Caitlin Clark title, LeBron James trade, and Travis Kelce goodbye – talkSPORT’s bold US predictions for 2025
2024 is (almost) in the books. History, of course, is written by the victors, meaning 2024 will always belong to the Kansas City Chiefs, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Liberty, and Florida Panthers. Mahomes and the Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl in 2024Getty But this great sports year will also be remembered for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese taking the WNBA by storm, Coco Gauff flying the flag for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler being sensationally arrested during the PGA Championship. It’s has been quite the year, but with 2025 on the horizon there’s no time to dwell. Four more tennis majors get underway with the Australian Open in January as Novak Djokovic takes aim at more history. In golf, the LIV-PGA rivalry will either continue or peace will finally come to the game – but a Ryder Cup just outside New York promises to be a memorable occasion in September. The NFL season will reach it’s conclusion at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans as the Kansas City Chiefs chase an historic three-peat, while in the NBA can an upstart contender emerge to dethrone the Boston Celtics. talkSPORT’s US Sports experts have made their bold predictions (or would that be hopes?) for the year ahead — just don’t get too upset if they don’t all come to fruition… Travis Kelce says goodbye to the NFL After hinting at retirement last season, Taylor Swift‘s boyfriend officially calls it quits after the 2024 season. Kelce already has three Super Bowl rings and is heading toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so he has nothing left to prove on the field. His best bet is giving Swift a ring, praying for a ‘yes,’ and focusing on his endless endeavours away from the NFL. Hollywood, game shows, singing backup on the next Swift record … Kelce will stay busy and won’t get bored. His football numbers are in decline but his net worth is only growing. Brian T. Smith Kelce could walk away from the NFL for a lucrative new life in showbizGetty Caitlin Clark wins WNBA MVP before delivering Indiana Fever a world championship A record-breaking 2024 saw Caitlin Clark named the WNBA Rookie of the Year and Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. However, the ultimate prize still eludes Clark and the Indiana Fever after a disappointing early playoff exit ended their championship dreams. Not for much longer though, as the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball will return with a vengeance in 2025, not only to scoop the MVP award but the world championship trophy, too. By the end of 2025, CC will have well and truly cemented herself as the pre-eminent force in women’s sports, and maybe even sports full stop. Joshua Rogers Clark could take over the entire sports world in 2025Getty Travis Hunter lands in NFL as No.1 draft pick and fulfills Coach Prime’s prophecy in Week 1 Travis Hunter is the most exciting prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. The two-way Colorado star showed off his offensive and defensive skills in college before being named the Heisman Trophy winner. An impressive year saw him go for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, while he also made four interceptions on defense. He played well over 1,000 snaps in his final season, and while experts suggest he’ll be playing cornerback in the NFL, we think he can do better than that. Hunter will be the No.1 pick – which as of now will go to the New England Patriots – and he’ll make an instant impression by playing both sides of the ball. Not only will he snag an interception in Week 1, but he’ll also catch a touchdown too, fulfilling the prophecy of his college coach Deion Sanders. “Don’t draft him if you’re not gonna give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball,” Sanders said of any potential suitors in December. “He’s gonna do that, or they shouldn’t draft him.” Oliver Browning Hunter has a chance to play on both sides of the ball in the NFLAP LeBron gets traded! He may be 40, he may have got his wish to play with his son but there remains the chase of an elusive fifth championship ring for The King LeBron James has been a Laker since 2018 but as of right now they look in team of a rebuild, and the best opportunity for that might be to get rid of James and build a team for the future James has made history this season by playing alongside eldest son Bronny, and his numbers are still healthy enough to show he is making an impact and continuing to set historic landmarks on a weekly basis. Back in the offseason, trade talk was at fever pitch, due to the terms of LeBron’s contract and also his Team USA bromance with Steph Curry as a gold medal was won in Paris. Talk of a trade has never really gone away, with Curry and the Warriors making the most sense from a personal and professional standpoint. So for the new year, lets give everyone what they want, a Lakers rebuild and one last rodeo for Steve Kerr’s Warriors dynasty w
2024 is (almost) in the books.
History, of course, is written by the victors, meaning 2024 will always belong to the Kansas City Chiefs, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Liberty, and Florida Panthers.
But this great sports year will also be remembered for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese taking the WNBA by storm, Coco Gauff flying the flag for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler being sensationally arrested during the PGA Championship.
It’s has been quite the year, but with 2025 on the horizon there’s no time to dwell.
Four more tennis majors get underway with the Australian Open in January as Novak Djokovic takes aim at more history.
In golf, the LIV-PGA rivalry will either continue or peace will finally come to the game – but a Ryder Cup just outside New York promises to be a memorable occasion in September.
The NFL season will reach it’s conclusion at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans as the Kansas City Chiefs chase an historic three-peat, while in the NBA can an upstart contender emerge to dethrone the Boston Celtics.
talkSPORT’s US Sports experts have made their bold predictions (or would that be hopes?) for the year ahead — just don’t get too upset if they don’t all come to fruition…
Travis Kelce says goodbye to the NFL
After hinting at retirement last season, Taylor Swift‘s boyfriend officially calls it quits after the 2024 season.
Kelce already has three Super Bowl rings and is heading toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so he has nothing left to prove on the field.
His best bet is giving Swift a ring, praying for a ‘yes,’ and focusing on his endless endeavours away from the NFL.
Hollywood, game shows, singing backup on the next Swift record … Kelce will stay busy and won’t get bored. His football numbers are in decline but his net worth is only growing. Brian T. Smith
Caitlin Clark wins WNBA MVP before delivering Indiana Fever a world championship
A record-breaking 2024 saw Caitlin Clark named the WNBA Rookie of the Year and Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year.
However, the ultimate prize still eludes Clark and the Indiana Fever after a disappointing early playoff exit ended their championship dreams.
Not for much longer though, as the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball will return with a vengeance in 2025, not only to scoop the MVP award but the world championship trophy, too.
By the end of 2025, CC will have well and truly cemented herself as the pre-eminent force in women’s sports, and maybe even sports full stop. Joshua Rogers
Travis Hunter lands in NFL as No.1 draft pick and fulfills Coach Prime’s prophecy in Week 1
Travis Hunter is the most exciting prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. The two-way Colorado star showed off his offensive and defensive skills in college before being named the Heisman Trophy winner.
An impressive year saw him go for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, while he also made four interceptions on defense.
He played well over 1,000 snaps in his final season, and while experts suggest he’ll be playing cornerback in the NFL, we think he can do better than that.
Hunter will be the No.1 pick – which as of now will go to the New England Patriots – and he’ll make an instant impression by playing both sides of the ball.
Not only will he snag an interception in Week 1, but he’ll also catch a touchdown too, fulfilling the prophecy of his college coach Deion Sanders.
“Don’t draft him if you’re not gonna give him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball,” Sanders said of any potential suitors in December.
“He’s gonna do that, or they shouldn’t draft him.” Oliver Browning
LeBron gets traded!
He may be 40, he may have got his wish to play with his son but there remains the chase of an elusive fifth championship ring for The King
LeBron James has been a Laker since 2018 but as of right now they look in team of a rebuild, and the best opportunity for that might be to get rid of James and build a team for the future
James has made history this season by playing alongside eldest son Bronny, and his numbers are still healthy enough to show he is making an impact and continuing to set historic landmarks on a weekly basis.
Back in the offseason, trade talk was at fever pitch, due to the terms of LeBron’s contract and also his Team USA bromance with Steph Curry as a gold medal was won in Paris.
Talk of a trade has never really gone away, with Curry and the Warriors making the most sense from a personal and professional standpoint. So for the new year, lets give everyone what they want, a Lakers rebuild and one last rodeo for Steve Kerr’s Warriors dynasty with LeBron and Curry leading the way. Paul Prenderville
Juan Soto delivers in the first year of $765 million deal
The largest contract given to a professional athlete in the United States pays immediate dividends for the New York Mets, as Juan Soto brings a title to the storied franchise in his first year in Queens.
Soto signed with the Mets in free agency to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract and will lead them to their first World Series title since 1986, breaking a 39 year drought.
To make the championship even sweeter for Mets fans, it will be their New York City neighbors that they defeat, in the ultimate Subway Series for the ages, downing the Yankees and their pinstripe fanbase.
The franchise on the other side of town, the team that Soto left, won’t be able to do anything but watch, as Soto and the Mets parade their championship through the city.
Only 14 more years of Soto to go…Jack Savage
Bill Belichick earns shot at NFL history
The race to be the winningest coach ever is back on after Bill Belichick turned around a struggling program in North Carolina.
Belichick will need just one season of college ball to prove he still has something to offer at the highest level before passing the torch to son and defensive coordinator Steve.
After years of failing to turn MVP-caliber seasons from Joe Burrow into a ring, Zac Taylor pays the price and is out on Black Monday.
Belichick is lined up for one more shot at Don Shula’s 328 victories. Jamie Gordon
Shedeur Sanders benched in Primetime
After being drafted to save the New York Giants, Shedeur Sanders falls victim to the curse of being the first quarterback taken.
After Bryce Young and Caleb Williams were outdone by No. 2 picks C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels, Sanders sees Cam Ward thrive after going to the Tennessee Titans one spot behind him.
In a Week 9 MNF showdown against a stout Philadelphia Eagles defense, Shedeur is taken out of the firing line as hometown hero Tommy DeVito is rolled out again to appease a baying crowd. Jamie Gordon
