LA Sports: Ranking The Best Years in Los Angeles Sports History

2002: A Championship Flurry

In 2002 from January to February the Southern California region celebrated titles as it never had before or since. Whether it was big-time sports or the niche ones fans had plenty to celebrate all year. In June the Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the championship year by winning their third consecutive NBA title. It was another dominant performance by the duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant as they swept the New Jersey Nets out of the NBA FInals.

The Los Angeles Spark joined their fellow Staples Center tenants two months later, winning their second consecutive WNBA title sweeping the New York Liberty marking the last time a team won back to back titles in the WNBA.

In October the titles kept rolling, first, the LA Galaxy won their first MLS Cup championship after losing in the title game three other times including in 2001. The title was won on a sudden-death goal by forward Carlos Ruiz who capped off his MVP season with the title winner.

In late-October the Anaheim Angels finally tasted postseason glory, defeating the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and San Francisco Giants on their way to their first World Series win. The Angeles used a potent lineup to bludgeon opponents scoring nine and 13 runs in their clinching games in the AL playoffs, and then using the power of their “Rally Monkey” to comeback from a 3-2 series deficit to win the World Series.

The endless championship parades were recognized by the sporting world at large as The Sporting News named Los Angeles/Anaheim the “Best Sports City” in 2003.

The year 2020 has been a surreal one for obvious reasons, if Southern California ends it with a couple of championships then it will be memorable for other reasons as well. Hopefully, fans will experience the champagne flow and shining trophies to remind us of better times.