The Milwaukee Brewers just joined the short list of first-time champions, knocking off the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series on Wednesday and leaving fewer and fewer franchises still waiting for that first taste of glory.
That kind of milestone always triggers the same question: who’s next? With 15 teams across the four major American sports leagues having won their first championships since 2010, the pool keeps shrinking. But there are still plenty of clubs trying to break through, and in each league, one stands out above the rest.
In MLB, the answer is the Tampa Bay Rays.
A year ago, this felt like a different conversation, with the Seattle Mariners eight outs from their first World Series appearance. But the Rays are the ones who just marched through a weak American League, then ran into a Brewers team that was simply too strong and fell to 0-3 in the Fall Classic.
Among the remaining clubs - the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Seattle - San Diego is the only one that seems to stay in the mix year after year. Still, until proven otherwise, the defending AL champions get the nod.
The NFL has the largest group of title-less teams, with 12 still searching for a Super Bowl. Some of them fit the picture.
Others are a little harder to believe are still on the list. The Buffalo Bills fall into that second category.
Beyond the four straight Super Bowl losses, Buffalo has been a constant in the AFC playoff picture, making every bracket since 2019, but the Bills are only 8-7 with a pair of AFC Championship losses. Every season seems to end the same way: someone else is a little better, or the Kansas City Chiefs are standing in the way.
Still, the talent is there, and eventually they have to get their shot.
In the NBA, the pick is the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Yes, Minnesota sports and championships do not exactly go hand in hand, and yes, some people would probably rather hear the undefeated Minnesota Vikings here. But this is the NBA, and the Timberwolves are the strongest bet in that league.
They’ve reached the playoffs for five straight seasons and have suffered two Western Conference Finals losses along the way. There’s a chance they take a step back after losing Anthony Edwards for the next two months, but among the teams without a title, they make the most sense right now.
If the league expands and Minnesota moves to the East, that case only gets stronger.
The Pacers are probably next in line after that, especially after being a Tyrese Haliburton Game 7 injury away from perhaps getting off this list two seasons ago. But there are also plenty of bad teams in the NBA who could be stuck for a while.
And in the NHL, it’s a tougher call than the other leagues. The Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth all have an argument. But if you want a swing, take the Sharks.
San Jose has been rough lately, but the organization has retooled well and added the best player in the world who can’t buy alcohol in Macklin Celebrini, who has already lived up to expectations. The Sharks have a lot of promising young talent, and with Celebrini front and center, they look like the kind of team worth backing as the next first-time champion.
In Other News...
Wander Franco's Latest Legal Blow Leaves Rays Facing A Bigger Question
Wander Francos legal troubles took another turn this week when a Dominican appeals court upheld his conviction in a sexual abuse case involving a minor, keeping the cloud over one of the Rays most complicated situations firmly in place. The ruling also sustained the separate 10-year prison sentence for the girls mother on extortion and blackmail charges, closing off one avenue of relief even as the case continues to shadow Francos career.
For Tampa Bay, the latest decision sharpens a question that has hung over the organization for months: whether there is any realistic path back to Major League Baseball at all. Franco still has legal options in the Dominican Republic, but any return would also have to clear visa and league discipline hurdles, leaving the Rays and the rest of baseball waiting on a resolution that remains out of their control. [Read more 🡒]
Three Familiar Rays May Not Survive Tampa Bay's 2027 Roster Shakeup
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Lux has been slowed by injuries and the Rays have had little reason to force the issue with so much overlap elsewhere on the roster. Mullins brings a more complicated decision, since his mutual option would push his salary from $7 million to $10 million, but Tampa Bay is believed to be leaning away from that move after an uneven season. Mateo, meanwhile, was useful as a defensive and pinch-running depth piece, yet even his low-cost profile may not be enough to keep him in the picture as the Rays reshape the roster around newer options. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Rotation Uncertainty Could Force A Splash Move With Freddy Peralta
The Padres rotation has become one of the more interesting storylines of the early offseason, with multiple starting pitchers potentially headed for free agency and leaving the club looking for stability. That uncertainty has only sharpened the attention on Freddy Peralta, a veteran arm who has emerged as one of the most talked-about free-agent options in the market.
Peralta is being discussed as a possible multi-year fit for San Diego, and the appeal is obvious for a team trying to avoid a step back on the mound. It is still only projection and speculation at this stage, not a confirmed pursuit or deal, but the fit is strong enough that this could turn into one of the bigger pitching moves of the winter if the Padres decide to get aggressive. [Read more 🡒]