SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers lifts the Stanley Cup after Florida's 2-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Some teams reach their sports championship and can’t get the job done one year but bounce back the next year and win it all. Below is a list of teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL since 2000 that have lost a championship one season and won it the next season.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Lost in 2008 and Won in 2009
DETROIT – JUNE 12: (L-R) Sidney Crosby #87, Petr Sykora and Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate with the Stanley Cup following the Penguins victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
2008 Stanley Cup Final – Lost in six games to the Detroit Red Wings
2009 Stanley Cup Final – Won in seven games over the Detroit Red Wings
LOS ANGELES LAKERS – Lost in 2008 and Won in 2009 (and 2010)
ORLANDO, FL – JUNE 14: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Bill Russell MVP trophy and Derek Fisher #2 of the Lakers holds the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Lakers won 99-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
2008 NBA Finals – Lost in six games to the Boston Celtics
2009 NBA Finals – Won in five games over the Orlando Magic
MIAMI HEAT – Lost in 2011 and Won in 2012 (and 2013)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 21: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates with the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy after they won 121-106 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
2011 NBA Finals – Lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks
2012 NBA Finals – Won in five games over the Oklahoma City Thunder
SAN ANTONIO SPURS – Lost in 2013 and Won in 2014
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 15: The San Antonio Spurs celebrate after defeating the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center on June 15, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
2013 NBA Finals – Lost in seven games to the Miami Heat
2014 NBA Finals – Won in five games over the Miami Heat
KANSAS CITY ROYALS – Lost in 2014 and Won in 2015
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 01: The Kansas City Royals celebrate defeating the New York Mets to win Game Five of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on November 1, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets with a score of 7 to 2 to win the World Series. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
2014 – Lost in seven games to the San Francisco 49ers
2015 – Won in five games over the New York Mets
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS – Lost in 2015 and Won in 2016
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 19: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
2015 NBA Finals – Lost in six games to the Golden State Warriors
2016 NBA Finals – Won in seven games over the Golden State Warriors
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – Lost Super Bowl 52 and Won Super Bowl 53
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Sony Michel #26 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Super Bowl 52 – Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 41-33
Super Bowl 53 – Defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3
HOUSTON ASTROS – Lost in 2021 and Won in 2022
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 07: Jose Altuve #27, Alex Bregman #2, Justin Verlander #35, Yuli Gurriel #10 and Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros participate in the World Series Parade on November 07, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
2021 – Lost in six games to the Atlanta Braves
2022 – Won in six games over the Philadelphia Phillies
FLORIDA PANTHERS – Lost in 2023 and Won in 2024
SUNRISE, FLORIDA – JUNE 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers lifts the Stanley Cup after Florida’s 2-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
2023 Stanley Cup Final – Lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights
2024 Stanley Cup Final – Won in seven games over the Edmonton Oilers
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