SOCCER
LA's professional sport franchises all recent title winners except MLS clubs
The Lakers (NBA), Dodgers (MLB) and Rams (NFL) have all won their respective league titles in recent history, unlike the Galaxy and LAFC in MLS.
There will be pressure on the Los Angeles-based teams in Major League Soccer for the upcoming 2022 campaign that is scheduled to start on 26 February. The Galaxy and Los Angeles FC will try to win the 2022 MLS Cup to keep the winning mentality in the ‘City of Angels’ after the recent success enjoyed by other franchises in the NBA, MLB and NFL.
The Lakers started it all
In 2020 the Los Angeles Lakers were able to win the NBA championship for the first time in a decade, led by LeBron James. The ‘Purple and Gold’ were not able to retain the title in the following season and this year they are trying to make a late push to reach the playoffs.
Following the success of the Lakers in the NBA, the Dodgers were able to finally win the MLB title in October 2020. The last time they had won it was in 1988 and they had already lost in several finals in the past five years. But they were able to give the city of Los Angeles happiness in the year of the covid-19 pandemic and keep the winning mentality going.
Last Sunday the Rams continued the positive streak for Los Angeles after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. This is the franchise's second title and the first one since returning to Los Angeles. Now the Los Angeles Galaxy or LAFC will try to continue this winning streak in the 2022 MLS regular season.
LAFC is a fairly new franchise and they have been close to reaching the final in their last four seasons. This year they were able to retain 2019 MLS MVP Carlos Vela, at least until the summer, and if healthy he can lead the ‘Black and Gold’ to the final. On the other hand, the Galaxy, the club with the most league titles (five), have struggled to make it to the playoffs in the last five seasons.
This year they brought in some new faces to make the team stronger and make a serious run to win the MLS Cup. The Galaxy signed Douglas Costa last week and he could be the threat on offense they lacked last year. The last time they won the MLS Cup was in 2014, with Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.