Every sports fan impatiently waits for the day they witness their team win a championship. But there is no greater feat for a team to accomplish than obtaining dynastical status. Although sports organizations can rise to this level, it is in no way permanent, and they eventually fall back into mediocrity or rebuilding periods. Constructing a dynasty is a rare, generational occurrence.
To achieve a dynasty requires not only dominating for a short era. It demands the maintenance of a certain level of success across multiple seasons, adapting to changing rosters, shifting competition and evolving strategies. The fans of dynasties savor and rejoice in their victories, and other fanbases loathe them. Fabled rivalries are inevitably developed in the process. Here are the five best dynasties since 2015 and their paths to triumph:
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Appearing in five of the last six Super Bowls will undoubtedly spring a team to the top spot of this list; not to mention, reaching the playoffs for 10 straight years and winning the AFC West division for the past nine seasons. The Kansas City Chiefs have conquered three Super Bowl championships (2020, 2023 and 2024) and competed in the most recent Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles with the opportunity for a “three-peat” on the line.
But Kansas City did not suddenly become the perennial contender that it is today. An organization with a rich history and average success, the team tied a franchise-worst 2-14 record in the 2012 season. The Chiefs turned the corner the following year under their new, well-respected head coach, Andy Reid, earning an 11-5 record and losing in the Wild Card round.
True success did not arrive for Kansas City until the drafting of quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017. In his first season as the starter in 2018, Mahomes threw for over 5,000 yards with 52 total touchdowns, winning MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, among other accolades. Mahomes went on to win another MVP award in 2022 and has led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship game in all his seven years as the starter. Paired with future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce on offense, and a defense led by Chris Jones — as well as younger players such as Nick Bolton, Trent McDuffie and Justin Reid — Mahomes continuously finds a way to win and expand the Chiefs’ dynasty.
2. Golden State Warriors
As one of the most dominant dynasties in NBA history, the Golden State Warriors defined a new era of basketball with an emphasis on three-point shooting and fast-paced offense. Their innovative strategy and ability to win was led by the “Splash Brothers” — Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — and Draymond Green, the anchor of the defense and heart of the team. This core trio and head coach Steve Kerr stabilized the Warriors’ turbulent roster turnover through consistency and adaptability.
Golden State won its first NBA championship of its dynasty period during Kerr’s debut season as head coach (2014-15), and reached the championship again in the four following seasons, winning twice more (2016-17 and 2017-18). Significant contributions were made by Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and two MVP campaigns by Curry during this span. The Warriors experienced injuries and roster changes in a dreadful 2019-20 season but rebounded to win the 2022 NBA Championship around role players like Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins.
With the mix of seasoned veterans — including the recently-acquired Jimmy Butler — and young stars like Jonathan Kuminga and Quinten Post, Golden State continues to be a playoff contender and remains a testament to the longevity required to construct an NBA dynasty.
3. Houston Astros
Undoubtedly the most hated franchise of MLB in recent years, the Houston Astros’ memorable success is tainted by their cheating scandal, in which they illegally stole pitching signs from opposing teams in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Because the Astros won the 2017 World Series, their accomplishments were especially scrutinized and discounted. Nonetheless, Houston proved itself by winning the Fall Classic in 2022 — this time, it was done cleanly and by many players who were not on the 2017-18 rosters.
Houston has made the postseason for the last eight seasons, winning the AL West seven times and reaching the ALCS seven consecutive seasons (2017-2023). They appeared in the World Series four times, falling in electrifying series to the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves in their two losses.
Within its dynasty phase, Houston was able to smoothly rebuild its roster, all the while consolidating its success. Throughout the years, the team suffered key losses of players like George Springer, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman in the lineup, and Gerrit Cole, Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander as leaders in the pitching rotation. However, they added valuable stars into the batters’ box with Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker, and young pitchers like Ronel Blanco, Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez. Ultimately, the only hitter remaining from the team that won in 2017 is second baseman Jose Altuve, allegedly one of the few players who did not participate in the sign-stealing scandal.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
Big money and sunny weather prove to be superior in this new era of baseball — an era heavily influenced by the Los Angeles Dodgers. With immense success from 2015 to 2019, the next five years foreshadow that the Dodgers are just getting started. They have made the postseason 12 straight years, winning the NL West 11 times, and secured second place in 2021 with 106 wins, tied for second in franchise history. Although they reached the World Series twice (2017 and 2018), they would not become victorious until the 60-game COVID-19 season in 2020.
Even still, Los Angeles was known for losing embarrassingly in the playoffs after successful regular seasons, and the only ring it could show for had an asterisk next to it. With no problem landing the players they wanted, the Dodgers took in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, among others, to solidify their lineup. But the real splash came when they signed Shohei Ohtani to a seven-year, $700 million contract entering the 2024 season. They also indulged in Japanese superstar pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, granting him $325 million before throwing a pitch in MLB. Evidently, these signings paid off and Los Angeles returned to the World Series against the New York Yankees, emerging as champions. The Dodgers are poised to multiply their success heading into 2025 after a legendary offseason, in which they signed another Japanese pitching star in Roki Sasaki and two-time Cy Young Award-winner Blake Snell, fabricating what looks like one of the greatest pitching rotations of all time. According to ESPN, as of Feb. 24, the Dodgers have +275 odds — or around a 26.7% chance — to win the 2025 World Series.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
In a chapter of the NHL marked by inconsistency where anybody can win, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the most consistent teams. Under 11 seasons with Jon Cooper as head coach, the Lightning have made the playoffs 10 times, including a current seven-season streak. Cooper’s success proves why he is the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL today. The team was led by captain Steven Stamkos, a dependable scoring threat, Nikita Kucherov, a perennial Hart Trophy candidate, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, a cornerstone to Tampa Bay’s success as one of the most dominant goalies in the league.
The Lightning lost to a powerful Chicago Blackhawks team in the 2014-2015 Stanley Cup Finals and would not return until its three consecutive trips in 2020, 2021 and 2022, winning the first two but dropping the last. Players such as Victor Hedman, Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point stepped up in decisive moments to propel Tampa Bay to such achievements.
The team’s remarkable success lies in the decisions made by the front office in the face of the NHL’s salary cap. The fact that Tampa Bay could retain the faces of its franchise for so long shines a light on its ability to maintain excellence and commitment to winning.
