The visiting Chicago Red Stars fell to the Portland Thorns 3-0 on Sept. 25.
A brace from Morgan Weaver and a goal from Taylor Porter secured all three points for the Thorns, SBNation noted. The Thorns moved back into first placeone win away from claiming first place in the standings and the 2022 NWSL Shield.
Chicago's Alyssa Naeher broke the NWSL record for all-time regular season appearances while tending goal, putting in 142 regular-season appearances, 97 of which were with the Red Stars.
The Red Stars close out the regular season at home next Sunday, Oct. 2, when the team takes on Angel City FC at SeatGeek Stadium at 5 p.m. CT.
Adrian Sampson pitched six efficient innings as the visiting Chicago Cubs (67-86) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-97) 8-3 on Sept. 25.
Sampson (3-5) is 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in five starts this month for the Cubs, who finished 5-2 on a seven-game road trip through Miami and Pittsburgh, according to ESPN.
Chicago is 32-29 since the All-Star break. And Patrick Wisdom became the fourth Cubs third baseman to reach the 25 home runs in multiple seasons, joining Hall of Famer Ron Santo, Aramis Ramirez and Kris Bryant.
The Cubs will next face Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Wrigley Field.
The Chicago White Sox (76-77) continued its slide, getting swept by the Detroit Tigers (60-92) at home.
The South Siders lost 4-1 on Sept. 25the White Sox's latest setback.
And to make things worse, the team is officially out of contention for the American League Central title as the Cleveland Guardians clinched it.
The Sox began the season as the popular pick not only to win the division, but also to compete for a shot at the World Series, The Chicago Tribune noted. Now they are on the verge of missing the playoffs completely, trailing the Seattle Mariners for the final wild-card spot by 7 1/2 games with nine to go.
The White Sox now visit the Minnesota Twins for a series starting Tuesday, Sept. 27.