In sports, a dynasty is a team or individual that dominates their sport or league for an extended length of time. Some leagues usually maintain official lists of dynasties, often as part of a hall of fame, but in many cases, whether a team or individual has achieved a dynasty is subjective. This can result in frequent topic of debate among sports fans due to lack of consensus and agreement in the many different variables and criteria that fans may use to define a sports dynasty.[1][2][3]Merriam-Webster describes a dynasty as a "sports franchise which has a prolonged run of successful seasons".[4] Within the same sport, or even the same league, dynasties may be concurrent with each other.
Association football
Club
American Major League Soccer
D.C. United, 1996 to 1999 (three MLS championships in four years and two Supporters' Shields). In addition to the MLS Championships D.C. United won other American and regional titles during this time. In 1996 D.C. United won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and in 1998 D.C. United won the CONCACAF Champions Cup as the best team in North America and later in the same year won the InterAmerican Cup against the champions of South America.[5]
LA Galaxy, 2009 to 2015 (three MLS championships in four years and two Supporters Shields as first place team in the regular season. Additionally, the team has four Western Conference titles and has had great players such as David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane.
Cruzeiro of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The club won one Brazilian championship (1966) and one Copa Libertadores (1976), appearing on three straight Libertadores semifinals and four national championship finals, also winning nine Minas Gerais state championships.
São Paulo of the 2000s. The team won the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 and went on to become the first club of the Brazilian Championship era to win the national title for three seasons in a row (2006, 2007 and 2008). Aside from that, São Paulo qualified for the Libertadores through the Brazilian Championship for seven straight seasons (2004–2010), also a national record. During that period, the team was captained by goalkeeper Rogério Ceni and featured players such as Diego Lugano, Miranda and Hernanes.
Millonarios of the 1950s won four league championships three of which were back to back. They also won four back to back in the 1960s, and a Copa Colombia in 1962 and 1963. Alfredo Di Stéfano won three league titles, 1949–1952. A Copa Bodas de Oro del Real Madrid in 1952, as well as a Copa Colombia, Pequeña Copa del Mundo in 1953.
Atlético Nacional: Between 2005 and 2007, after the league decided to split the year into two semesters, Atlético Nacional won three championships. Two of them being back to back in 2007.
English First Division and Premier League
Liverpool between 1972 and 1990. During those eighteen years, the club became English champions on eleven occasions, under the successive guidance of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish. Other domestic honours won during the period were the FA Cups in 1974, 1986 and 1989 and the League Cups, won on four consecutive occasions from 1981 to 1984. This dominance was extended to the European stage, beginning in 1972–73 when the club won the second-tier UEFA Cup. Further success in this competition arrived in 1975–76, before Liverpool embarked on a run of four top-tier European Cup wins between 1976–77 and 1983–84. No other English club has achieved such success in the premier European club competition since then. Liverpool reached their finest hour in the 1983–84 season when, with Joe Fagan at the helm, they became English champions while also winning the League Cup and the European Cup final against Roma.
Manchester United created one of the biggest dynasties that lasted from the start of the Premier League in 1992–93 to 2012–13. After six seasons of Sir Alex Ferguson rebuilding the club, the team won the first-ever Premier League title, which was also their eighth top-tier league title. This victory was only the beginning of dominance, as the club won the league title twelve more times, setting a new English record of 20 top-tier titles. Manchester United also lifted the FA Cup during this period with victories in 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99 and 2003–04. Furthermore, United became the Champions of Europe twice during that time span, as well as reaching a further two finals. They won the Champions League in 1998–99 (completing the treble of league title, FA Cup and European Cup) and 2007–08. During this time, the club finished no lower than third in each Premier League season.[10]
Arsenal had a period of continued success and domination from 1997-98 to 2005–06. This period saw them first or second in the League from eight seasons (1997–98 to 2004–05), winning the League and Cup double in 1997–98 and 2001–02, the League in 2003–04 with an unbeaten run of 49 games into the 2004–05 season, the FA Cup in 2003 and 2005, and scoring in 55 consecutive games across 3 seasons from 19 May 2001 to 30 November 2002.
Manchester City succeeded their rivals as the pre-eminent team in the Premier League, having won seven titles since 2011–12 Premier League. Additionally, they have won two FA Cups and six league cups in that time span. City's dominion of the league strengthened since Pep Guardiola took charge of the team in 2016; they won five of the last six titles, including a three-in-a-row sequence. Guardiola also guided them to the treble, winning the league, FA Cup and their maiden Champions League, also becoming just the second English team to accomplish the feat.
French Ligue 1
Olympique Lyonnais from 2001–2002 to the 2007–08 seasons in Ligue 1. Lyon became the first French club to win a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles, including six consecutive Trophée des Champions. It also managed to win a Coupe de France in 2008.[citation needed]
Paris Saint-Germain from 2012 to present in Ligue 1. PSG won seven Ligue 1 championships in eight seasons (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020). They also won four straight Coupe de France titles from 2015 to 2018 with another in 2020, as well as 5 straight Coupe de la Ligue titles from 2014 to 2018.[citation needed]
German Bundesliga
Bayern Munich from 1971 to present. Bayern have won the Bundesliga a record 32 times, more than twice its closest Bundesliga contender. Bayern also won the European Cup three times in a row from 1974 to 1976, and won the Champions League subsequently in 2001, 2013, and 2020. Bayern became the first German club to win the quadruple in the 2012–13 season, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League and DFL-Supercup. They have won the last eleven Bundesliga titles, from 2013 to 2023.
Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1969–70 to 1976–77. Borussia Mönchengladbach became Bundesliga champions in 5 of 8 seasons. This was achieved against strong opposition from Bayern Munich, notably including two of the three seasons in which Bayern won the European Cup three times in a row; in 1973–1974 Borussia Mönchengladbach finished second with only 1 point behind Bayern, and Borussia Mönchengladbach would go on to win the Bundesliga in both 1974–1975 and 1975–1976.
Genoa from 1898 to 1904 in Italian football having won six Italian championship titles in seven years (in a double three peat sequence) using the Cambridge's Pyramid.
Pro Vercelli from 1908 to 1913 in Italian football having won five Italian championship titles in six years. Also, the Vercelli's club players during that period constituted the backbone of the nascent national team.[14]
From the 1971–72 to the 1985–86, during Giampiero Boniperti presidency and under the successive management of former footballers Čestmír Vycpálek, Carlo Parola and Giovanni Trapattoni, became Italian champions nine times and won the Italian Cup twice, establishing the most enduring dynasty in Italian association football history. During the second half of the 1970s, Trapattoni successfully implemented in the team the Zona mista tactic scheme. Such triumphs allowed i Bianconeri to form the backbone of the Italy national team during Enzo Bearzot's era, including the 1978 FIFA World Cup semifinalist and 1982 world championsquads, achieving with the latter its first title in the competition in 44 years.[17][18][19] The club's dominance was extended to the international spotlight starting in 1977 when the club won the UEFA Cup without foreign footballers, an unprecedented achievement for any country's team.[20] Subsequently, the club lifted the Cup Winners' Cup and the European Champions Cup becoming the first club in the history of European football to have won all three seasonal confederation competitions.[21][22] Finally, after their triumph in the 1984 UEFA Super Cup and the 1985 Intercontinental Cup, the first title for a European side since the restructuring of the tournament occurred five years beforehand; the club also became the first in football history—and remained the world's only one until 2022—to have won all possible official continental tournaments and the world title,[23][24][25] leading the UEFA rankings for the first time in the decade's ending.
A further triumphs era for the club was established in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Juventus, under the coaching of Marcello Lippi, won five Serie A titles in nine years from 1995 to 2003. In that period, the Torinese club also won one Italian Cup, four Supercoppa Italiana, one Intercontinental Cup, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup, leading also the confederation classify in the ending 1990s.[26]
A renewed successful period begins from 2011–12 to 2019–20 seasons, during Andrea Agnelli presidency and with the successive coaching of former player Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Maurizio Sarri; where the club won nine straight Serie A titles and four Italian Cups in a row (2015–2018), establishing new all-time record of successive triumphs in both competitions. Also, in the league championship, the club was the first in 20 years and the first in a championship with 20 teams contestants to have won a title unbeaten (2011–12) and has established the historic record of points made in the competition (102 in 2013–14) as well as the records of most wins in a single season (33 in 2013–14) and most consecutive wins during a single season (25 in 2015–16).[27] During this time, Juventus reached a record of four national doubles in a row since 2015 to 2018 and one Italian treble (2016),c won also four national super cups and also appeared in two Champions League finals.[28]
Torino during the 1940s in Italian football due of their success in the league championships in 1942–43 and from 1945–46dto 1948–49.[29] This team notably won a historic five consecutive league titles and were given the moniker Grande Torino by the press.
A.C. Milan experienced several successful periods during their history. In the 1950s, having won four league titles and two Latin Cups, which was considered a predecessor of club tournaments in Europe, namely the European Cup.[16] From the 1987–88 to the 1995–96 season, Milan won five Serie A titles. Also, they were able to secure four Supercoppa Italiana in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Internationally, Milan honours included three UEFA Champions Leagues in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1993–94 seasons, three UEFA Super Cup titles (1989, 1990 and 1994) and two Intercontinental Cups (1989 and 1990).[16] In this period, the game philosophy of then manager Arrigo Sacchi is considered to have revolutionized football in Italy, where the game was previously based on a defensive approach (in some extreme cases referred to as Catenaccio), switching the focus towards a highly fluid and organized game, zonal marking and intense pressing in the midfield line. He did so while at the same time securing one of the strongest defending packages of all time, thanks to individuals such as Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini.[30][31] In the 2000s, namely between the 2002–03 and 2006–07 seasons, Milan achieved important successes, having won one Serie A title, one Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Kashima Antlers from 2007 to 2012, won the 2007 J.League title they became the first and only team in Japan to have won ten domestic titles in the professional era. In 2008 they became the first and only club to successfully defend the J.League title on two separate occasions. In 2009 they became the first and only club to win three consecutive J.League titles. With victories in back to back J.League Cups in 2011, 2012 and most recently followed by their 2015 victory, Kashima extended their unmatched record of major domestic titles in the professional era to seventeen.
Celtic — ten Scottish Football League title from 1904–05 to 1916–17 including six-in-a-row and three Scottish Cup doubles. Later eleven titles from 1965–66 to 1978–79 including a new record of nine-in-a-row and becoming the first British European champions in 1967 as part of a quadruple of trophies with the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. Celtic won six further Scottish Cups and five more League Cups in the wider period, besides losing the 1970 European Cup Final. A further Celtic dynasty emerged from 2011–12 to 2019–20; in that time frame the club won another nine consecutive league titles, as well as four consecutive domestic trebles from 2016–17 to 2019–20.
Rangers — sixteen titles from 1917–18 to 1938–39 including five-in-a-row and four Scottish Cup doubles; arguably continued until 1949–50 as intervening years during World War II featured seven consecutive unofficial titles, followed by three in the first four official post-war seasons (a treble and two doubles). Later eighteen titles from 1986–87 to 2010–11, including nine in a row from 1988–89 to 1996–97, which also included three Scottish Cups and five League Cups (six doubles and one treble); they won six further Scottish Cups and ten more League Cups in the wider period.
Spanish La Liga
Real Madrid won 12 La Liga titles in 16 seasons (from 1953–54 to 1968–69, including a five-in-a-row sequence in 1961–65), as well as reaching eight European Cup finals in 11 seasons (from 1955–56 to 1965–66; won six, including five in a row in 1956–60). They also won five consecutive league titles in 1986–90.[32] The club's most recent dynasty formed as part of their gálactico transfer policy, with the team reaching eight consecutive Champions League semi-finals from 2010–11 to 2017–18 and winning five titles between 2014 and 2022, including a three-in-a-row sequence.
Barcelona from the 2004–05 season to 2019–20. They won ten La Liga championships and four Champions League titles, including an unprecedented six major trophies in 2009, and became the first Spanish team to win the treble.[33][34][35][36][37] They also became the first team to win the treble twice in European football in the 2014–15 season.
Collegiate
North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer, 1979–2012 (22 national championships in 34 years, 21 of those are NCAA Tournament Championships). This also includes 9 consecutive NCAA Tournament Championships from 1986 to 1994, and 15 consecutive ACC Tournament Championships from 1989 to 2003. Also, they boast a 90% win rate, having won 704 games and lost or tied only 78 games.[38]
Australian football
VFL/AFL
Carlton 1904–1910, winning three-peat in 1906–1908, reaching the grand final 3 more times.
Collingwood 1925–1930, winning four-peat in 1927–1930, reaching the grand final 2 more times.
Subiaco 2003–2011, winning in 2004, three-peat in 2006–2008, reaching the grand final 3 more times.
Subiaco 2014–2021, winning in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021, reaching the grand final 2 more times.
Baseball
Major League Baseball
The Boston Red Sox's championship banners at Fenway Park, with banners from the team's dynastic years at the foreground
Boston Red Sox from 1903 to 1918; dominated the sport for sixteen seasons during the "dead-ball era", with five World Series titles in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918, and six American League pennants in 1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918.[39]
New York Yankees: From 1921 to 1964, the Yankees played in 29 of the 44 World Series, winning 20 of them. During this 44-year period, the Yankees had two dominant stretches:
From 1936 to 1943 the Yankees dominated baseball for eight years, capturing seven American League pennants and six World Series Championships, including four World Series in a row from 1936 to 1939.[38][41]
From 1947 to 1964 the Yankees won 15 of 18 AL pennants and 10 World Series, including five in a row from 1949 to 1953. This is the MLB record for most consecutive championships.[38][42]
Los Angeles Dodgers, 1959–1966. 4 World Series appearances, with 3 World Series Titles in 1959, 1963 and 1965, and were led by one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
Cincinnati Redsfrom 1970to 1976. Known as The Big Red Machine, they dominated the sport for 7 years (5 National League West Division titles, four National League pennants in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976, and two World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. The team's combined record from 1970 to 1976 was 683 wins and 443 losses, an average of nearly 98 wins per season).[44][45][46]
New York Yankees: From 1996 to 2003. Led by manager Joe Torre, and the Core Four, the Yankees dominated the sport with 8-straight postseason appearances, winning 7 AL East division titles, 6 AL pennants in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2003, & 4 World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. The Yankees added another World Series title in 2009 to make 5 championships won by the Core Four, albeit under manager Joe Girardi. Other notable contributors during this time include Roger Clemens, David Cone, and Bernie Williams.[48]
Yomiuri Giants: From 1961 to 1973. The Giants won 9 consecutive Japan Series titles between 1965 and 1973.
Saitama Seibu Lions: From 1982 to 1992. The Lions won 8 Japan Series titles over 11 seasons (1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992).
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks: From 2011 to the present. The Hawks won 7 Japan Series titles over 10 seasons (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).
Korea Baseball Organization
Kia Tigers: From 1983 to 1997. The Tigers won 9 titles (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997).
Basketball
Professional
American Basketball Association
Indiana Pacers from 1969 to 1975 led by star players such as Freddie Lewis, Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, and George McGinnis. The Pacers won 5 ABA Conference Championships in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1975 and won the ABA Championship in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Other noteworthy accomplishments include 3 consecutive ABA division titles in 1969, 1970, and 1971, their playoff berths in every year of the ABA's existence, as well as their place as the winningest franchise in ABA history.[56]
San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to 2014 led by Tim Duncan, David Robinson (1989–2003), Tony Parker (2001-2018), Manu Ginóbili (2002–2018), Kawhi Leonard (2011–2018), and head coach Gregg Popovich. In these 16 seasons, San Antonio had won 5 NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014), 6 Western Conference titles, and 11 division titles, plus 22 consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2019. The Spurs were able to sustain a high level of consistency during Duncan's tenure with the team. The Spurs won 50+ games every season from 1997 to 1998 through 2015–16 (except the strike-shortened 1998–99 season), as well as a .707 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports).[62][63]
Los Angeles Lakers of 2000 to 2004 led by Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and head coach Phil Jackson. In these 5 seasons, Los Angeles had won 4 Western Conference titles in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004, accomplishing a three-peat in the process by winning championships from 2000 to 2002. The 2001 team went 15–1 in the playoffs, setting the record for the highest win percentage in single playoffs (later broken).[64]
Golden State Warriors of 2015 to present led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant (2016–2019) and head coach Steve Kerr. In these eight seasons, Golden State has won four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022) and six Western Conference titles (five consecutively from 2015 to 2019 and one more in 2022). Throughout this dynasty, the Warriors have set many NBA records, most notably the best regular season (73–9 record in 2015–16) and best postseason (16–1 record in 2017), and had won at least 67 out of 82 games in three consecutive regular seasons from 2014–15 to 2016–17.[65]
UCLA Bruins men's basketball from 1964 to 1975 under John Wooden (10 national championships in 12 seasons; 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975. They would also win 7 consecutive championships from 1967 to 1973, four undefeated seasons, and an NCAA record 88 consecutive wins).[38][69]
NCAA Division I Women
University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball under Pat Summitt from 1987 to 1998 (six national championships in 12 seasons), including three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998 (the first women's team to do so), one undefeated season setting the most wins ever with 39, and an overall record of 314–38 (.877).[70]
University of Connecticut under Geno Auriemma from 1995 thru present (11 championships in 17 seasons, including three consecutive championships from 2002 to 2004 and four consecutive from 2013 to 2016; five undefeated seasons in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2016.[71] The Huskies set a record with a 90-game winning streak from November 2008 to December 2010, and would later break that record with a 111-game winning streak from November 2014 to March 2017.[72]
Carleton University Ravens men's basketball won five consecutive CIS/USports national championships from 2003 to 2007, seven consecutive national championships from 2011 to 2017, and 17 titles in 20 seasons between 2003 and 2023, 13 of the championship wins under head coach Dave Smart, 3 of the championship wins under head coach Taffe Charles.[75]
Cross country and track
United States Men's Olympic 4 × 100 meter team, 1916–1992[38]
The Mumbai cricket team from the 1950s to the 1970s enjoyed an unparalleled run in the Ranji Trophy, India's domestic first-class cricket championship. From the 1955–56 season to the 1972–73 season, Bombay (as it was known back then) won 17 of the 18 tournaments played, including a 15-year cup-winning streak from 1958–59 to 1972–73. As of 2020, the team has 41 tournament wins from 46 finals appearances (of 83 times the tournament has been held), with the next-best team (Karnataka) having won 8.
The West Indian cricket team dominated test cricket through the 1980s and early 1990s. The West Indian team was not beaten in a test series between March 1980 and May 1995, a fifteen-year span including twenty series wins and nine drawn series.[77][78]
Australian national cricket team from 1996 through 2023. The Australian cricket team is the only team to win the World Cup three consecutive times (1999, 2003, 2007) and they remained undefeated since their last defeat in group stages in 1999 World Cup against Pakistan. Their first loss in World Cup came in the 2011 World Cup group stage against Pakistan. Australia have won 5 out of the last 7 Men's World Cups (1999 - 2023) and their greatest victory was arguably versus India, in India, in 2023. This was their 6th World Cup title.[77]
Handball
Club
The HC Spartak Kyiv, Kiev women's handball team, won thirteen out of 18 Champions' league titles from 1970 to 1988 (72% of titles) including two lines of four titles in a row.[79]
FC Barcelona Handbol, the men's Barcelona professional handball team, won an all-time best five consecutive Champions' League from 1995 to 2000.[80]
Croatia's most successful men's handball club PPD RK Zagreb has an unprecedented title streak. They won all 31 Croatian championships out of 31.[81]
International
Women
The Soviet Union women's national handball team was the first to dominate handball, doing so for fourteen years between 1976 and 1990. They won 63% of the gold medals in the process (5/8), 71% of entered tournaments considering the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, including three consecutive world championships and being the first-ever to win back to back Olympic gold in 1980.
The Denmark women's national handball team became the first team, in 1997, to hold all three major titles: world, Olympic and continental. Led by coach Jan Pytlick Denmark won its third Olympic gold medal in a row in 2004, for the first time in the history of handball.[82] From 1996 to 2004 the team had won 50% of all major titles (6/12) including 56% of major tournament wins (5/9) from 1996 to 2002.
Led by line player Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk and goalkeeper Katrine Lunde Haraldsen, the Norway women's national handball team became the only team in handball history, on the women's and men's side, to have won the Euro championship in handball four times in a row. They have won a total of six European championship gold medals, an all-time record.[83] In 2011 they became the third team in the world to have held all three titles at the same time.[84] In 2015 they are back to back Olympic and European champions. From 2004 to present they have won 53% (8/15) of major titles including 58% (7/12) between 2004 and 2012.
Men
In the 1950s/1960s, the Sweden men's national handball team was unbeaten for 10 years, becoming the first-ever team to win back to back world championships (8 year domination) and collecting consecutive medals for 24 years. At the time the world championship was the only major competition being played (continental championships first took place in the 1990s and handball was not an Olympic sport until 1972 except for the 1936 Olympics).[82][85]
For thirteen years the Romania men's national handball team was virtually unbeatable, led by Gheorghe Gruia they won four out of five world championships between 1961 and 1974, first ever team to land two back to back championships. Recorded an all-time best 80% of wins in major tournaments for a period of ten plus years.[85]
The Sweden men's national handball team dominated the game of handball in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Led by coach Bengt Johansson and key players Magnus Wislander and Staffan Olsson, they have won three European championships in a row from 1998 to 2002, winning 60% of the major tournaments held in this period of time (3/5), clinching silver or gold medals in eight consecutive major tournaments between 1996 and 2002 (four times winner, four times runner up).
Led by coach Claude Onesta, goalie Thierry Omeyer and key playmaker Nikola Karabatić, the France men's national handball team was the first-ever to win five world championships in 2015, five out of ten world championships between 1995 and 2015. France is also the first men's team to have won back to back Olympic titles (2008 and 2012).[82] In 2010 it became the first men's team to simultaneously hold Olympic, world and continental titles.[85][86] In 2011 after another world championship title France men's team also clinched four consecutive major titles for the first time in the history of the game, women's included. In 2015 France holds all major titles for the third time in 5 years, three of the last five European championships and three of the last four world championships in play whilst being back to back Olympic champion. From 2008 to 2015 they have won seven out of nine major titles (78%) as well as 67% of wins for 9 years from 2006 to present (8/12).
New England Patriots2001–2019. Led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.[128][129] Six Super Bowl titles in 19 years (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018) including becoming only the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years, three other Super Bowl appearances (2007, 2011, 2017), 13 AFC Championship Game appearances (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011–2018), and 17 AFC East Division titles (2001, 2003–2007, and 2009–2019).[130][131][132][133][134][135] The 2007 season also saw the Patriots become only the second team in NFL history to record a perfect regular season and the first to do so in a 16-game season.[136][137][138] During this time, the Patriots recorded the NFL's two longest winning streaks; 21 from 2003 to 2004, and 18 from 2007 to 2008. From 2001 to 2017 the Patriots have averaged over 12 wins per season and a .766 win percentage, the highest in any of the four major American sports.[117][119][139] They also hold the distinction of being labeled "The Team of the 2000s" and "The Team of the 2010s" respectively.[140][141]
Cleveland Browns of the late 1940s. Won the AAFC championship in all four years of the league's existence (1946–49) including an undefeated season in 1948.[117]
The problems inherent in identifying sports dynasties are exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament. These polls, however, are largely based on win–loss records, thereby relying on minimal subjectivity. When fans of a sport cannot agree on which team within a league or other organization should be considered as holding that organization's championship, discussing whether a team has become a dynasty is more difficult. Because of these problems, teams that consistently win their conference championship and are frequently in contention for national championships are termed dynasties more often than a similarly performing team in another sport or division might.
Yale – nineteen championships between 1874 and 1909[161]
Michigan – four straight championships, five straight undefeated seasons between 1901 and 1905.[citation needed]
Notre Dame, 1919–1930. Led by head coach Knute Rockne. He won three national championships in 1924, 1929, and 1930 and an .892 winning percentage over 12 years.[161]
Pittsburgh, 1925–1938 – nine championships in fourteen seasons (1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938) [2][citation needed]
Minnesota, 1934–1941. Led by head coach Bernie Bierman. He led Minnesota to five championships in eight seasons (1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941).[162]
Notre Dame 1941–1953. Led by head coach Frank Leahy. He led Notre Dame to four national championships 1943, 1946, 1947, and 1949.[38][164]
Oklahoma, 1948–1958. Led by head coach Bud Wilkinson. The Sooners won three national championships in 1950, 1955, and 1956. The centerpiece of this run was his 47-game win streak (NCAA Record) from 1953 to 1957.[165]
Alabama, 1961–66 Led by Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, and Ken Stabler– three national championships. In 1961, 1964, and 1965 and going unbeaten in 1966, and had a record of 60-5-1 over the six-year span.[166]
Nebraska, 1969–72 . Led by head coach Bob Devaney and capturing consecutive national titles in 1970 and 1971. Nebraska's 1971 team remains the only champion ever to defeat the teams that finished second, third, and fourth (Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama) in the final rankings.[167]
Miami, 1983–94 – Led by head coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, and Dennis Erickson. In 12 seasons, Miami won four national championships (1983, 1987, 1989, 1991), played for seven national championships (1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994), finished in the top three of the AP Poll for seven consecutive seasons (1986–92), and set an NCAA-record with 58 straight home victories. They also had two Heisman Trophy winners in Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992.[170][171]
Florida State, 1987–2000 – At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance, the Florida State Seminoles went 152–19–1, won nine ACC championships (1992–2000), two national championships (1993 and 1999), three national runner-up finishes (1996, 1998 and 2000), never lost the #1 AP ranking during 1999, produced 20 1st round NFL draft picks (including the 1997 offensive and defensive rookies of the year), won at least 10 games every year, and never finished a season ranked lower than fourth in the AP poll. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.[172]
Nebraska, 1993–97 – Led by head coach Tom Osborne, defensive coordinator Charlie McBride, and players Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost, Ahman Green, Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter and the Blackshirts. They played for four national championships in '93, '94, '95, and '97. They won three national championships in four years (1994, 1995, 1997), 60–3 cumulative record and went unbeaten in the three national championship seasons. They won 26 straight games from 1994 to 1996.[173]
USC from 2002 to 2005. Led by head coach Pete Carroll, and players Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and LenDale White. They won two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003 to 2005. They also produced three Heisman Trophy winners in Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush in 2002, 2004, and 2005 respectively.
Alabama, 2008–2023. Led by head coach Nick Saban, Alabama won six National Championships in 12 years (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020) and three national runner-up finishes (2016, 2018, 2021). Alabama appeared in the first five College Football Playoffs from 2014 to 2018 and returned to the CFP in 2020, 2021 and again in 2023. Since the 2008 season, Alabama has averaged 12 wins per season and have a record of 176-19 (.903). Alabama under Nick Saban has four Heisman Trophy winners in running backs Mark Ingram II and Derrick Henry in 2009 and 2015, wide receiver Devonta Smith in 2020, and quarterback Bryce Young in 2021, respectively.[174][175][176]
Football Championship Subdivision (Formerly Division I-AA)
Youngstown State (1991–1999): Led by head coach Jim Tressel. YSU won four national championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997) and appeared in six National Championship Games in nine years.
North Dakota State (2011–present): Led by coaches Craig Bohl, Chris Klieman, and Matt Entz, North Dakota State has won 9 National Championships in 11 years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and 10 MVFC titles. During this period they've accumulated a record of 148–11 (.931) which has included a 41–3 playoff record, and 17, 33, and 39 game winning streaks. The nine championships in 11 years is a feat not accomplished at any other level in collegiate American football history. The 2019 NDSU team went 16–0, the first team to do that since Yale in 1894.
Augustana (IL), 1983–1986 – Augustana won 4 consecutive titles from 1983 to 1986[179]
Mount Union, 1993–present – Mount Union won 110 consecutive regular-season games between 1994 and 2005, posted 14 undefeated regular seasons, won 16 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, and had the best overall record in the 1990s (120–7–1 .941). They won Division III championships in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015 and have appeared in 19 national championship games since 1993.[180]
Wisconsin–Whitewater, 2005–2014 – Led by coach Lance Leipold, UW–Whitewater appeared in seven consecutive Division III championship games between 2005 and 2011. They won Division III championships in 2007, 2009, 2010 2011, 2013, and 2014.[181]
NAIA Football
Carroll College (Montana) of the 2000s (decade) – 8 straight Frontier Conference Championships (2000 to 2007), six straight national semi-final appearances (2000–2005), and six NAIA National Football Championships in nine years (2002–2005, 2007, 2010).[179]
Texas A&I 7 NAIA National Championships in 11 years, 1968–1979. 3 consecutive and 5 in the decade of the 1970s: 1970-74-75-76-70. Lost only 1 NAIA Playoff Game (1968 National Championship Game—to Boise State, now a Bowl Subdivision team.[179]
Carson-Newman 5 NAIA National Championships in 7 years, 1983–89. Winning the title in 1983-86-88-89 outright and tied the 1984 title with Central Arkansas.[179]
Linfield 3 NAIA National Championships in 6 years, 1982–86; winning it in 1982-84-86.[179]
Sioux Falls Storm from 2004 to 2017 (10 championships and 13 championship game appearances in 14 seasons)[188]
Arizona Rattlers from 2011 to 2017 (three ArenaBowl championships, five ArenaBowl appearances and one United Bowl championship in seven seasons)[188][189]
Horseshoes
Alan Francis, 1993–present; won 14 out of 17 world championships,[190] only player to pitch over 90%[191][192]
Michigan Wolverines: 1948–1957, 6 championships and 1 runner-up in 10 tournaments.
Denver Pioneers: 1958–1964, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 7 tournaments.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: 1974–1981, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 8 tournaments. The majority of players during this stretch hailed from the state of Minnesota and eight players were members of the 1980 U.S. Miracle on Ice team.
Boston College Eagles: 2006–2012, 3 championships and 2 runners-up in 7 tournaments.
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs: 2011-Current, 3 championships and 1 runners-up in 7 tournaments. This dynasty is currently ongoing with Minnesota-Duluth winning back-to-back National Championships in 2018, and 2019; the first back-to-back men's ice hockey National Champions since Denver University Pioneers won in 2004, and 2005.
NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey
Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs: 2001–2010, 5 championships and 1 runners-up in 7 Frozen Four appearances.
U Sports men's ice hockey championship
Alberta Golden Bears have the most final appearances (24) and championships (16) as of 2023, including back-to-back runs in 1979–1981, 1999–2000, 2005–2006, 2014–2015. The 24 finals appearances also mean that the Bears have won their conference (Canada West) more than any other team.
U Sports women's ice hockey championship
Alberta Pandas ice hockey have the most final appearances (10) and championship (8) a of 2023, including a run of 5 championships in 6 years (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006,and 2007)
International
Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
Canada 1920–1962. Canada won 19 (66%) of the 29 International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) World Championships from 1920 to 1962 and were silver medalists at another 6 (21%) during the same time period. Canada won a medal at 90% of all world championship and Olympic tournaments during this stretch. Canada withdrew from competition against the "pseudo-amateur" players of the Soviet Union for most of the 1970s.
Soviet Union 1963–1990. This stretch is the most dominant stretch of all time in international play, with the Soviets winning nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament between 1963 and 1990 and never failing to medal in any IIHF tournament they competed. However, their dominance is marred by controversy over their use of state-funded players, circumventing the amateur rules that were in place at the time.
Czechoslovakia 1976–1985. The Czechoslovakians won 3 gold and 4 silver medals in 8 tournaments.
Sweden 1986–1998. Sweden won 4 gold and 5 silver medals in 12 tournaments.
Czech Republic 1999–2001. Three consecutive world championships.
Canada 2003–2009. Canada had another dynasty stretch from 2003 to 2009 having won 3 gold and 3 silver medals in 7 tournaments.
Russia 2008–2015. Russia is recognized by the IIHF as the successor to the Soviet Union, and the USSR's ranking have been passed on to Russia, which began competing internationally in 1993. Russia's latest dynasty stretch saw them win 4 golds and 2 silvers in 8 tournaments.
Finland 2019–2022. Finland won 3 gold medals and 1 silver in 4 consecutive major tournaments. This dynasty stretch includes winning the Olympic tournament and World Championship in the same year, the latter at home – both extremely rare achievements. During the stretch Finland won 31 games out of 36, losing only once in regular time (winning 86.11% of all games and 91.67% of playoff round games), allowing just 51 goals on total (GAA 1.416).[197][198]
Women's Ice Hockey World Championships
Canada 1990–2007. Canada won gold in 9 of the first 10 tournaments including the first 8 in a row.
United States 2008–2019. The United States have won gold in 8 of 9 tournaments including 5 in a row.
Saskatchewan Rush/Edmonton Rush of 2015–2018 (three championships in four years, as well as four straight Champion's Cup appearances) 2015, 2016, 2018
Collegiate
NCAA men's
Hobart Statesmen won thirteen national titles from 1980 to 1993, including twelve straight titles from 1980 to 1991.[200]
NCAA women's
Maryland Terrapins won eight national titles from 1992 to 2001, capturing seven consecutive titles from 1995 to 2001 and completing four undefeated seasons.[201]
Northwestern Wildcats won seven national titles from 2005 to 2012, capturing five consecutive titles from 2005 to 2009, national runner-up in 2010, and two more titles in 2011 and 2012. Northwestern completed two undefeated seasons in 2005 and 2009.
References to "events" rather than "years" is due to the cancellation of the event in 2008.
1987-1996 French domination era where Peugeot and Citroën won 8 in 10 years of which 5 were consecutive (1987-1991).
1992-2007Mitsubishi era, which overlaps the French era, saw Mitsubishi win 11 times in 16 years of which 7 were consecutive (2001-2007). This could be considered to stretch back to their first win in 1985 where they filled the podium and had cars on every podium for 22 years with the exception of 1990 and 1994.
2005-2015Despres-Coma era saw the two riders be the only winners of the motorcycle class for ten events.
Kamaz/Russian domination saw the manufacturer win 18 times in 22 events with their Russian teams. They had winning streaks of 6 (2017-2022) and 5 (2002-2006), and podiumed at all these events apart from 2001.
Lewis Hamilton won seven Formula One championships from 2008 to 2020, including 6 in 7 years from 2014 to 2020. Hamilton additionally served as a runner-up twice in the eleven season span.[210]
Teams
Ferrari won four Formula One constructors' championships in five seasons between 1975 and 1979, including three consecutive from 1975 to 1977.[211]
McLaren won six Formula One constructors' championships in eight seasons between 1984 and 1991, including four consecutive from 1988 to 1991.[211]
Williams won five Formula One constructors' championships in six seasons between 1992 and 1997, including three consecutive from 1992 to 1994.[211]
Ferrari won eight Formula One constructors' championships in ten seasons between 1999 and 2008, including six consecutive from 1999 to 2004.[211]
Red Bull won four consecutive Formula One constructors' championships from 2010 to 2013.[211]
Mercedes has won eight consecutive Formula One constructors' championships from 2014 to 2021.[211]
MotoGP
Riders
Giacomo Agostini won 8 championships in 10 years 1966–1975, including 7 consecutive 1966–1972.
American riders won 13 of 16 championships 1978–1993.
Mick Doohan won 5 consecutive championships 1994–1998.
Valentino Rossi won 7 championships in 9 years 2001–2009, including 5 consecutive 2001–2005.
Marc Márquez won 6 championships in 7 years 2013–2019, including 4 consecutive 2016–2019.
Manufacturers
MV Agusta were World Constructors' Champions 16 times in 18 years from 1956 to 1973.
NASCAR
Chevrolet since 1958 won 35 of 54 (64.8%) NASCAR manufacturer championships.[212]
Hendrick Motorsports has had two streaks of four or more consecutive championships and has 15 NASCAR championships overall. The combined operations of the works and satellite teams have won six consecutive championships, since 2006.[213]
Lee Petty won three championships in 1954, 1958, and 1959.
Richard Petty won seven championships in 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979. He also won a record of 200 races.
David Pearson won three championships in 1966, 1968, and 1969.
Cale Yarborough won three consecutive championships in 1976, 1977, and 1978.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. won seven championships in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994.
Darrell Waltrip won three championships in 1981, 1982, and 1985.
Jeff Gordon won four championships in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001.
Jimmie Johnson won seven championships, including five consecutive in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2016.
Sébastien Loeb from 2004 to 2012 won nine consecutive drivers’ championships; 78 rally wins from 2002 to 2013.[214]
Sébastien Ogier won 8 drivers' championships from 2013 to 2021, including 6 consecutive titles from 2013 to 2018.
Rugby league
Clubs
English Rugby League and Super League
Leeds from 2007 to 2012 (five League Championships in six years: 2007–2009, 2011–2012)
Wigan from 1984 to 1985 to 1995–96 (seven consecutive League Championships, eight overall: 1986–87, 1989–90 to 1995–96; eight consecutive Challenge Cups, nine overall: 1984–85, 1987–88 to 1994–95; seven Regal Trophies; three World Club Challenge Cups: 1987, 1991, 1994)
National Rugby League
Balmain from 1915 to 1920 (five Premierships in six years: 1915–1917, 1919–1920)
Balmain from 1939 to 1948 (four premierships, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947 from six grand final appearances)
South Sydney from 1923 to 1932 (seven premierships in eight seasons 1925–1929, 1931–1932; runners-up: 1923–1924)
Eastern Suburbs from 1934 to 1938 (five consecutive Grand Finals; three consecutive Premierships: 1935–1937)
South Sydney from 1949 to 1955 (seven consecutive Grand Finals; five Premierships: 1950–1951, 1953–1955)
South Sydney from 1967 to 1971 (four premierships from five grand final appearances)
St. George from 1956 to 1966 (eleven consecutive Premierships)
Parramatta from 1981 to 1986 (four premierships from five grand final appearances including three premierships in a row, 1981, 1982 and 1983)
Penrith from 2020 to 2023 (three premierships from four grand final appearances including three premierships in a row, 2021, 2022 and 2023)
Queensland from 2006 to 2017 won 11 series including 8 consecutive State of Origin series from 2006 to 2013.
Rugby union
Clubs
Toulouse 1994–2005, they won 6 Top 14 between 1994 and 2001 and won the very first Heineken Cup in 1996. Toulouse won two more European titles in 2003 and 2005 becoming the most successful European team with four titles.
Crusaders 1998–2008 2017–Present, they reached 17 Super Rugby finals, of which they won 13 (Including two Covid-19 effected domestic titles in 2020 and 2021).[216]
Bowling Green State University Men's Rugby Team has won 34 consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship since 1982 (two were won in one year when the season switched from spring to fall)
California Golden Bears rugby, 1980–2017. The Golden Bears have won 33 championships since the national collegiate championship for rugby began in 1980. Current head coach and Cal alumnus Jack Clark took over the team in 1984, and has achieved prolonged success, leading the Bears to 28 national titles, including twelve consecutive championships from 1991 to 2002, five more consecutive titles from 2004 to 2008, and back-to-back titles in 2010 to 2011 and 2016 to 2017.
South Africa Springboks 2007 - 2023, won 3 out of 5 World Cups, and became the 1st Men's team to win 4 World Cups, when they defended their title in 2023.
Swimming
Collegiate
Indiana University won six consecutive NCAA championships from 1968 to 1973 in men's swimming and diving. The Hoosiers also finished second at the NCAA's five times in 1964–66 and 1974–75, third in 1967, and fourth (twice) in 1976–77. This totals 14 straight years that Indiana finished in the top four teams in the nation. From 1961 to 1985 the Hoosiers won 23 out of 25 Big Ten Championships (every year but 1981–82) including 20 straight from 1961 to 1980. Olympian Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals and set seven world records at the 1972 Olympics, was a member of the 1969–72 NCAA Championship teams.
Auburn University earned 13 total NCAA championships in swimming and diving, eight by the men's team and five by the women's team during a thirteen-year period from 1997 to 2009. During that stretch, the Auburn Tigers men won five consecutive national championships and the women won three consecutive national championships. In the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Auburn men earned 16 consecutive team titles between 1997 and 2012 while the women took five non-consecutive SEC championships. Auburn swimmers won 18 medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, more than many countries.[218][219][220]
High school
Carmel High School (Carmel, Indiana): the girls' swim team has won a national record 33 state team titles, beginning with one in 1982, and continuing with 32 straight state team titles from 1985 to 2017, making them the all-time best high school sports program in the country. Their 2015 win broke the tie with the Honolulu Punahou boys' swimming team, who had won 29 straight from 1958 to 1986.[221][222][223][224]
Roger Federer, 2004–2007, Spent 237 consecutive weeks as the World Number 1. Won 11 of 20 Major titles during the period.
Novak Djokovic, 2011–present. Since the beginning of 2011, Djokovic has won 19 grand slams, spent 347 weeks (and counting) at world number 1 (a record), finished as Year End #1 a record 7 times, and cemented a positive head-to-head record against his two main rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Kalamazoo College men's tennis team has won 77 consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships (1936–2015) with a record of 426–2 in the MIAA from 1935 to 2007.[226] Kalamazoo has won seven NCAA Division III national championships and has made 25 consecutive NCAA III tournament appearances.[227][citation needed]
Volleyball
The NCAA Division I Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball team won four consecutive National Championships from 2007 to 2010, including two perfect seasons in 2008 and 2009, and then the Nittany Lions repeated in 2013 & 2014, to make it six Championships in eight years and seven overall titles with the first title coming in 1999; and Big Ten Conference Championships from 2003 to 2010, 2013 and 2014.
The Concordia University (Saint Paul) women's volleyball team have captured NCAA Division II Championships in seven consecutive seasons – the only NCAA volleyball program to accomplish the feat at the Division I or II levels. Their seven total volleyball titles is more than any program as well, with the sport dating back to 1980, at the women's Division II level. Their head coach, Brady Starkey, boasts a 306–26 overall record (.926) making him the winningest active NCAA volleyball coach in any division by overall percentage. They have also mounted 9 consecutive conference Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships (from 2003 to 2011) including 6-undefeated conference campaigns.[228]
The NCAA Division III Washington University in St. Louis women's volleyball team were the first volleyball team to win six consecutive national championships, from 1991 to 1996. They have won a total of 10 NCAA championships, including 26 consecutive appearances in the championship tournament dating back to 1987, the most of any program at any level.[229]
Wrestling
Oklahoma State University Cowboys On the national level, the Cowboys have won 34 NCAA team titles, crowned 141 NCAA individual champions and earned 450 All-America honors. At the conference level, OSU has won 51 league titles as a team, and Cowboy wrestlers combined to win 277 individual conference championships.[230] The Cowboys most recent dynasty run was four in a row from 2003 to 2006.
University of Iowa Hawkeyes have 24 total NCAA championships. The dynasty runs are from 1975 to 1986 (11 NCAA championships in 12 years), from 1991 to 2000 (9 NCAA championships in 10 years) and three consecutive national championships from 2008 to 2010. Iowa also had a dynasty run of 25 straight Big Ten conference tournament championships from 1974 to 1998.[231]
Most disputes about dynasties relate to teams that dominated within a conference or division, but either failed to win championships or infrequently won championships. This is exacerbated in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), where the national champion is determined, at least in part, by poll rather than through a tournament.
Atlanta Braves from 1991 to 2005. They won 14 straight division titles, made a record eight NLCS appearances, and won 5 NL pennants during the 1990s. However, they could only win one World Series in 1995.
Boise State Broncos football from 1998 to 2008. At 113–26, their 81.29% win rate was the highest in the nation.[233] Won ten of twelve conference championships from 1999 to 2009, undefeated in conference play in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009, perfect seasons in 2006 and 2009, but has never been selected to play in the Division I-A national championship.
Detroit Red Wings of the mid-1990s through the late 2000s. Although not officially listed by the NHL as a dynasty, the Red Wings won four Stanley Cups in eleven seasons (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) and went to the Stanley Cup Finals six times in fourteen seasons (1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009). The Red Wings had the best team record during both the 1990s and 2000s, accumulating the most points of any franchise during each decade. Detroit won the Presidents' Trophy for the best regular season record in the NHL in 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, in all winning their division thirteen times during this span.[234] The Red Wings qualified for the playoffs in 25 consecutive seasons from 1991 through 2016.
Chicago Blackhawks of the early 2010s are also not officially listed by the NHL as a dynasty, but won three Stanley Cups in six seasons (2010, 2013, and 2015), as well as a Presidents Trophy in 2013 and acknowledgment by the NHL as their "Franchise of the Decade" for the 2010s.[235] When they were presented with their third Stanley Cup in 2015, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman colloquially referred to the team as a "dynasty" as well.[236]
England national rugby union team 1991–2003, 7 Five/Six Nations Championships, four Grand Slams, 2003 World Cup. While England was the form team in Europe in the 1990s, they were unable to break through and win the World Cup until 2003, losing to Australia in the final of 1991 and failing to match the same performance in 1995 and 1999. Additionally, England struggled to beat the leading southern hemisphere sides, the Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks until 2000 and 2002 respectively, with the team peaking from 2002 to early 2004, under the leadership of Clive Woodward, before a slow, long decline, foreshadowing the north–south divide in rugby that was to become the norm from the mid-2000s.[237]
San Antonio Spurs of 1999 to 2014 led by Tim Duncan. (five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) in sixteen seasons, six Western Conference titles, eleven division championships, and seventeen consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2014, with a .705 win percentage during that span, the highest in any of the four major American sports) are considered a dynasty by some,[238][239] but not by others[240][241] because they did not win consecutive titles.
University of Southern California football, 2002–2005 – two consecutive AP national championships (2003 and 2004), appearance in the 2005 National Championship Game, seven straight Pac-10 titles, six major bowl wins in seven years (Rose: 2003 and 2007–2009, Orange: 2004 and 2005), and maintained a 34-game winning streak from 2003 to 2005.[247] However, USC was forced to vacate two wins from the 2004 season including the Orange Bowl win and BCS national Championship, all wins from the 2005 season, and the Pac-10 titles from both of those seasons as the result of rules violations involving star running back Reggie Bush.
Washington Redskins 1982–1992, led by head coach Joe Gibbs and with running back John Riggins and the Hogs,[248] the Redskins made seven playoff appearances and won three of their four Super Bowl appearances over the course of a decade.[249][250][251] However, once Gibbs retired, the Redskins never returned to a Super Bowl with their last appearance being Super Bowl XXVI and the most plausible reason why they weren't considered a dynasty at the time was due to the fact that they were overshadowed by the 49ers dynasty.[252][253][254][255][256]
Houston Astros: From 2017 to Present. Under the ownership of Jim Crane and led by players such as Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, and Alex Bregman, the Astros have won six AL West titles in seven seasons, played in the ALCS a record seven consecutive years, and won four AL Pennants and two World Series Titles. Although their high consistency within the American League has been noted, many baseball fans debate whether this team is a dynasty due to the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, the team only having won two World Series titles separated by five seasons, and because only five players were on both championship teams.[257]
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders: 1967–85. No NFL team enjoyed more consistent success than the Raiders during this span. During this 17-year run, the Raiders won 11 division titles, earned 15 playoff berths, captured one AFL title and three Super Bowls. The '76 Raiders captured the franchise's first Super Bowl after going 13–1 during the regular season. They then dismantled the defending two-time champion Steelers in the AFC title game before routing the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Four years later, coach Tom Flores and quarterback Jim Plunkett helped the Raiders become the first franchise to win the Super Bowl as a wild-card team. The '83 Raiders, on the strength of running back Marcus Allen and cornerbacks Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, held Washington's record-setting offense to just one touchdown in the Raiders' 38–9 win in Super Bowl XVIII.[258]
^Frank, Vincent (June 21, 2015). "Start Of A Golden State Warriors Dynasty? Not So Fast, My Friends". Forbes. Retrieved August 25, 2017. One of the most subjective discussions we come across around the sports world is what defines a dynasty. It's a definition that will never come to pass, and will always be left up for interpretation.
^In addition, Juventus F.C. was the first club in association football history to have won all possible confederation competitions (e.g. the international tournaments organised by UEFA) and remained the only in the world to achieve this until the first Europa Conference League final in 2022, cf. "Legend: UEFA club competitions". Union des Associations Européennes de Football. 21 August 2006. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2013. "1985: Juventus end European drought". Union des Associations Européennes de Football. 8 December 1985. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
^"We are the champions". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 2005-12-01. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
^Peterson, Bill (1995-04-23). "Big Red Machine Rates Among Best Ever; Balance of Offense, Defense made '75 Cincinnati Team So Great". Rocky Mountain News. Scripps Howard news Service.
^Sachare, Alex. "The Dynasties: Minneapolis Lakers". NBA Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2008-11-12. The Minneapolis Lakers are the forgotten dynasty, an afterthought when the discussion turns to the NBA's greatest teams...But history cannot be changed and should not be forgotten. The Minneapolis Lakers were the NBA's first dynasty, winning five titles in six seasons from 1948–49 through 1953–54. Add the championship the Lakers won in the National Basketball League before they entered the NBA and the count is six crowns in seven seasons—a dynasty by any standard.
^Barreiro, Dan. "The Fab Five". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-11-13. Led by George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers—basketball's first dynasty—ruled the league with five titles in six seasons...From 1948 to 1954, the Minneapolis Lakers ruled professional basketball. They would win six championships in seven years while playing in three different leagues – the National Basketball League (1948), the Basketball Association of America (1949) and the NBA (1950, '52, '53, '54).
^Brown, Clifton. "The Foundation of a Dynasty". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2008-11-12. It is the greatest dynasty in NBA history. It began 49 years ago. It is still hard to believe.
^Puma, Mike. "Sportscenter Biography: Wizard of Westwood". ESPN Classic. Retrieved 2010-02-08. No dynasty in college basketball history compares to the monster Wooden built at UCLA in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 10 NCAA titles in his last 12 seasons before he retired in 1975. From 1967 to 1973, the "Wizard of Westwood" guided the Bruins to a record seven straight national championships...Starting in 1971 and ending in 1974, UCLA won 88 straight games, an NCAA record that hasn't come close to falling. Wooden's teams also compiled four 30–0 seasons and won 19 conference championships, including eight undefeated Pacific Conference seasons.
^ abcdeShaughnessy, Dan (2005-02-05). "Dynasty". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-07-30. And the New England Patriots of the 21st century are established as an NFL dynasty on a par with the Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the 1970s, the 49ers of the 1980s, and the Cowboys of the 1990s.
^ abcdPedulla, Tom (2003-01-23). "NFL dynasties go 'way of dinosaurs'". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-11-12. Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers dominated the NFL through the 1960s. Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" rose in the 1970s. The San Francisco 49ers' West Coast offense rolled in the 1980s. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin made the Dallas Cowboys the team of the 1990s.
^ abLuedtke, Luther (1992). Making America. UNC Press. p. 283. ISBN0-8078-4370-9. These were the rules that Knute Rockne used at Notre Dame to build the greatest football dynasty since the old Yale teams of the 19th century, transforming "Fighting Irish" from an ethnic slur to a badge of pride.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Head coach Red Blaik's Cadets, led by their Heisman-winning backfield of Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard, won consecutive national titles in 1944 and '45 and finished No. 2 to Notre Dame – which it tied – in '46.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. The Irish didn't lose a game in coach Frank Leahy's first four seasons, with two ties serving as their only blemishes. They captured three national titles and produced two Heisman winners, Johnny Lujack and Leon Hart.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson – who would later set an NCAA record with 47 straight victories – produced a 31-game streak from 1948–50. OU finished No. 2 in the AP poll in '49 before winning the national title in '50.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Bear Bryant's teams won national titles in 1961, '64 and '65 and went undefeated in '66, amassing a 60–5–1 record over the six-year span. Stars included quarterback Joe Namath, center Lee Roy Jordan and lineman Billy Neighbors.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Led by head coach Barry Switzer, the Sooners went 54–3–1 over a five-year span, finishing No. 2 in 1971 and '72 before winning 28 straight games from '73–75, capturing consecutive national titles in '74 and '75.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. At the twilight of his career, legendary Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant produced one last run of dominance, winning national titles in 1978 and '79 – the first coming on a famous goal-line stand against Penn State in the Sugar Bowl – and finishing No. 2 in '77.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. Despite losing coach Jimmy Johnson mid-stream (he was replaced by Dennis Erickson), the 'Canes won three national titles and played for two others over a seven-year span. QBs Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta captured Heismans.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-05-01. At the height of Bobby Bowden's dominance,the Florida State Seminoles won two national championships (1993 and 1999), played for three others (1996, 1998 and 2000) and never finished outside the AP top four. Quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke won Heisman Trophies.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. With their unstoppable option offense and a sea of dominating defenders, Tom Osborne's Huskers captured at least a share of three national championships and played for a fourth, all following undefeated regular seasons.
^Futterman, Matthew (2009-12-11). "Grand Valley State: America's Biggest Little School". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-11. Grand Valley State University is a modern dynasty in Division II football. The Lakers, who play in Allendale, Mich., have won four of the past seven championships heading into Saturday's title game against Northwest Missouri State University.
^ abcdefThamel, Pete (2006-08-27). "The Quiet Dynasty". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-04. Carroll College, an elite Catholic institution of 1,500 students in Montana's capital, is one of just two college football programs at any level to win four consecutive national championships. Augustana College of Illinois won four consecutive N.C.A.A. Division III titles in the 1980s.
^ abcdefLawton, Chris (30 December 2020). "The Grey Cup Dynasties". www.cflaa.ca. Canadian Football League Alumni Association. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
^Boehm, Jenn (2008-02-21). "McClay reflects on his long journey". Arena Football League. Retrieved 2008-07-31. He played defensive back at Rice University and attended camp with the Cowboys before making his mark as a wide receiver/linebacker with the Detroit Drive dynasty in late '80s–early '90s.[dead link]
^Sherman, Rodger (February 22, 2018). "The United States Owns Canada's Best Sports". The Ringer. Retrieved April 20, 2018. A pair of Canadian Olympic dynasties died at the hands of Team USA on Thursday in South Korea.
^"Cindy Timchal Profile". The University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2008-08-08. Prior to '91, the Terrapins' last title had come in 1986 under head coach Sue Tyler, but the Maryland dynasty began to re-emerge almost immediately under Timchal's guidance...The dynasty continued throughout the 1998 season despite an 0–2 start following losses to Duke and North Carolina. That season finished the same way as the previous three, however, with Timchal's Terrapins being re-crowned the NCAA champions, this time behind an 11–5 win over Virginia.
^"Chevrolet Clinches 32nd NASCAR Sprint Cup Manufacturers' Championship". PaddockTalk.com. 2008-11-13. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2013-09-07. This marks Team Chevy's sixth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Manufacturers' title for the Bowtie Brigade. The 2008 Manufacturers' Championship continues Chevrolet's dominance of North America's most popular racing series.
^Richards, Huw (2005-11-27), "Rugby: New Zealand dismantles Australia's dynasty, 24–0", The New York Times, retrieved 2011-12-27, Defeat ends a run which makes Australia's recent domination of cricket look like a mere episode. It was 27 years since Australia lost a series to anyone, 33 since it failed to win a competition. New Zealand had not won a series against Australia since 1953.
^"Classy Toulon claim third European title in a row". Reuters. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015. Toulon, befitting a team who have created a rugby dynasty, hit straight back through [Drew] Mitchell's brilliant score and repelled a late charge to send the red and black travelling supporters into raptures.
^King, Jason (2008-11-27). "Bluer pastures suit Petersen". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2008-11-29. No program, though, can boast the national-best winning percentage that Boise State has accomplished over the past 10-plus seasons. Since 1998 the Broncos are 113–26.
^"College Football's 12 Greatest Dynasties". Sports Illustrated. 2005-12-25. Retrieved 2010-06-14. The Trojans have won 34 straight games, captured consecutive AP national championships and produced an unprecedented three Heisman Trophy winners (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush) in four years.
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