July 4, 2025
By Alex Rubin
Get ready for July fourth fireworks on Lake Michigan! No, I’m not talking about the decorative exploding colors that are sure to dot the nighttime sky, but the top-tier matchup happening earlier this afternoon between the defending champion Minnesota Wind Chill and the division-leading Chicago Union.
When these two teams met in mid-May, Chicago dominated a defensive matchup and came away with a 16-11 win. Neither team has lost since, and both teams will be gearing up for another battle led by their D-lines.
The Union defense ranks first in the league in scores against per game (allowing just 13.13), first in blocks (13.88 per game), and first in breaks (12.5 per game)…but the Wind Chill are second in blocks and breaks, and third in scores against per game, proving that they too can slow down even the toughest offenses. Each team scored a critical win over the Atlanta Hustle in late May, and have feasted against Central Division competition since.
With two teams built through their defense, it will come down to each team’s offense’s ability to navigate the tricky schematic waters and windy lakeside conditions sure to be present at Martin Stadium. The Wind Chill have the best red zone offense in the league if they’re able to consistently get close to the end zone, while the Union have one of the ultimate trump cards in Daan De Marrée, who would be in the MVP conversation if Chicago needed to rely on him more rather than resting him in games against less competitive teams like Detroit.
One X-factor for Chicago: D-line centerpiece Xavier Payne is not listed on the active gameday roster. Payne notched nine blocks over two games last weekend, and leads the team in assists despite playing primarily D-line minutes. Without him, Chicago will rely on the likes of Victor Luo and Pawel Janas to take control of the counterattack. One of the most prolific throwers in UFA history, Janas’s role on this D-line might harken back to his early-career days as a deep shooter with a nose for the end zone.
While Chicago certainly has the athletes (see: De Marrée, Nate Goff, Jeff Weis, and Ben Preiss) to stretch the field, Minnesota leads the league in huck defense, allowing just 53.66 percent of opponent’s hucks to be caught. Chicago, and Janas in particular, will need to be choosey about their shot taking with Defensive Player of the Year candidates like Justin Burnett and James Pollard lurking around the deep space.
Right now, Chicago sits second in the UFA power rankings, with Minnesota right behind in third. A win here would cement Chicago’s place as the top team in the division, all but assure them home field advantage throughout the divisional playoffs, and position the team as the best credible challengers to current front-runner Boston as both teams look to win their first titles.
Should Minnesota win, it would be a clear statement that all of the noise and hype around Chicago’s offseason additions were just that—noise. The Wind Chill have a habit of improving as the season moves along, and if last year was any indication as to this team’s potential, this could be the start of another transformative run for the team. Minnesota still has one big test left on their schedule—a late season matchup with Salt Lake—to prepare them for a probably playoff rematch against this same Union team. Without much at-level competition in the Central Division, both teams can be assured that no matter what happens on Friday afternoon, fans will more likely than not be treated to another top-of-the-division showdown as a playoff match in just a few weeks.
