Chicago Union Drop Season Finale to Madison Radicals, 21-14

By Elise Gan

Photography by Daniel Cohen

CHICAGO — The Chicago Union closed out their 2026 season with a 21-14 loss to the Madison Radicals, in a weekend shortened by hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires.

The Union had originally been scheduled for a two-game closing weekend, facing the Radicals on Friday and the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds on Saturday. Poor air quality across the Midwest forced the cancellation of Saturday's game, leaving Friday's matchup against Madison as Chicago's final contest of the year.

Coming off a loss to the New York Empire the previous weekend, the Union entered the finale looking to end the season on a positive note. Despite a strong start, Chicago could not sustain its early pace and fell to the Radicals for the second time this season.

Playing under hazy skies, the two teams opened the game in a tight battle, with Madison taking a narrow 4-3 lead after the first quarter. The Union's momentum did not carry into the second quarter, however, as the Radicals pulled away with a seven-goal outburst against Chicago's three, extending their lead to 11-6 at halftime.

Madison maintained its pace in the second half, adding a four-goal run in the third quarter and limiting the Union to eight goals over the final two quarters to close out the 21-14 win.

The result brings the Union's 2026 season to a close at 1-10, a sharp reversal from their undefeated campaign the previous summer. The team now turns its attention to the off-season, with an eye toward returning to championship form in 2027.