Sports teams that were crowned champions in 2025

The world of sports gave fans a little bit of everything in 2025.

There were multiple back-to-back champions, one of the most exciting Games 7s in recent memory, dominant regular seasons capped off with title runs and much more.

Here are all the champions that were crowned in the calendar year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON News

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were able to get revenge on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The Chiefs came into the big game looking for their third straight Super Bowl victory, a streak that began by beating the Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII, but the Eagles denied them the chance to make history. The Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22 as their defense dominated the Chiefs’ offense throughout the game. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP.

The Eagles went 14-3 in the regular season, but fell short of the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They beat the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round, topped the Los Angeles Rams in a snow game during the Divisional Round, and defeated their division rivals, the Washington Commanders, in the NFC Championship Game. It was the Eagles’ second Super Bowl victory in team history.

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder capped off a dominant regular season with a Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers, winning their first title in the franchise’s 17 years in Oklahoma City. Game 7 was exciting, a 103-91 victory, but an injury is what will be remembered most about this game. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in the first quarter after getting off to a bright start, scoring nine points in seven minutes. The Pacers still struggled after losing Haliburton, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Thunder.

The Thunder, led by MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, went 68-14 in the regular season. Between the regular season and playoffs, the Thunder won a combined 84 games, the third-most combined wins by a team in NBA history. Only the 2016-16 Golden State Warriors (88) and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (87) won more. The Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies, beat the Denver Nuggets in seven games and the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games on their way to the title.

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers

In 2025, the Dodgers became the first consecutive Major League Baseball champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, who won three consecutive titles. The Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games, defeating the Blue Jays in extra innings of Game 7 in one of the most exciting World Series games in history. The Blue Jays held a 3-2 lead in the series back in Canada, but the Dodgers won two road games as they battled elimination to win their second straight title.

The Dodgers weren’t as dominant in the regular season in 2025 as they were in 2024 (93 wins compared to 98 in 2024), but they still finished on top. The Dodgers’ bullpen faltered down the stretch, so manager Dave Roberts got creative and used several starters in relief. Roberts made young starter Roki Sasaki the team’s closer in October. Yoshinobu Yamamoto won the World Series MVP after pitching 37.1 innings in the postseason, going 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA. The Dodgers swept the Cincinnati Reds in the wild card round, beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the Division Series, and swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.

News DIGITAL HAD THE MOST ENGAGED STORY OF 2025, 10 IN THE TOP 100 AMONG FEATURED NEWS MEDIA, ACCORDING TO CHARTBEAT

NHL: Florida Panthers

Not only did the Florida Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions, but they also beat the Edmonton Oilers in both seasons to do so. Last season, the Panthers were nearly swept after leading the series 3-0 before securing victory in a thrilling Game 7. This season, there wasn’t as much theatrics as the Panthers won in six games, with Sam Reinhart scoring four goals in the team’s 5-1 series victory. Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) for the Panthers.

For the Panthers, it was their third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, as they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. The Panthers beat their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in five games, beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games and the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals. They became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Lightning did so in 2020 and 2021.

College Football: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes nearly missed the College Football Playoff after improbably losing to Michigan at home, but managed to sneak in and then dominate the standings. In the first round of the College Football Playoffs, the Buckeyes defeated Tennessee 42-17 at home. They then avenged their loss to Oregon in the next round after losing to the Ducks 32-31 on the road in October, the Buckeyes then demolished the Ducks in the Rose Bowl, winning 41-21. In the Cotton Bowl, the College Football Playoff semifinal, the Buckeyes’ defense stifled Texas’ explosive offense and won 28-14.

In the championship, the Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame 34-23 to win their ninth national championship in program history. In previous years, before the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams, Ohio State likely would have missed the tournament after losing to Michigan. But with the new format, they were in a lower position, but they showed that they were the best team in the country with a great performance when it mattered most.

WNBA: Las Vegas Aces

The Aces became a dynasty in 2025, winning their third title in four seasons. In the first WNBA best-of-seven final format in league history, the Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in four games. The Aces were not as dominant as in previous years, as at one point during the regular season they fell to .500 before putting together an impressive 16-game winning streak, earning them the second playoff berth. A’ja Wilson was named Finals MVP for the second time in her career.

The Aces beat the Seattle Storm 2-1 in the first round, beat the Indiana Fever 3-2 in five games and won Game 5 in overtime, before defeating the Mercury. Becky Hammon, who took over as Aces head coach in 2022, has a 10-2 record in the WNBA Finals.

RARE GREAT WHITE SHARK ENCOUNTER OFF THE COAST OF MAINE CAPTURED IN A HEART-STOPPING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO

Men’s College Basketball: Florida Gators

The Florida Gators finished 36-4, capping their outstanding regular season with a championship. The Gators, who were one of the top four seeds in the tournament, defeated many of the top teams during March Madness to win it all. The Gators defeated No. 16 Norfolk State 95-69 in the first round, but faced a tough second-round tie at UConn, winners of the last two national championships.

Florida topped UConn 77-75 and then beat No. 4 Maryland 87-71 in the Sweet Sixteen. In the Elite Eight, Florida defeated No. 3 Texas Tech 84-79, setting them up for a clash against No. 1 Auburn. In this year’s Final Four, the last four teams remaining were the top seeds. Florida beat Auburn 79-73, then rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat No. 1 Houston 65-63. Head coach Todd Golden became the youngest coach to win a national championship (39) since 37-year-old Jim Valvano led NC State to a title in 1983.

Women’s College Basketball: UConn Huskies

UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma added another title to his already packed trophy case as the Huskies won their record 12th national title. The Huskies finished 37-3, winning their last 16 games. They absolutely dominated in both the Big East and March Madness, winning both. Their closest margin of victory throughout the tournaments was 14 points, which was their 78-64 victory over USC in the Elite Eight.

UConn defeated No. 15 Arkansas State, No. 10 South Dakota State, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 1 USC, No. 1 UCLA and No. 1 South Carolina in its title run. South Carolina had won two of the last three championships and was looking to become a dynasty. UConn avenged its loss to South Carolina in 2022 in the national championship with their 82-59 victory in 2025.

HOLIDAY DREAMS FALL SHORT: 5 OF THE ‘MOST COMPLAINED’ CHRISTMAS ATTRACTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

NASCAR: Kyle Larson

Larson won his second NASCAR championship in overtime over Denny Hamlin. Hamlin was seeking his first championship title, but a late caution at Phoenix Raceway sent the final to overtime. When the caution came out, Hamlin put on four new tires, while Larson only put on two.

Going into the final two-lap sprint, Larson was fifth while Hamlin dropped to tenth. Larson finished third and Hamlin sixth, while Ryan Blaney, who was already eliminated from contention, won the race. Hamlin led 208 of the 319 laps in that race, but was unable to do so, giving Larson the victory. Larson won his first title in 2021.

MLS: InterMiami

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 and won the MLS Cup. Messi provided two assists in the victory, as Inter Mia finally won their most sought-after championship after signing Messi in July 2023. They had previously won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters Shield in 2024, and are now the 16th MLS Cup winner of all time.

Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, champions of Spain and FC Barcelona, ​​announced that they will retire before the 2025 season and will become champions. For Messi, the MLS Cup is the world-record 47th trophy he has won for a club or country in his illustrious career.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP

NWSL: Gotham City

For the second time in three seasons, Gotham City are NWSL champions. Gotham City entered the postseason as the eighth seed and became the lowest seed in league history to win the championship. When they won in 2023, they were the sixth team in the six-team playoff standings.

Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós won his seventh playoff game, which is a league record. Gotham City had already won the Concacaf Champions Cup W, making the NWSL championship the second victory for the club, making 2025 a banner year.

Follow News Digital sports coverage in Xand subscribe to the News Sports Huddle newsletter.