Sports in New York generate a lot of media attention and the city’s major teams generally have a significant impact on the markets of their respective leagues. However, for a long time this has not translated into success in circuits such as MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL, the four major professional tournaments in the United States.
In fact, the only team in the city that is spared from long losing streaks is the New York Liberty, who won the WNBA title in 2024 after overcoming the Minnesota Lynx in a close final. Breana Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, who was selected as the MVP of the decisive series, led the quintet to the top of women’s basketball for the first time in its history.
The script could not be repeated this season, as they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury. The Liberty’s 2024 victory then stood as a faint ray of light in the bleak landscape facing professional sports in New York.
Chaos in MLB
The situation has now been exacerbated by the premature eliminations of the Yankees and Mets in MLB. Neither team, despite significant investment, managed to live up to expectations and extended their title droughts in the world’s best baseball league.
The Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series by a rampant Toronto Blue Jays team that buried any chance of Aaron Boone returning to the World Series. In this way, the Bombers have gone 16 years without a title (they last won in 2009), the third worst championship drought in their history.
On the other hand, the Mets did not benefit much from signing Juan Soto for more than $760 million and competing with a payroll of more than $300 million. The team managed by Carlos Mendoza could not even qualify for the postseason.
The Mets have gone 39 years without a Major League title. Their last triumph came in 1986 under the guidance of mentor Davey Johnson.
NBA, NFL, NHL… no one is safe
If we delve a little deeper into the reality facing New York’s leading sports organizations, we find a significant trail of failure in basketball, American football and ice hockey, three of the most important professional circuits in the United States along with baseball.
- Brooklyn Nets (NBA): Two finals lost (2002 and 2003). They have not reached the conference finals in 22 years. Of their last 17 playoff series, they have won only five
- New York Knicks (NBA): They have not won a title since 1973 and the last time they reached the final was in 1999
- Buffalo Bills (NFL): Although they have dominated their division for five consecutive seasons, they have not won a Conference title since 1993. They have not won a championship since the 1964-1965 double in the AFL, just before the first Super Bowl
- New York Jets (NFL): Their last postseason appearance came in 2010 and their only Super Bowl title was in 1968, 57 years ago. They have one of the worst active trophyless streaks in football history
- New York Giants (NFL): Eight postseason appearances during the current century, but they have gone more than a decade without Division and Conference titles. They won their last pennants in 2011, when they won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots
- Buffalo Sabres (NHL): They won the Presidents Trophy as the team with the most points in the 2006-2007 regular season and in 2009-2010 they won their last divisional title. However, they have lost both Stanley Cup editions (the oldest professional trophy in North America) that they have played in 1975 and 1999
- New York Islanders (NHL): There is no trace of the team that dominated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they have made several postseason appearances, their last Stanley Cup was in 1983, 42 years ago
- New York Rangers (NHL): Of all the New York ice hockey teams, they have been the most consistent in recent times. Last season they won the President Trophy and the divisional crown. However, they have gone more than a decade without a conference title and their last Stanley Cup crown was in 1994, 31 years ago.
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