Updating this once again now that the NBA and NHL regular seasons are over. This is the list of the USA's longest streaks among major professional sports teams. This list is limited to the top 4 leagues, plus MLS and the WNBA. Over and under .500 is considered to be when there are more/fewer wins than losses (so draws are counted as half of each), and for the NHL OT losses are counted the same as regular losses.
Changes since the January update? The Avalanche, Flyers, Pacers, and Kings all missed out on the playoffs. Previously all four teams were in the top ten. This now means that two MLS teams (Rapids and Revolution) are in the top ten.
The Avs maintain their place in the Over .500 list though, while the Red Wings and Devils leave the Yankees behind for first (at least until October).
The Warriors drop off the Under .500 list (they were second), as they finally had a winning season after 12 years of losing. Now the gap between the Pirates and everyone else is even larger.
Playoff Streaks
1 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 16 | 2 | New York Yankees | MLB | 12 | 3 | San Antonio Spurs | NBA | 10 | 3 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 10 | 3 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 10 | 6 | Los Angeles Sparks | WNBA | 8 | 7 | Dallas Mavericks | NBA | 7 | 8 | Detroit Pistons | NBA | 6 | 8 | New Jersey Nets | NBA | 6 | 10 | Colorado Rapids | MLS | 5 | 10 | New England Revolution | MLS | 5 | 10 | Indianapolis Colts | NFL | 5 | 13 | DC United | MLS | 4 | 13 | New York Red Bulls | MLS | 4 | 13 | Denver Nuggets | NBA | 4 | 13 | Miami Heat | NBA | 4 | 13 | New England Patriots | NFL | 4 | 13 | Seattle Seahawks | NFL | 4 | 13 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 4 | 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 4 | 13 | Connecticut Sun | WNBA | 4 | 13 | Detroit Shock | WNBA | 4 | 13 | Sacramento Monarchs | WNBA | 4 | 24 | St. Louis Cardinals | MLB | 3 | 24 | Chicago Bulls | NBA | 3 | 24 | Phoenix Suns | NBA | 3 | 24 | Washington Wizards | NBA | 3 | 24 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 3 | 24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 3 | 24 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 3 | 24 | Seattle Storm | WNBA | 3 | 32 | San Diego Padres | MLB | 2 | 32 | Chicago Fire | MLS | 2 | 32 | FC Dallas | MLS | 2 | 32 | Cleveland Cavaliers | NBA | 2 | 32 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA | 2 | 32 | Chicago Bears | NFL | 2 | 32 | New York Giants | NFL | 2 | 32 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 2 | 32 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 2 | 32 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 32 | Houston Comets | WNBA | 2 | 32 | Indiana Fever | WNBA | 2 | 44 | Detroit Tigers | MLB | 1 | 44 | Los Angeles Dodgers | MLB | 1 | 44 | Minnesota Twins | MLB | 1 | 44 | New York Mets | MLB | 1 | 44 | Oakland Athletics | MLB | 1 | 44 | Chivas USA | MLS | 1 | 44 | Houston Dynamo | MLS | 1 | 44 | Golden State Warriors | NBA | 1 | 44 | Houston Rockets | NBA | 1 | 44 | Orlando Magic | NBA | 1 | 44 | Toronto Raptors | NBA | 1 | 44 | Utah Jazz | NBA | 1 | 44 | Baltimore Ravens | NFL | 1 | 44 | Dallas Cowboys | NFL | 1 | 44 | Kansas City Chiefs | NFL | 1 | 44 | New Orleans Saints | NFL | 1 | 44 | New York Jets | NFL | 1 | 44 | Philadelphia Eagles | NFL | 1 | 44 | San Diego Chargers | NFL | 1 | 44 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 1 | 44 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 1 | 44 | New York Islanders | NHL | 1 | 44 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1 | 44 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 1 | 44 | Washington Mystics | WNBA | 1 |
Over .500 Streaks
1 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 15 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 15 | 3 | New York Yankees | MLB | 14 | 4 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 12 | 5 | San Antonio Spurs | NBA | 10 | 5 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 10 | 7 | Boston Red Sox | MLB | 9 | 7 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 9 | 9 | Oakland Athletics | MLB | 8 | 10 | St. Louis Cardinals | MLB | 7 | 10 | Dallas Mavericks | NBA | 7 | 12 | Houston Astros | MLB | 6 | 12 | Minnesota Twins | MLB | 6 | 12 | Detroit Pistons | NBA | 6 | 12 | New England Patriots | NFL | 6 | 12 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 6 | 17 | Denver Broncos | NFL | 5 | 17 | Indianapolis Colts | NFL | 5 | 17 | Seattle Storm | WNBA | 5 | 20 | Chicago White Sox | MLB | 4 | 20 | Philadelphia Phillies | MLB | 4 | 20 | Denver Nuggets | NBA | 4 | 20 | Miami Heat | NBA | 4 | 20 | Seattle Seahawks | NFL | 4 | 20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 4 | 20 | Connecticut Sun | WNBA | 4 | 20 | Sacramento Monarchs | WNBA | 4 | 28 | Los Angeles Angels | MLB | 3 | 28 | San Diego Padres | MLB | 3 | 28 | DC United | MLS | 3 | 28 | Cleveland Cavaliers | NBA | 3 | 28 | Phoenix Suns | NBA | 3 | 28 | San Diego Chargers | NFL | 3 | 28 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 3 | 28 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 3 | 28 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 3 | 28 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 3 | 38 | New York Mets | MLB | 2 | 38 | Chicago Fire | MLS | 2 | 38 | FC Dallas | MLS | 2 | 38 | New England Revolution | MLS | 2 | 38 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA | 2 | 38 | Chicago Bears | NFL | 2 | 38 | Dallas Cowboys | NFL | 2 | 38 | Kansas City Chiefs | NFL | 2 | 38 | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | NHL | 2 | 38 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 2 | 38 | New York Rangers | NHL | 2 | 38 | Houston Comets | WNBA | 2 | 38 | Indiana Fever | WNBA | 2 | 51 | Detroit Tigers | MLB | 1 | 51 | Los Angeles Dodgers | MLB | 1 | 51 | Toronto Blue Jays | MLB | 1 | 51 | Chivas USA | MLS | 1 | 51 | Houston Dynamo | MLS | 1 | 51 | Chicago Bulls | NBA | 1 | 51 | Golden State Warriors | NBA | 1 | 51 | Houston Rockets | NBA | 1 | 51 | Toronto Raptors | NBA | 1 | 51 | Utah Jazz | NBA | 1 | 51 | Baltimore Ravens | NFL | 1 | 51 | New Orleans Saints | NFL | 1 | 51 | New York Jets | NFL | 1 | 51 | Philadelphia Eagles | NFL | 1 | 51 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 1 | 51 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 1 | 51 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1 | 51 | Detroit Shock | WNBA | 1 | 51 | Los Angeles Sparks | WNBA | 1 | 51 | Phoenix Mercury | WNBA | 1 | 51 | Washington Mystics | WNBA | 1 |
Under .500 Streaks
1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | MLB | 14 | 2 | Baltimore Orioles | MLB | 9 | 2 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | MLB | 9 | 4 | Atlanta Hawks | NBA | 8 | 4 | Arizona Cardinals | NFL | 8 | 6 | Cincinnati Reds | MLB | 6 | 6 | Colorado Rockies | MLB | 6 | 6 | New York Knicks | NBA | 6 | 6 | Detroit Lions | NFL | 6 | 6 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 6 | 6 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 6 | 12 | Houston Texans | NFL | 5 | 13 | Orlando Magic | NBA | 4 | 13 | Cleveland Browns | NFL | 4 | 13 | Oakland Raiders | NFL | 4 | 13 | San Francisco 49ers | NFL | 4 | 13 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 4 | 13 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 4 | 13 | San Antonio Silver Stars | WNBA | 4 | 20 | Arizona Diamondbacks | MLB | 3 | 20 | Kansas City Royals | MLB | 3 | 20 | Seattle Mariners | MLB | 3 | 20 | Charlotte Bobcats | NBA | 3 | 20 | Milwaukee Bucks | NBA | 3 | 20 | New Orleans Hornets | NBA | 3 | 20 | Portland Trailblazers | NBA | 3 | 20 | Washington Capitols | NHL | 3 | 20 | Charlotte Sting | WNBA | 3 | 29 | Chicago Cubs | MLB | 2 | 29 | San Francisco Giants | MLB | 2 | 29 | Texas Rangers | MLB | 2 | 29 | Columbus Crew | MLS | 2 | 29 | Real Salt Lake | MLS | 2 | 29 | Boston Celtics | NBA | 2 | 29 | Minnesota Timberwolves | NBA | 2 | 29 | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA | 2 | 29 | Seattle Supersonics | NBA | 2 | 29 | Buffalo Bills | NFL | 2 | 29 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 2 | 29 | New York Islanders | NHL | 2 | 29 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 2 | 29 | Minnesota Lynx | WNBA | 2 | 43 | Atlanta Braves | MLB | 1 | 43 | Cleveland Indians | MLB | 1 | 43 | Florida Marlins | MLB | 1 | 43 | Milwaukee Brewers | MLB | 1 | 43 | Washington Nationals | MLB | 1 | 43 | Colorado Rapids | MLS | 1 | 43 | Kansas City Wizards | MLS | 1 | 43 | Los Angeles Galaxy | MLS | 1 | 43 | New York Red Bulls | MLS | 1 | 43 | Indiana Pacers | NBA | 1 | 43 | Los Angeles Clippers | NBA | 1 | 43 | Memphis Grizzlies | NBA | 1 | 43 | Sacramento Kings | NBA | 1 | 43 | Atlanta Falcons | NFL | 1 | 43 | Miami Dolphins | NFL | 1 | 43 | Minnesota Vikings | NFL | 1 | 43 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | NFL | 1 | 43 | Washington Redskins | NFL | 1 | 43 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 1 | 43 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 1 | 43 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 1 | 43 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 43 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 1 | 43 | Chicago Sky | WNBA | 1 | 43 | New York Liberty | WNBA | 1 | |
Comments on "Playoffs, Over .500, and Under .500 Streaks"
Just for the sake of fairness/full disclosure, can you perhaps italicize the teams whose streaks stretch the full length of their existence?
For instance, the Orioles and Devil Rays both look equally incompetent with their 9-year losing streaks. But the Orioles have several World Series titles to their credit, as well. Tampa's only been around for the 9 years they've been losing.
The Columbus Blue Jackets' 6-year losing streak (the length of their existence) is hardly comparable to the New York Knicks.
Thanks for a great 'blog.