Hounds Hunt Redemption As Warriors Defend Fortress In Battle For Conference MLR Crown

The Zions Bank Stadium set the scene for an exciting clash as the Chicago Hounds head to Utah on Friday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, KJZZ, and FOX Chicago Plus.

Utah's Warriors have lately been on a roll. They have edged into second place in the Western Conference with 31 points and have just enjoyed a two-game winning run, including a solid 31–18 win over San Diego in Week 10.

Their defense really made a mark as Frank Lochore, Ethan Nel, Matias Jensen, and AJ Moli together gathered a whopping 78 tackles. They racked up five tries and nearly 500 meters gained, a performance that snagged them the Team of the Week nod across the league.

Over in Chicago, things are a bit more up and down. Even though the Hounds top the Eastern Conference with 33 points, they're now looking to bounce back after a 28–22 loss to Seattle, just their second defeat this season.

They dominated possession (over 63.9% of the time) and had roughly the same share of territory, yet could not turn that control into a win. Flanker Matthew Oworu, with his 16 carries, 9 tackles, and a key turnover, might just be the spark they need.

This Week 11 matchup isn't only about the teams; it's loaded with personal milestones too. Everyday feats like Angus MacLellan nearing his 100th MLR appearance and fan favorite Lance Williams stepping back onto the field after his run with the USA Sevens team.

With Utah also featuring top performers Lochore in tackles, Joey Mano in tries, and D'Angelo Leuila in points, the Warriors still remain a dangerous outfit.

Remembering their last meeting on February 23, Utah managed to give Chicago its only loss in a 45–31 shootout. With both teams chasing their conference crowns and ambitions high, Friday night is set to deliver some real fireworks, an unpredictability that makes the game so thrilling.

Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

Aaron Moody is a sports and general reporter for the News & Observer. Here is a second sentence for the bio because it will probably be longer than this. Maybe even longer I don't know. Support my work with a digital subscription

This story was originally published April 26, 2025 at 3:26 AM