The 10 Best Rivalries In Sports

Rivalries are what make sports interesting for everyone to watch, and what makes a fan a fanatic. Here we will break down the top 10 rivalries in all of sports and you can see if your favorite team is part of one of these rivalries. 

10. UCONN Huskies vs. Tennessee Lady Vols Women’s College Basketball

The UCONN Huskies and Tennessee Lady Vols are 2 of the best teams in Women’s College Basketball, which is no wonder why this is the best rivalry in women's basketball. These 2 teams typically meet up and decide who will be the best team in the league, with UCONN leading the all time series 13-9. 

9. Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer

Whenever these 2 tennis players face off on the court you can be sure to expect a fight until the end. As 2 of the best men’s players in Tennis, these matches typically end up with both players leaving their all on the court in some of the best tennis matches seen. 

8. Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

The rivalry between these 2 NHL teams is intensified by the rivalry of the 2 cities. Fans in Canada take their hockey very seriously and both want to own the title as the best team in Canada. This rivalry has been going on longer than any other rivalry in the NHL and it doesn't seem to be ending any time soon, since both teams remain in the same division and meet up multiple times a year. 

7. Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns

The annual "Red River Rivalry" has been going on since before Oklahoma had even become a state. That’s right; Oklahoma was still a territory in 1900 when this rivalry began. Besides the longevity of this rivalry, the close proximity of the states just adds fuel to this college football fire. This game is typically played on a neutral site to ensure that neither team has any advantage, plus to make sure there is enough room for the incredible number of fans that come every year. 

6. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

The oldest and maybe the most physical rivalry in the NFL belong to 2 of the most storied franchises in the NFL. These 2 Midwest natives typically have 1 of the games played in freezing conditions where big hits are expected to come at a fast pace. 

5. San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

This rivalry dates back to the 1800's, so fans have generation’s memories from the thousands of times they have met. Since they both share the same state and same division, there is plenty of trash talk to go around. 

4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

When these 2 teams meet, it is usually in the NBA Finals. Both of these franchises have the 2 most championships and have had some of the best players on their teams. The games played between these 2 teams are that of legend that will be spoken about for decades to come. 

3. Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Big 10 has been split into 2 different conferences, but this rivalry continues to stay as one of college footballs best. Since 1897 they have played around 100 games which Michigan is leading, and even had 6 ties. You can't talk about that many ties in many rivalries. 

2. Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

This rivalry is so heated mainly due to the fans. Duke fans get so wild during every game, especially this game, that the fans were named "The Cameron Crazies." When this game is played at home at Cameron Indoor Stadium, you can expect your ears and throat to hurt the next day from all of the cheering. 

1. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

The best rivalry in sports has to be between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. These 2 teams hate each other and the fans add to the animosity. Even when fans are traded between the 2 teams, you can expect the traitor to hear about it when they return to a home game. What started this was the trade of Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1901, which led to the name "The Curse of the Bambino." Adding to the excitement of this rivalry is the fact that both of these teams usually will play for the division title at the end of the year.