- Superteams are on the rise in sports media and culture
- There have been many famous superteams in a variety of sports that have sparked major controversy
- Superteams are a controversial topic in sports, but also a prevalent one
When thinking of the best sports team in the world, the first image that comes to mind is a team of high costs, extensive coverage and big names. First coined by the NBA in the 1960s to describe the Los Angeles Lakers, the term “superteam” — a dominant team composed of multiple high-skilled players — has continued to gain notice through the years across many sports, earning a complex reputation. While many fans believe that they diminish competitiveness in sports, others argue that superteams are vital to creating exciting and engaging narratives. Despite the controversy surrounding their ethics and origins, superteams remain a dynamic aspect of sports culture.
Real Madrid
The modern superteam began in Madrid with Real Madrid, where three soccer superstars came together to form one of the greatest sports dynasties in history. Centered around Portuguese soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo, Welsh former player Gareth Bale and French player Karim Benzema, this superteam was constructed by the players’ expensive free agent signings, with both Ronaldo and Bale signing record-high contracts in their respective years.
Their success and novel yet controversial playstyle led to backlash and anger from many fans, who accused the team of buying its way to dominance with expensive contracts signed by star players. Critics bashed Real Madrid for prioritizing star-focused attention over a selfless team-involved operation.
Due to the public backlash received by Real Madrid, many teams have begun to develop their dynasties by recruiting young players — such as Yamine Lamal with FC Barcelona — rather than through high-cost acquisitions. These changes in recruitment have impacted how many modern sports teams are structured, with more teams switching their focus to naturally building their rosters.
“With soccer in Europe, it is much less restrictive with money,” social studies teacher Luca Signore said. “The cities that win are usually going to be the biggest ones, since they have the biggest markets, like London, Madrid or Barcelona.”
Golden State Warriors
The NBA’s history has been dominated by periods of powerhouse teams, leading to the league becoming synonymous with the concept of a superteam, most famously the Golden State Warriors. Unlike other superteams, the Warriors dynasty came from humble beginnings, with the drafting of players Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
The Warriors dominated, as their play style relied heavily on off-ball movement and perimeter shooting. When they won their first championship in 2015, they were seen as underdogs.
“In the 2010s, I was a huge Warriors hater because they kept on winning,” senior Mrinal Dwivedi said. “I was a die-hard Cavaliers fan when I was younger, so it felt like all that mattered in the NBA was being on a superteam. There was no real loyalty or connection to their team anymore.”
After the Warriors achieved the greatest regular season in NBA history, they were joined by player Kevin Durant. Fans reacted to the star signing with outrage. As they began to believe the Warriors’ dominance led to a lack of parity, the team became villains of the NBA.
Kansas City Chiefs
In recent years, despising the Kansas City Chiefs and their dominance has become a common trend. The Chiefs began their superteam dynasty in 2017 by drafting Patrick Mahomes. They paired their new rookie quarterback with star Travis Kelce and Andy Reid, a masterful coach. During the Chief’s reign of dominance, they built their roster through free agency signings and draft picks, leading to a healthy balance of defense and offense.
“I think that people hate on the Chiefs because they’re too good and get all the clout, with everything about the referees favoring them,” junior Krishna Anbuchevelan said.
While fans typically dislike superteams for their dominance, the public focus on Kelce’s and pop star Taylor Swift’s relationship, rather than actual play, was the target of criticism. Although in some ways dominant, the team was built conventionally.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers, an MLB team that has seen phenomenal success in recent years, have created their own rendition of a superteam. In 2024, he team’s star player, Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani, signed a record deal of $700 million for 10 years —the largest annual value deal in the league’s history. With the pairing of other star players like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers found immediate success, winning the 2024 and 2025 World Series, and solidifying their position as a dynasty.
Many critics deem it unfair that the Dodgers, located in Los Angeles, can lavishly spend a higher quantity of money on star players — supposedly buying success — than teams in smaller markets, making them the image of competitive imbalance in the MLB.
“The benefit of having super teams is that you can gain interest in the sport if you don’t know about it,” math teacher Chris Baugh said. “But I think it hurts competition in terms of the league, so it makes your team less desirable to be a fan of.”
