There’s so much to look forward to in 2025. Sports can bring us together and unite us. Whatever sport or sports team you support there is certainly optimism, even if you’re a Manchester United fan.
For me, the bold scenarios listed below are possible but also would intrigue me in some way or another. I cannot promise your favorite team or sport will be mentioned.
Juan Soto and The Mets Miss the Playoffs
No longer protected by Aaron Judge and not able to take advantage of the short porch in right field, Juan Soto will have a different year.
The Mets will have to face a Phillies squad that won 95 games, a Braves squad returning ace pitcher Spencer Strider, and an improving Nationals team. The Mets were in a three-way tie for the final wild-card spot.
The Arizona Diamondbacks recently added stud pitcher Corbin Burnes. They still have a majority of their squad that played in the 2023 World Series.
Google: “Big Mets free agent signings,” to see what happened the last time Steve Cohen spent big in free agency. 2025 isn’t a guarantee for the Mets despite their brilliant run last year.
Adam Silver Will Experiment With Rule Changes…in the G-League
Several people are talking about the NBA ratings if you haven’t noticed. Many eyes have turned to the style of play as a reason for ratings declining.
Three-point attempts are out of control and every game looks the same as the last. Adam Silver, NBA commissioner will enter 2025 knowing that the NBA ratings meal tickets, LeBron, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant are on their way out.
Silver will take a page out of the MLB playbook and implement several rule changes in the development league. Three-point line changed? Hand check back? Who knows what new rules could come to a G-League team near you?
Lewis Hamilton Wins the Drivers’ Championship in F1
Lewis Hamilton has won seven drivers championships. He should have eight. He’s leaving the fourth-best car to join the second-best car. Ferrari finished 13 points behind first-place McLaren in the constructor championship. That is a close margin and the tightest since 2006.
Hamilton entered last season knowing he was going to Ferrari, the problem is everyone in the world also knew. It created an odd dynamic throughout the year. No one can blame Hamilton for losing focus during the season.
Now, Hamilton will likely end his career at Ferrari. In 2025 Ferrari will have an ever-improving car. Ferrari increased its points total by 246 from 2023 to 2024.
UNC Football Makes the Playoffs
Clemson, TCU, UCF on the road, and Syracuse on the road. Those are the toughest games facing Bill Belichick in 2025 at Chapel Hill. Not necessarily murderer’s row.
UNC will enter the season with hype and the best in-game coach in the sport. If you thought Belichick’s defensive scheme confused rookie quarterbacks, how about college-aged quarterbacks trying to learn a new offensive system?
Belichick won’t have to face Miami, SMU, and Florida State. Three teams that should be near or at the top of the ACC in 2025. Yes, even Florida State.
With the playoff expansion there will always be a team or two that plays an easy schedule and only loses a game. Any committee member will look at a one-loss UNC team and want to spice the ratings up in 2025.
Bryce Young is a Unanimous Top-10 QB in 2025
After getting benched at the beginning of this season, many buried Bryce Young. Yet, lots of people missed the important part of development: It’s never linear.
Young has rebounded well and started to make important strides. He’s more accurate, comfortable, and trusts his receivers to make plays. The Panthers themselves are still awful. A solid draft and some solid free-agent signings could change their chances.
The NFC South is a putrid division. If Young can take advantage of this and possible new weapons, 2025 could be his year.
South Carolina Doesn’t Make the Final Four (WCBB)
South Carolina women’s basketball is the closest thing to a dynasty college basketball has on the Men’s or Women’s side. Dawn Staley’s team has won three titles in nine years. In the last five years, they’ve lost nine combined games.
However, something is different this year. UCLA already beat them by 15 this year and looks like the best team. The SEC has two undefeated teams, LSU and Tennessee, and six 1-loss teams other than South Carolina. A “one-seed” in the tournament is no guarantee.
UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, UCONN, and Maryland could all vie for one-seeds.
Women’s college basketball feels deeper than ever at the top, and South Carolina could be the odd team out in 2025.
Caitlin Clark Breaks Every WNBA Record Under Sun, But the Fever Don’t Win it All
2024 was Caitlin Clark’s year. 2025 will also be her year. Unfortunately, the public will see her play less due to her not playing college basketball. However, the added rest should help her.
Clark averaged 19 points a game last year. With a year under her belt and more confidence in her teammates, Clark could go supernova and break A’ja Wilson’s 26.9 ppg set just last season. Take out the early bumps from the start of last year and Clark will be in a better position to dominate.
Despite Clark’s dominance, the Fever will still be in the first year under new head coach Stephanie White. The WNBA has never been deeper and more loaded with talent. Plus, the WNBA playoffs are based on the best eight teams in the league. This great idea prevents a team from getting an “easy,” draw. NBA, take notes.
Ruben Amorim Walks Away From Manchester United
Trying to run a specific formation in soccer with a team that doesn’t fit it, is like a basketball team trying to run up tempo with an old team.
So far since taking over at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has managed eight Premier League games and won only two. The team looked no further to understanding his system than they did when he first got there. Individual mistakes have cost them, but players are being put in positions they aren’t comfortable with.
A squad overhaul seems likely in the summer, but it’s also hard to imagine that Manchester United will be able to get rid of high earners they’ve wanted to get rid of for several transfer windows. 2025 begins with a trip to play Liverpool, it won’t end well (not a bold prediction).
With no squad rebuilds likely, and Amorim already seeming upset and drained, he could reach the point at the beginning of next season(25/26) where it’s better if he leaves. Manchester United’s off and on-field circus will continue in 2025.
Jay Wright Returns to Coaching
Yes, he’s spoken numerous times about not coming back. However, Jay Wright is still only 63 years old. He’s not enamored with the current state of college athletics. Weird how he wasn’t upset about college athletics when the players weren’t getting paid and he was making millions. I digress.
Jay Wright will not coach in college again, but he’s going to coach in the NBA. If these teams underachieve in 2025, two situations would suit him.
The New York Knicks have three Villanova players who played under Wright. He would certainly get a call if an early postseason exit happened to the Knicks. It’s hard to say no to Kentucky, but it’s even harder to say no to the Knicks.
The Philadelphia 76ers started horribly, and Wright is from Pennsylvania. If the 76ers, or the Knicks, lay a dud in the postseason, they too could look to change the coach.
2025 Will Belong to Scottie Scheffler More Than Any Other Athlete
In 2024, Scottie Scheffler won nine golf tournaments. He won an Olympic Gold, the Masters, and finished in the top ten of three out of four majors. Scheffler won seven PGA Tour tournaments. Tiger Woods’ highest was nine.
Scottie Scheffler will enter 2025 as the best golfer on the planet with no sign of slowing down. Scheffler will repeat at the Masters and win at least two of the remaining three majors.
Scheffler’s 2025 dominance will put him on par (pun intended) with Tiger’s golf dominance of the 2000s.
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