 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game this season, pacing the WNBA in rebounding and double-doubles (23 in 30 games). But the Sky finished tied with the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the league at 10-34 — just one year after going 13-27 and parting ways with coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
Current coach Tyler Marsh and Pagliocca both have pledged changes to improve the roster, but the Sky don’t have their 2026 first-round pick because they swapped it to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx prior to the 2025 draft.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson is in good form going into the World Athletics Championships
The world’s best athletes will take to the track and field this weekend when the World Athletics Championships get under way in Tokyo from September 13-21.
Many of the stars who shone at Paris 2024 will be there, including Britain’s 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and USA’s 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles.
One of the major talking points away from the sport has been the introduction of a mandatory SRY or sex test for athletes who intend to compete in female categories.
All athletes in female category take new ‘sex test’
World Athletics, led by their President Seb Coe, have taken an unambiguous stance for several years when it comes to talking about and defining new rules around the sensitive issues of the protection of female categories, transgender and DSD (Difference of Sexual Development).
They became the first global sporting federation to announce they would introduce a mandatory, once-in-a-lifetime gene test, known as an SRY Test earlier this year.
The test identifies the Y chromosome which causes male characteristics to develop. If an athlete returns a negative result, they are eligible to compete in female categories at world ranking events, including these World Championships.
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World Athletics President Lord Coe says the governing body will do ‘whatever is necessary’ to protect the female category in the sport after it approved the introduction of cheek swabbing to determine if an athlete is biologically female
World Athletics President Lord Coe says the governing body will do ‘whatever is necessary’ to protect the female category in the sport after it approved the introduction of cheek swabbing to determine if an athlete is biologically female
Coe told Sky Sports he expected every athlete required to take an SRY Test will have done so by the time track and field events get under way in Tokyo, including all French athletes.
In France, the process has been complicated by French law where the SRY gene test is illegal in France due to a 1994 law banning DNA testing for non-medical, non-judicial purposes to protect family integrity, so French athletes have had to undertake the SRY test by travelling outside of France.
Coe confirmed that while it is World Athletics’ stated aim to have all athletes tested by the start of the World Championships next month, the results do not have to be known due to the tight time frame.
For athletes whose national federation hasn’t been able to offer an SRY test yet, World Athletics will step in and offer the test at holding camps in Japan used by athletes prior to competing in Tokyo.
“By and large, the process has gone pretty smoothly, but it’s not been without its challenges,” Coe said. “The vast majority have been pretty straightforward and we’ve (World Athletics) made a contribution of about US$100 per test.”
How important are championships for Coe?
Very.
He has transformed the athletics governing body since his election in Beijing in 2015 from the tarnished old IAAF to the new World Athletics.
He’s serving his third and final term as president and while no doubt still pondering his defeat in March’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency election to Kirsty Coventry, his first love has always been track and field, and during his term as president he has tackled controversial issues like banning Russia and bringing in updated rules on gender eligibility.
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Lord Coe accepts defeat to Kirsty Coventry in the IOC Presidential vote and says he welcomes the fact it’s a former Olympic athlete who will take up the role
Lord Coe accepts defeat to Kirsty Coventry in the IOC Presidential vote and says he welcomes the fact it’s a former Olympic athlete who will take up the role
While those issues can be divisive, the progress of time has shown that many, if not most, sporting federations have followed athletics’ lead by watching and then following.
It’s interesting to note that the new IOC President, whom he lost out to, is preparing the IOC to greater understand and perhaps even lead on gender eligibility and protections for female sports stars.
He also wants athletics firmly in the position of the world’s second most popular sport behind football by showing off packed out stadia in Tokyo.
The World Championships take place in the 70,000 capacity Olympic Stadium where during the 2020 Olympics not one fan was able to watch the sport on offer due to a strict Covid-19 lockdown in Japan.
Many of the sessions during the nine days of competition are sell-outs and, according to Coe, no session will have fewer than 50,000 people in attendance.
Tokyo heat, humidity and typhoons
World Athletics deliberately scheduled the start of their marquee championships later than they would normally. Two years ago in Budapest, for example, the schedule ran during August.
High temperatures and humidity can be exceedingly high in Japan during the months of July and August, as many athletes who competed at the Tokyo Olympics four years ago will testify to.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held at the National Stadium in Tokyo from September 13-21
However, heat mitigation measures will again be in place as Japan has experienced temperatures 2.36 Degrees Celsius above average between June and August, with local temperatures in Tokyo this week reaching 33 Degrees Celsius.
World Athletics president Seb Coe is of the belief that climate change is not temporary and is here to stay; at these championships, decisions on whether competition will go ahead will not be in the hands of local organisers, but World Athletics.
Information on drinks, ice baths and cooling techniques has been shared widely with athletes and their federations, while plenty of provision will be in place for spectators.
Tokyo and Japan, in general, is prone to typhoons at this time of year, indeed many British and Northern Irish athletes were confined to their hotel at their training camp for a few days due to a typhoon. If such a weather system hits Tokyo during the championships, it will again be a decision for World Athletics to make as to whether to postpone or cancel events.
Where could GB medals come from?
Great Britain and Northern Ireland haven’t been set a medal target, but a top-eight finish in the medal table is the challenge, with an expectation of several of their world-leading track stars to medal and all relay squads to medal.
So who are the stars? The women’s 800m final has been scheduled for the last session of the last day of the championships, as it’s been viewed as being a hot ticket in town. Two Brits could well end up on the podium, both friends and training partners coached by husband and wife duo Jenny Meadows and Trevor Painter – Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter-Bell.
Hodgkinson was one of the stars of Paris last year, streaking home to become Olympic champion and, although she has suffered hamstring injuries this year, she has come back to racing in time and is running ferociously quickly.
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Keely Hodgkinson says she is in a good place after receiving her MBE and is fully focused on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
Keely Hodgkinson says she is in a good place after receiving her MBE and is fully focused on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
While perhaps not quite the right time for a tilt at the 800m world record, if Hodgkinson feels it, she’ll go for it.
Elsewhere, medals could come in men’s middle distance, with 1500m runner Josh Kerr defending his world title he won in 2023.
His battles with Norway’s Jacob Ingebrigtsen have already become legendary, with the two not the best of pals. At the Paris Olympics, one of the two should have taken the gold medal, but their attention on one another allowed the USA’s Cole Hocker to shock them both and cross the line first.
George Mills, son of Danny – the former Leeds, Manchester City and England defender – is a serious contender for medals in the men’s 5000m. This season he’s beaten Sir Mo Farah’s long-standing British 5000m record and ran the second fastest 1500m by a Brit, so the 26-year-old is well warmed up.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is always a threat at major championships, and at Tokyo she will defend the heptathlon world title she won two years ago. She was also crowned world champion in 2019, and took Olympic silver in Paris.
Dina Asher-Smith will make her seventh appearance at a World Championship and, while the competition is fierce in both the 100m and 200m, she is running quickly this season.
“I’m just really happy,” she told Sky Sports. “I think the other week in Zurich is testament to what kind of shape I’m in because, honestly, I knew that I’ve been in good shape for a very long time and I know that I’ve been putting together some great races in the past few months, but to run a 10.90!
!I was picking it out because I know I could have had faster in me that day, but still obviously I’m very happy.”
Could Dina Asher-Smith medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo?
Also very quick is Daryll Neita, who finished fourth in the women’s Olympic 100m final in Paris, narrowly missing out on a medal. She did, however, take home an Olympic Silver medal from the 4x100m women’s relay and in Tokyo it is expected that Great Britain and Northern Ireland medal in all five relay disciplines.
Individually, in the men’s sprint events (100m and 200m), Zharnel Hughes should at the very least make finals, as the qualified pilot has run sub-10 seconds in the 100m and sub-20 seconds in the 200m. With age, Hughes seems to get faster, as he broke both British 100m and 200m records in 2023, the same year he took his first ever global medal, a bronze at the last World Athletics Championships.
“Obviously the experience has been taking me into finals and stuff like that,” he said. “I’ve always been one to be reckoned with when it comes to the championships. I’ve always been able to position myself into the finals at every major championship.
“Unfortunately, last year it didn’t get to happen due to injury, but I’m feeling confident and I’m looking forward to getting myself on that podium for sure. I’ll be giving it my very best, I’m filled with determination and I’m quite confident in my ability that I can always catch you at the very end.
“I’m trusting myself and trusting my speed. The work that I’ve put in leading up to this championship has been tremendous. It’s going to be great.”
While the British team is medal heavy on expectation from the track, also keep an eye on pole-vaulter Molly Caudery. She won the 2024 World Indoor title and won the Diamond League meeting in Doha in May.
The Cornishwoman is a huge talent was expected to challenge for the gold at the Olympics last year, but had a shocker and failed to even qualify for the final. The 25-year-old is determined to learn the mental lesson from a year ago.
The top two teams in the WNBA meet Thursday night with the Minnesota Lynx visiting the Las Vegas Aces.
The Lynx (32-8) own the league’s best record, but the Aces (26-14) are the hottest team, riding a 12-game winning streak.
Minnesota won the first three meetings vs. Las Vegas, including a 111-58 victory Aug. 2 in the most recent matchup. Kayla McBride poured in 24 points for Minnesota in that game.
Las Vegas hasn’t lost since, tying the franchise record for longest winning streak. Three of the last six outcomes have come by double-figure margins.
‘This team is etching out their presence,’ Aces coach Becky Hammon said.
Thursday night’s game features the two leading scorers in the WNBA.
A’ja Wilson has reached the 30-point mark in six of the Aces’ last nine games. She also has led the team in rebounding 10 times during the winning streak.
Most recently, the Aces swept three games on a road trip by winning at Washington, Chicago and Atlanta. Las Vegas is coming off a seven-day layoff.
‘That ability to kick it up an extra notch, we’ve really been able to do that on the defensive end, and it’s winning us games,’ Hammond said.
Since losing three of five games, Minnesota has posted back-to-back victories with blowouts of Connecticut and Dallas. In Monday’s 96-71 domination of visiting Dallas, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman became the fifth pair of teammates in WNBA history with 15 or more points and nine or more assists in a game.
‘I feel like me and Courtney are like a dynamic duo,’ said Hiedeman, whose 20 points and 10 assists resulted in her first double-double.
Meanwhile, Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is averaging a league-leading 23.5 points per game — barely ahead of Wilson (23.4)
Minnesota guard DiJonai Carrington played only 10 minutes against Dallas because of a shoulder ailment.
‘I know this is something she deals with,’ Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.
The Lynx have wrapped up the league’s best regular-season record, while the Aces are assured of a spot in the playoffs. But with two other teams with the same record as Las Vegas entering Wednesday, there’s still quite a bit at stake for the Aces in terms of postseason seeding.
Clay Bellinger blooped a go-ahead RBI single in the 11th inning and Aaron Judge and Austin Wells homered as the visiting New York Yankees defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Saturday for their seventh straight win.
The Yankees moved within two games of the American League East-leading Toronto Blue Jays while stretching their lead over the Boston Red Sox for the first AL wild-card berth to 1 1/2 games.
New York entered the 11th with just three hits but surged ahead with three more. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed Bellinger’s single that scored automatic runner Trent Grisham with an RBI double, and Anthony Volpe delivered a run-scoring double.
Mike Tauchman and Chase Meidroth both had two hits and an RBI for Chicago, which lost its fifth straight. Andrew Benintendi also had two hits.
Judge smacked his club-leading 42nd home run with one out in the fourth to put the Yankees ahead 1-0. Judge hit a 1-0 changeup from White Sox starter Shane Smith 429 feet into the center field bleachers.
Brewers 4, Blue Jays 1
Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich led off the ninth inning with back-to-back homers, and visiting Milwaukee defeated Toronto.
The homers came on consecutive pitches from Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (8-6) that brought boos from the crowd. The Brewers added a run when Sal Frelick walked and Isaac Collins doubled.
Myles Straw had three hits to lead the Blue Jays.
Rays 4, Nationals 1
Josh Lowe homered twice and drove in four runs, Ryan Pepiot pitched five innings of scoreless ball, and visiting Tampa Bay beat Washington.
It was Lowe’s third career multi-homer game and his first of the season. Pepiot (10-10) allowed one hit and three walks while striking out six. Bryan Baker pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save with Tampa Bay and third of the season.
Washington lost its seventh game in a row. Jake Irvin (8-10) was solid after a rocky first inning. He allowed four runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three.
Pirates 10, Red Sox 3
Pittsburgh scored five runs while batting around in the sixth to defeat host Boston and claim its eighth win in the last 10 games.
Every Pirates batter posted at least one hit and either scored or drove in a run. Bryan Reynolds, Tommy Pham and Nick Gonzales posted two RBIs apiece while Oneil Cruz triggered the five-run sixth with a solo homer. Johan Oviedo (2-0) allowed three hits and two runs over five innings.
Carlos Narvaez cracked a solo homer for the Red Sox while Trevor Story and Raul Gonzalez each notched two hits. Dustin May (7-11) surrendered eight hits and seven runs (six earned) over 5 1/3 innings.
Guardians 4, Mariners 3
Kyle Manzardo had a two-run homer and Steven Kwan and Bo Naylor each had RBI singles, lifting Cleveland to a victory over visiting Seattle.
Right-hander Gavin Williams (9-5) allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, striking out eight with a lone walk for the win. Cade Smith worked the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his ninth save in 14 opportunities.
Seattle, which sits in the final American League wild-card position, lost its seventh consecutive road/neutral site game and had the Guardians pull within three of them. Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (4-6) gave up three runs on three hits in six innings.
Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 1
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez went six scoreless innings and Corbin Carroll hit a home run to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning as visiting Arizona earned a victory over Los Angeles.
Gabriel Moreno had a sacrifice fly in a three-run seventh as the Diamondbacks won their fourth consecutive game and improved to 8-3 since Aug. 19. Rodriguez (6-8) allowed four hits.
Mookie Betts had an RBI single and Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-3) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings with six strikeouts.
Rangers 9, Athletics 3
Josh Jung had three hits and two RBIs, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer and Wyatt Langford lined a solo blast to help torrid Texas notch a victory over the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.
Adolis Garcia had three hits and scored twice as Texas totaled 17 hits and won its fourth straight game and seventh of its last eight. Kyle Higashioka and Michael Helman each contributed two hits and two RBIs while Langford had two hits and two runs. Merrill Kelly (11-7) gave up three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings to improve to 2-1 in six starts since the Rangers acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Brent Rooker homered among his three hits for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler also homered and Carlos Cortes had two hits and an RBI for the A’s, who played without slugger Nick Kurtz (oblique). Mason Barnett of the Athletics was roughed up for five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings in his major league debut.
Angels 4, Astros 1
Oswald Peraza delivered a tie-breaking, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning as visiting Los Angeles rallied for a victory over Houston.
Angels starter Kyle Hendricks allowed seven hits in six innings but did not issue a walk and allowed only one run, a Jesus Sanchez RBI single in the third. Kenley Jansen recorded his 24th save of the season. Jose Fermin (3-2) worked a scoreless eighth for the win.
After starting the series opener 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position before rallying in the later innings, the Astros went 1-for-8 on Saturday. Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti allowed only one hit while working into the seventh inning.
Marlins 11, Mets 8
Connor Norby hit a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for the Marlins, who outlasted the host Mets in a wild back-and-forth game.
Joey Wiemer had three hits and three RBIs for the Marlins, while Eric Wagaman finished with two hits and two RBIs. Heriberto Hernandez and Jakob Marsee had an RBI apiece. Norby provided insurance with a two-run, ninth-inning double.
In the fourth, Juan Soto homered to pull the Mets to 8-6, and he hit a two-run shot in the sixth to tie it at 8. It was the 28th multi-homer game for Soto, who finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a hit by pitch while adding two stolen bases.
Cardinals 4, Reds 2
Nathan Church drove in two runs as visiting St. Louis defeated Cincinnati.
Willson Contreras and Pedro Pages hit homers as the Cardinals won their third straight game. Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy (6-2) allowed one run on five hits in six innings. He didn’t record a strikeout, but he got 12 outs on the ground. Kyle Leahy got the last four outs to earn his first save.
Matt McLain hit a home run for the Reds, who have lost eight of their last nine games. Reds starter Andrew Abbott (8-5) allowed two runs on three hits in five innings.
Phillies 3, Braves 2 (10 innings)
Trea Turner delivered a two-run single with his team down to its final strike, lifting Philadelphia to a 10-inning win over visiting Atlanta.
Philadelphia starter Cristopher Sanchez allowed one run and seven hits over seven frames.
After missing more than two months with a fractured ribcage, Atlanta’s Chris Sale returned to throw 78 pitches — 51 strikes — over six effective innings. He gave up only one run and three hits and walked one with nine strikeouts.
Padres 12, Twins 3
Elias Diaz went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs, and San Diego pulled away from Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Ramon Laureano finished 2-for-5 with one homer and three RBIs for the Padres, while Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth added two RBIs apiece. Left-hander Adrian Morejon (11-4) earned the victory with one scoreless inning of relief.
Byron Buxton went 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs to lead the Twins. Trevor Larnach finished 2-for-3 and drove in a run. Right-hander Mick Abel (2-4) allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits in one inning. Abel’s rough performance in relief spoiled a strong start by Taj Bradley, who limited San Diego to one run on one hit in five innings.
Royals 3, Tigers 1
Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a tie-breaking two-run home run in the eighth inning to lift host Kansas City past Detroit.
After reliever Tyler Holton (5-4) walked pinch hitter Tyler Tolbert, Witt mashed a fastball over the wall to straight-away center to put the Royals ahead 3-1. Reliever Lucas Erceg (6-3) got Detroit out in order in the eighth to earn the win for Kansas City, which has won four of its past six games.
Starter Jack Flaherty allowed one run on four hits and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings for the Tigers, who have lost five of six.
Orioles 11, Giants 1
Jeremiah Jackson, Ryan Mountcastle and Samuel Basallo hit home runs, Trevor Rogers completed a dominant month of August with seven sharp innings and Baltimore turned the tables on host San Francisco.
Jackson also doubled, scored twice and finished with a season-best four RBIs while Daniel Johnson collected a double, single and three runs for the Orioles. Having allowed one run in each of his previous five August starts, Rogers (8-2) made it six straight with seven innings of five-hit ball. He struck out five without issuing a walk to go 4-1 for the month.
Giants rookie Carson Seymour (0-2), making his first career start, was charged with four runs on five hits in his three innings. Willy Adames accounted for the team’s lone run with a home run, his 25th of the season, in the first inning.
Cubs 4, Rockies 3
Kyle Tucker had two hits and scored twice while Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ each added two hits as Chicago beat Colorado in Denver.
Javier Assad (1-1) pitched six solid innings and Daniel Palencia got the final three outs for his 21st save. Assad allowed three runs on seven hits.
Ezequiel Tovar had two hits for the Rockies, who have dropped the first two games of the series to see their MLB-worst record fall to 38-98. Colorado starter McCade Brown (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits in his four-plus innings of work.
Art Smith takes a quick look around Time Out Market Chicago and softly asks: “Do you know what chefs do after they’re 60?”
Smith, the celebrity chef who worked with Oprah Winfrey and has served dignitaries, like President Biden, didn’t expect an answer. Smith posed the question to justify his new rapport with the Chicago Hounds, a professional rugby team founded in 2022 that plays home matches at SeatGeek Stadium in suburban Bridgeview. In February, Smith and the Hounds announced a collaboration in which Smith’s new brand, Sporty Bird, began selling chicken sandwiches and more at the stadium. Over the weekend, Smith also unveiled a Sporty Bird-branded food stall at Time Out Market, the food hall run by the media company.
Beyond his association with Oprah, Smith is known for restaurants like Table Fifty-Two in Gold Coast, a hit mostly known for its fried chicken. Smith is proud of the restaurant (which was rebranded as Blue Door Kitchen & Gardenin 2016) and its alums: “Joe is just killing it here,” Smith says of Joe Flamm, the chef and co-owner of Rose Mary, right down the street from Time Out Market.
Chef Art Smith swears he can cook more than chicken.Sporty Bird/Kim Kovacik
Last year, Smith opened Reunion at Navy Pier and he maintains a residence in Hyde Park. But he still travels. He talked about an upcoming trip to India and meeting esteemed chef Francis Mallmann earlier this year during a visit to an island in Patagonia. Even though he joked about his age, Smith’s star continues to shine, passing through open doors closed to most food hall tenants. Most food halls brand themselves as incubators, taking chances on relatively unproven talent. Smith is the opposite.
Still, the venture with the Hounds is a risk. He touts himself as the only professional chef who owns a professional sports team in America. It’s a claim that’s hard to verify. For example, is a burger cook who works at an Applebee’s and has shares in the publicly-owned Green Bay Packers, considered an owner of a pro team?
Smith wants to bring energy to Time Out (“I want to throw a party,” he says) and sees potential — even as the food hall goes through changes. Smith praised chef Jorge Kaum, the chef behind Gutenburg, a food hall burger stall. Kaum is also a chocolatier and made chocolate-shaped rugby balls in honor of Smith’s opening.
Avli is set to leave the market at the end of the month — they’re going to open a stand-alone location in the area. Evette’s left earlier this year. Of the original lineup from 2019, only chef Bill Kim (Urbanbelly) remains. A few of the restaurants had problems with management and didn’t like the terms of their contracts. Food halls have struggled during the pandemic. Two closed in the West Loop/Fulton Market — Politan Row and Fulton Galley. In March, Time Out brought in a new general manager, Steve Pelissero, to bring in some stability.
Sporty Bird features chicken (“I do know how to cook more than chicken,” Smith says). The spicy nuggets have heat, at least during an opening event last week. But there’s a worry that too much heat will alienate customers in the area.
Jade Court’s Carol Cheung is working with Sport Bird.Sporty Bird/Kim Kovacik
Unexpectedly, the stall has a familiar face behind the counter. Carol Cheung, the chef and the owner behind Hyde Park’s Jade Court, an acclaimed Cantonese restaurant and longtime member of the Eater Chicago 38, is managing operations. As Smith is a Hyder Parker, he befriended Cheung and wants to find a way to revive Jade Court, which struggled at the University of Chicago’s Harper Court development. Time Out does have spaces available.
What gave Smith the idea to partner with the hounds? Last year, soccer legend Lionel Messi launched a fried chicken sandwich in Miami with Hard Rock Cafe. Smith saw the sandwich become a viral sensation, yet he was hardly impressed by the sandwich: “I could do better,” Smith says.
Some vendors have fled, others say they’ve made money at the food hall. Kaum, who also has a stall in Miami, says things are improving in Chicago. Smith is hopeful that Sporty Bird, and perhaps a Jade Court revival, can take advantage. He’s reminded of something his friend Oprah once told him: “You don’t have to be first,” Smith recalls Winfrey saying. “But you do have to be better.”
Ben, Jessica Clemons, and Matt James discuss rumors about Xbox games appearing on PlayStation, Disney infiltrating Fortnite, and the Knuckles trailer. Then they share bite-sized reviews of Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Matt’s takeaway from a hands-on preview of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Then Charles Holmes joins Ben and Jess to discuss Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and the future of live service and superhero games (28:16), before Ben and Jess give their impressions of Halo Season 2 (51:36).
Host: Ben Lindbergh Guests: Jessica Clemons, Matt James, and Charles Holmes Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
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West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus scored with a sublime strike for Ghana to give the Black Stars the lead against Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
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