
On June 14, 2025, South Africa finally broke its 27-year wait for an International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy, defeating Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.
This historic win marks the end of its long-standing ‘chokers’ tag and continues a trend seen throughout the sporting world this year, where several teams have ended years of anticipation by clinching long-awaited silverware.
Here’s a look at major sporting teams who’ve won a major trophy in 2025 so far after years of waiting:
CRICKET
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won IPL
Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed its maiden Indian Premier League title after it beat Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad on June 3.
Hobart Hurricanes won BBL
Hobart Hurricanes defeated Sydney Thunder on January 27 to secured a maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title for the side at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
South Australia won Sheffield Shield
Australian Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit a superb century against Queensland as South Australia completed the highest successful fourth-innings chase in a Sheffield Shield final to end a 29-year title drought on March 29.
South Africa won WTC
South Africa defeated Australia to win ICC World Test Championship 2025. The Proteas’ last piece of ICC silverware was the 1998 KnockOut Trophy, later renamed as the ICC Champions Trophy. Since that title triumph, South Africa endured a heartbreaking run of close finishes in ICC tournamentsexiting in the semifinals on 11 occasions while losing one final—the T20 World Cup 2024 summit clash against India.
FOOTBALL
Paris St. Germain won UCL
PSG secured its maiden Champions League title after a 5-0 win against Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 1. The Paris-based club became the second French team to win the coveted prize after arch-rival Marseille, which won the competition in 1993.1 Jun 2025
Crystal Palace won FA Cup
Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final on May 17 to win the first major trophy of its 164-year-old history thanks to a goal from local boy Eberechi Eze.
Newcastle United won League Cup
Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought as it beat holder Liverpool 2-1 to win the League Cup (also known as Carabao Cup) with goals in each half by Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sparking a Geordie party at Wembley Stadium on March 17
Tottenham United won Europa League
Tottenham Hotspur won a scrappy Europa League 2024-25 final 1-0 against Manchester United on May 22 to clinch its first silverware since the 2008 League Cup and its first European trophy since 1984.
Won Argentine First Division platense
Platense, a historic team in Argentina, won its first league title in their 120 years of existence in the 2025 Apertura (Primera Division title), beating Huracan in the final. Since the league’s inaugural season in 1891, Platense now stands proudly as the 29th champion of Argentina’s top flight.
Union Saint-Gilloise won Belgian league
Union Saint-Gilloise sealed its first Belgian league title in 90 years with a 3-1 win over Genk in May. Promise David scored twice and Franjo Ivanovic added another goal to help the small Brussels club secure its first league title since 1935.
RUGBY
Bath won Premiership Rugby Cup
Bath became champions of England for first time since 1996 with a dramatic 23-21 Premiership final victory over Leicester in baking conditions at Twickenham on Saturday. Victory completed a treble for Bath after lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup and rounded off a dominant season in which they finished runaway leaders in the Premiership table.