From the professional ranks to the collegiate battles throughout all the divisions and sports—looking at you, lacrosse and swimming—some teams just had a better decade than others. They may not have won it all, all the time. However, these schools and professional franchises either stood in the way of glory more often than not or totally reigned from atop Championship Mountain as a perennial 2010s juggernaut.
A quick note: We’re looking for the best here, and that means wins and titles! So if your baseball team crushed the regular season each year but bombed in the Divisional Series, it’s probably not making the cut—and no, I don’t hate your football team.
Here we go!
New England Patriots
Whether you like to admit it or not, the New England Patriots were the NFL’s 2010s. The full hot order. Count ’em out? That’s what coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady loved for the general masses outside of the Boston area to do. And then, they’d pull it together and outthink, out-scheme—out videotape?—your team on their way to Super Bowl Sunday. Half of the decade featured the Patriots in the Grand Finale, with the team winning three times.
USWNT
Even with an unfavorable schedule for piling up accolades, the United States Women’s National team is still one of the best of the absolute best. The team picked up two World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, and added two Gold Cup titles. Shakier times were endured during the Olympic runs this past decade, but the team earned a gold medal in 2012. They’ve had a few winning streaks of over twenty games, and also earned impressive victories at the SheBelieves Cup and the Tournament of Nations.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Moving down to the college football hierarchy, the Alabama Crimson Tide were the dominant force in the 2010s. Nick Saban’s bunch might have endured a slip-up here and there—including 2019—but the Tide always made for a scary opponent. The team won five national titles—2011, 2012, 2015, 2017—and became a minor league of sorts for the NFL. The only knock would be the Tide’s two wins in five tries in the CFP.
North Dakota State Bison
Other than Alabama—and just Alabama—only North Dakota State had a more dominating decade of D-1 pigskin. The show that took place at Bank City Field began as a small whisper circa 2011, and eventually grew into a commonplace existence—where the casual football fan would see the Green and Yellow and know exactly what team was playing. Carson Wentz helped, of course. He was the big-time figure on a smaller team, who helped put said small team on the big-time map. But when you won D-1 FCS titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018…something tells me, the Bisons were headed there anyway.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants might have fallen on rough times these past few seasons, but the NL and baseball supremacy belonged to the Bay Area bunch in the first half of the decade. Three World Series titles—2010,’12,’14—had fans holding their breath every “Even Year” while looking to see if Steve Perry was running up and down the aisle singing “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Boston Red Sox
Other teams such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers had more wins than the Boston Red Sox during the 2010s, but neither of them got the final out of the World Series. The Sox went from diabolical-schemed amusement for Babe Ruth’s ghost to being a World Series success in both the 2000s and 2010s. The team won twice this past decade, with only San Fran besting that effort.
Golden State Warriors
For the past five NBA seasons, it’s been All-Things Golden State Warriors. Led by Steph Curry on the court and coach Steve Kerr on the sidelines—with cameos by fill-in Luke Walton—the Warriors were the type of dominance that causes the “five iconic fan emotions”: Love. Hate. Bandwagon. Love Bandwagon. Hate Bandwagon. Even though the team lost the 2016 Finals, they finished the regular season with a history-making 73-9 record. And that Finals loss in 2016 was easily outweighed by the three other championships in the 2010s.
Minnesota Lynx
One of the most prominent dynasties of the 2010s, the Minnesota Lynx were more dominating than any other team in the WNBA—and arguably in professional basketball. The team won six conference titles and four championships,
The one LeBron James was on
There is no ‘i’ in t-e-a-m. But there is a ‘me,’ and sometimes that type of self-centered bravado wins basketball games—a lot of basketball games. Mind you, this is not meant to be a malicious gut punch at LeBron James. Nope. Instead, this is an honorary position and quite a serious inclusion on this list. LeBron made teams better, period. Full stop. None of the organizations, collectively, were a 2010s behemoth worth listing. But The King? He went to eight—eight!—Finals during the decade, and won three NBA titles. Would those teams have made it without him? Probably not.
Chicago Blackhawks
Here come the Hawks, J. Swayzee!
The Chicago Blackhawks were the toast of Lord Stanley’s Cup in the 2010s. While the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins kept it close, no NHL team had more titles (three) this past decade. Yes, you can argue that the 2009-2010 season isn’t completely in this decade, but the 2009 portion of the season is more of a blink than wide-eyed stare—and I’m not about to challenge any Chicago fan base to a debate…we’ll be here until 2029-2030.
LA Galaxy
The end of the 2010s hasn’t been as strong for the LA Galaxy, with the team losing this year’s conference semi-final to the new LA squad in town, LAFC. But the team won three MLS Cups this past decade—more than any other franchise. They had a few reasonable efforts at the U.S. Cup, and arguably helped increase the league’s reach—on the field and within the media (social included)—because of stars like Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and now Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks
A little Division III football, anyone? Wisconsin-Whitewater changed the NCAA D-III’s landscape in the 2010s. What used to be a permanent residence atop the Stagg Bowl (D-III National Championship) for Mount Union was suddenly more of a timeshare. And we all know how pesky and sometimes unnerving timeshares can be. The Warhawks won it all in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014. During that span, the team dominated the WIAC, too, winning the Conference Championship in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Mount Union Purple Raiders
While the Wisconsin-Whiter dominance made for an interesting twist in the D-III football plotline, it didn’t kill off the most famous star just because things were moving in a different direction. Mount Union was still a force in the 2010s. And though the Warhawks bested the Purple Raiders four Stagg Bowls to three…well, it’s still worth noting what the powerhouse from Alliance, Ohio also accomplished:
OAC titles: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
National Champs: 2012, 2015, 2017.
Penn St. Nittany Lions wrestling
Most of the sports world knows about Penn State because of the massive football tradition in Happy Valley (the good and the bad), but the school has been a complete wrestling mania in the 2010s. Eight of the last nine National titles have gone to the Nittany Lions, including four in a row.
Stanford Cardinal women’s soccer
Although coach Paul Radcliffe’s program doesn’t get the shine that some of the bigger, more commercialized sports receive, what the Cardinal women’s soccer team accomplished in the 2010s was top-notch. They won three National titles while holding court—er, field—out west with Pac-12 titles in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. During that stretch, the team only lost seven conference games.
Stanford Cardinal men’s soccer
Stanford’s men’s soccer team also enjoyed the 2010s, and continued a strong soccer tradition, winning three NCAA titles—2015, 2016, 2017—while adding another four College Cup titles.
Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs men’s hockey
The Bulldogs’ 2010s were quite the frozen treat. While fending off other squads like Boston College, North Dakota and Michigan, Scott Sandelin’s bunch appeared in the NCAA tournament seven times, made it to the Frozen Four four times, and won the National title three times.
Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey
Keeping the puck in Minnesota’s end, we’re heading about two hours down the street to Minneapolis, where the Lady Golden Gophers have been a dynamic force on the ice this past decade. Frozen Four appearances? Nine times. Only 2011 was a Gopher-less party. Titles? Four of them: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016. No team had that kind of dominance in the 2010s (yes…I see you, Clarkson).
Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
Arguably the greatest show on synthetic dirt, Vanderbilt’s baseball team was tops (Topps?) in college baseball in the 2010s. With an endless stack of potential—and eventual—first-rounders, the Commodores achieved a rare feat this past decade: they reached the College World Series four times. Based on the road to get to Omaha—regionals and super regionals—it’s ordinarily a cool feat if a team makes it once…in the school’s history! Not Vandy, though. They made it to the tourney every year this past decade and won the regionals in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
And the 2019 title was a sweet finale and follow-up to their runner-up performance in 2015.
Oklahoma Sooners softball
Head coach Patty Gasso probably knew this talented group would be on the list “Sooner” than later. Oklahoma’s softball team was an absolute titan in the 2010s. The ladies out of Norman appeared in the Women’s College World Series eight times, with two runner-up nods and three National titles.
Villanova Wildcats men’s basketball
Sorry, Duke. Yes, I know UConn had a decent decade. Both schools were around the hoop more often than not. But only Villanova dominated from the regular season to the ceasing of madness in March. Duke won its conference title once the past decade. And while UConn had to bounce around from the Big East to a new conference that’s named after a Clooney film, they, too, haven’t been a slam dunk. Villanova, on the other hand, won the Big East regular season five times, the Conference championship four times, went dancing nine times, and won it all twice.
UConn Huskies women’s basketball
When it comes to NCAA women’s basketball in the 2010s, there’s UConn…and then other teams a casual fan would need to Google before a confident confirmation. UConn and Geno Auriemma are practically the cover of the NCAAW Basketball History book. The past decade, the Lady Huskies made it to the Final Four every year and won it all in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Salisbury Sea Gulls men’s lacrosse
While the argument can be made for Duke’s or Limestone’s (D-2) stellar lacrosse decade, neither are as impressive as the Salisbury Sea Gulls. While it does sound more like a British cartoon of misfit sea birds, the Maryland-based university is actually a legit lacrosse powerhouse. They had a men’s team that made seven D-III finals, winning in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017. The Lady Sea Gulls added three D-III titles, in five appearances. That makes for one of the winningest combos in all of the NCAA.
Maryland Terrapins women’s lacrosse
It was a banner decade for lacrosse in Maryland colleges, with the Lady Terrapin’s—following the Sea Gulls over by the other side of the Chesapeake Bay—going on an awe-inducing run. They won the Big Ten regular-season nine times, the conference championship eight times, made it to the Final Four every year, and—and!—won five titles, with a runner-up tip of the cap three times.
Oklahoma Sooners men’s and women’s gymnastics
Heading back to Norman, Oklahoma, for one of the most intriguing—and probably overlooked—squads this past decade. The Sooners men’s and women’s’ gymnastic teams had a top-tier collective performance in the 2010s. The men’s team picked up four National titles—2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018—while the women’s team continued their dominance with another four. That’s eight titles!
Stanford Cardinal women’s tennis
40/No-love-for-the-opponent.
Few teams can claim perennial dominance like the Cardinal women’s tennis team can—beyond the 2010s, too. Like UConn basketball, the Lady Cardinal are the benchmark of tennis greatness. This past decade was another demonstration of the talented groups’ ability to hold court, too, as they captured the National title in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Texas Longhorns men’s swimming and diving
(Arguably) Last but not least…
You probably never think about Bevo doing a perfect one-and-a-half with zero splash upon entry into the pool. And I’m pretty sure steer aren’t great swimmers. But still, swimming and diving at the University of Texas are more successful than its popular brother, the football team. The Longhorn’s squad has won the Big 12 title every year since 2010, and also picked up five National titles along the way.
