Cinderella (sports) facts for kids

In sports, a Cinderella story is when a team or player achieves much greater success than anyone expected. It's like a fairy tale where someone goes from having very little to achieving something amazing! These stories often grab a lot of attention from fans and the media, especially as the team gets closer to winning a championship.

The name "Cinderella" comes from the famous fairy tale. In the story, Cinderella lives in tough conditions, but her life suddenly changes for the better. In sports, it means a team or player who isn't expected to do well suddenly becomes a champion. People have used this term since at least 1939, but it became really popular in 1950. That was when the Disney movie about Cinderella came out. It was also used to describe the City College of New York basketball team, who surprisingly won the NCAA Men's Basketball championship that same year. Even Bill Murray used the term in the 1980 movie Caddyshack when he imagined himself winning a golf tournament!

Sometimes, the media will wonder if a "Cinderella" team will "turn into a pumpkin." This means they might fail to win and go back to being unknown. In the fairy tale, it was the carriage that turned into a pumpkin at midnight, not Cinderella herself! Another phrase used is "strike midnight," which means the Cinderella team finally loses.

Before "Cinderella" became popular, people often used the word "Miracle" for unexpected success. Think of the "Miracle Braves" in 1914 or the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980, when the U.S. Olympic hockey team surprisingly won gold.

Cinderella teams are also called a surprise package or a fairy-tale run. A giant-killer is a smaller team or player who beats a much stronger opponent, like in the story of David and Goliath. In some countries, like Russia, they used a term that meant "Thunder to the Dominant teams" for underdogs who scared the top teams.

Examples of "Cinderellas"

Many teams are seen as "Cinderella teams" because they achieve more than expected. Here are some examples of teams that won championships, even when no one thought they would!

American football

National Football League

• 1968 New York Jets — The Jets, led by quarterback Joe Namath, were huge underdogs against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Namath famously promised they would win, and they did, 16–7!
• 1980 Oakland Raiders — The Raiders made history as the first Wild-Card playoff team to win the Super Bowl. They beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27–10 in Super Bowl XV.
• 1999 St. Louis Rams — After their main quarterback got injured, many thought the Rams' season was over. But Kurt Warner, a former grocery store clerk, led them to a 13–3 record and their first Super Bowl championship. They beat the Tennessee Titans 23–16 in Super Bowl XXXIV.
• 2001 New England Patriots — The Patriots started 1–3 and lost their star quarterback. But a young Tom Brady stepped in and led them to an 11–5 record. They then upset the powerful St. Louis Rams 20–17 in Super Bowl XXXVI, starting a long period of success for the team.
• 2007 New York Giants — The Giants finished the regular season 10–6. Led by Eli Manning, they won three playoff games on the road, then shocked the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
• 2010 Green Bay Packers — The Packers were a Wild Card team with a 10–6 record. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers led them to three road playoff wins before they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 in Super Bowl XLV.
• 2012 Baltimore Ravens — The Ravens had a 10–6 record. They won tough playoff games, including a memorable double-overtime victory, and then beat the San Francisco 49ers 34–31 in Super Bowl XLVII for their second championship.
• 2017 Philadelphia Eagles — The Eagles lost their starting quarterback Carson Wentz late in the season. But backup Nick Foles led them through the playoffs and to an upset 41–33 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, their first Super Bowl title since 1960.
• 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — After 12 years without making the playoffs, the Buccaneers signed Tom Brady. They finished 11–5 and won three road playoff games, including against the top-seeded Green Bay Packers. They then beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 in Super Bowl LV on their home field, a first in NFL history.

College

• Boise State Broncos (2006) — In only their ninth year in top-level college football, the Broncos surprised everyone by defeating the powerful Oklahoma Sooners 43–42 in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl with some amazing trick plays. They finished the season undefeated at 13–0.

Arena football

• Washington Valor (2018) — The Valor had a very bad regular season with only 2 wins and 10 losses. But they made it to the playoffs and then won ArenaBowl XXXI, becoming the team with the lowest winning percentage to ever win an Arena Football League championship.

Association football

• Manchester United F.C. (1967–68 European Cup) — Ten years after a tragic plane crash that killed many of their young players, Manchester United, led by survivors Bill Foulkes and Bobby Charlton, achieved an incredible comeback. They won the European Cup in 1968, a huge achievement after such a difficult time.
• Denmark (Euro 1992) — Denmark didn't even qualify for Euro 92! They got to play only because another team was removed. They surprised everyone by winning their group, then beating the Netherlands in the semi-finals, and finally defeating world champions Germany 2–0 in the final to win the tournament.
• Greece (Euro 2004) — Greece was considered one of the least likely teams to win Euro 2004, with odds of 150-1. But they shocked the football world by beating the hosts Portugal 1–0 in the final, after also beating France and the Czech Republic.
• F.C. Porto (2003–04 UEFA Champions League) — A year after winning a smaller European trophy, Porto, led by coach José Mourinho, surprised many by winning the Champions League. They beat strong teams like Manchester United and Lyon before defeating Monaco 3–0 in the final.
• Liverpool F.C. (2004–05 UEFA Champions League) — In the 2005 Champions League final, Liverpool was losing 3–0 to AC Milan at halftime. But in an incredible comeback, they scored three goals in six minutes to tie the game! They then won the trophy in a penalty shootout, in what is known as the "Miracle of Istanbul."
• Leicester City F.C. (2015–16 Premier League) — Leicester City was given 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League title, meaning almost no one thought they could do it. They had just barely avoided being sent down to a lower league the season before. But they shocked the world by winning their first-ever Premier League championship, causing bookmakers to lose a lot of money!

Australian rules football

• Western Bulldogs (2016) — The Bulldogs finished seventh in the regular season. They then won three tough playoff games on the road, including against top teams. In the Grand Final, they defeated the heavily favored Sydney Swans to win their first championship since 1954. This was the first time a team seeded seventh or lower won the premiership in AFL history.

Baseball

Major League Baseball

• 1969 New York Mets — The Mets had always been one of the worst teams in the league. But in 1969, they surprised everyone by winning their first-ever World Series title, beating the very strong Baltimore Orioles.
• 2004 Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox had not won a World Series in 86 years! In 2004, they were down 3 games to 0 against their rivals, the New York Yankees, in the ALCS. But they made an amazing comeback, winning four straight games to win the series. They then swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series, ending their long championship drought.
• 2011 St. Louis Cardinals — The Cardinals were struggling in August and seemed unlikely to make the playoffs. But they won 23 of their last 32 games to grab a Wild Card spot. They then went on to win the World Series, beating stronger teams in every round. Someone even won $375,000 by betting on them at very long odds!
• 2019 Washington Nationals — The Nationals had a tough start, with a 19–31 record. But they turned their season around, made the playoffs as a Wild Card team, and then won the World Series by beating the Houston Astros in seven games. All seven games in that series were won by the visiting team, which was a first in major North American sports!

College

• Fresno State (2008) — Fresno State had never won a national championship in any men's sport. They barely made it into the NCAA tournament, then won six elimination games in a row. They capped off their amazing run by upsetting the favored Georgia Bulldogs to win the NCAA title.

Basketball

National Basketball Association

• 1994–95 Houston Rockets — The Rockets were the sixth seed in the playoffs, but they managed to win their second straight NBA championship. They upset three teams that had won 60 or more games on their way to the title.
• 1998–99 San Antonio Spurs — The NBA season was shortened due to a lockout. The Spurs started slowly but finished strong, earning the top seed. They then swept two opponents in the playoffs and beat the New York Knicks in the Finals to win their first championship.
• 2003–04 Detroit Pistons — The Pistons were not expected to win the championship against the star-filled Los Angeles Lakers. But they played great defense and teamwork, defeating the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals to win their first title in 14 years.
• 2010–11 Dallas Mavericks — The Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki, were seen as underdogs against the "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. But Nowitzki led his team to a surprising 6-game victory in the Finals, winning their first championship.
• 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers — After losing the previous year's Finals, the Cavaliers were down 3 games to 1 against the Golden State Warriors, who had the best regular season record ever (73 wins). But LeBron James led his team to win the final three games, bringing Cleveland its first major sports championship in 52 years!

College

• Texas Western Miners (1966) — This little-known team made history by defeating the powerful, all-white Kentucky team in the NCAA Championship Game. Texas Western started an all-black lineup, which was very significant at the time. Their story was told in the movie Glory Road.
• North Carolina State University Wolfpack (1983) — The Wolfpack were huge underdogs against the "Phi Slama Jama" Houston Cougars, who had future Hall of Famers. But NC State won 54–52 on a last-second dunk, winning the NCAA Men's Tournament.
• Villanova Wildcats (1985) — As an eighth-seeded team, Villanova was a big underdog against defending champion Georgetown. But they played an almost perfect game, shooting incredibly well, and won the championship. They are still the lowest-seeded team to ever win the NCAA title.
• Kansas Jayhawks (1988) — The Jayhawks had a tough regular season, but led by Danny Manning, they made a surprising run through the NCAA tournament. They became known as "Danny and the Miracles" after winning the national championship.
• University of Connecticut Huskies (2014) — After being banned from the postseason the year before, the Huskies, a 7th seed, unexpectedly won the NCAA tournament. They beat several top teams on their way to the championship.

International

• Soviet Union (1972 Summer Olympics) — The Soviet team pulled off a huge upset by defeating the heavily favored United States team, who had won every Olympic gold medal in basketball since 1936. The Soviets won 51–50 in a very controversial gold medal game, ending the U.S.'s 63-game Olympic winning streak.

Boxing

• Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas (1990) — In one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, the undefeated heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was knocked out by Buster Douglas, who was a 42-1 underdog.

Canadian football

• 1989 Saskatchewan Roughriders — The Roughriders had a 9–9 record and were on a losing streak going into the playoffs. But they upset two stronger teams before winning the 77th Grey Cup on a last-minute field goal, their first championship since 1966.
• 2016 Ottawa Redblacks — The Redblacks had a losing record (8–9–1) but still finished first in their division. They then upset the defending champions in the division final and went on to win the 104th Grey Cup in overtime, ending a 40-year championship drought for Ottawa.

Esports

Dota 2

• OG at The International 2018 — OG faced many challenges, with key players leaving just weeks before qualifiers. They had to play through open qualifiers and were not expected to do well. But they surprised everyone, winning every series in the main tournament to become International champions and win over $11 million!

Golf

• Tiger Woods — After years of personal struggles, injuries, and surgeries, Tiger Woods made an incredible comeback to win the 2019 Masters Tournament. It was his first major title in 11 years and his first green jacket in 14 years.

Ice hockey

National Hockey League

• 1937–38 Chicago Black Hawks — The Black Hawks had a losing record (14–25–9) but still made the playoffs. They then went on an amazing run, winning the Stanley Cup. They are considered the biggest Cinderella story in NHL history and were the first pro sports team to win a championship with a losing record.
• 2011–12 Los Angeles Kings — The Kings were the eighth seed in their conference. They surprised everyone by defeating the top-seeded team, then sweeping the second seed, and beating the third seed. They went on to win their first-ever Stanley Cup by defeating the New Jersey Devils.
• 2017–18 Washington Capitals — After years of playoff disappointments, many thought the Capitals would fail again. But led by Alexander Ovechkin, they overcame a 2–0 series deficit in the first round and beat the defending champions. They then defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in the Finals to win their first-ever Stanley Cup.
• 2018–19 St. Louis Blues — The Blues were in last place in the NHL at the beginning of 2019. But with a new coach and a rookie goalie, they went on an 11-game winning streak and made the playoffs. They then won three tough playoff series, including two that went to Game 7, before defeating the Boston Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup in 52 years!

International

• United States (1980 Winter Olympics) — The American team, made up of amateur and college players, was not expected to win. But they famously defeated the powerful Soviet Union team, considered the best in the world, in a game known as the "Miracle on Ice." They then went on to win the Olympic gold medal.

Motorsport

Formula One

• Brawn GP (2009) — The Brawn GP team was formed at the last minute after their previous team, Honda, pulled out of Formula 1. They had a much smaller budget and fewer staff. But they shocked everyone by winning the first race of the season, and their driver Jenson Button went on to win the World Championship.

Examples of Cinderellas that did not win the championship

These teams had amazing runs and made it far in their leagues, but they couldn't quite win the championship.

American football

National Football League

• 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers made their first playoff appearance in 10 years. They won their first playoff game with a famous play called the "Immaculate Reception." They made it to the AFC Championship game but lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.
• 1975 Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. They won two upset games, including one with a "Hail Mary pass," to become the first Wild Card team to reach the Super Bowl. They lost Super Bowl X to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• 1999 Tennessee Titans — The Titans had a great season and made a memorable playoff win called the "Music City Miracle." They reached Super Bowl XXXIV but lost a very close game to the St. Louis Rams, falling just one yard short of a game-tying touchdown on the final play.
• 2003 Carolina Panthers — Just two seasons after having one of the worst records in the league (1–15), the Panthers made it to Super Bowl XXXVIII. They nearly pulled off a comeback but lost to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal.
• 2008 Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals had a long history of losing. But in 2008, they won their division and made a surprising run to Super Bowl XLIII. They almost completed a comeback in the fourth quarter but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final minute.

Association football

• A.S. Monaco (2003-04 UEFA Champions League) — Monaco surprised many by reaching the Champions League final. They beat strong teams like Real Madrid and Chelsea along the way. However, they lost the final 3–0 to Porto.
• Bradford City (2012-13 Football League Cup) — Bradford City, a team from a lower league, made an amazing run in the League Cup. They knocked out three Premier League teams, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, to reach the final. But they lost the final 5–0 to Swansea City.
• Atlético Madrid (2013-14 UEFA Champions League) — Atlético Madrid had a fantastic season, winning their league title. They also made it to the Champions League final, beating top teams like AC Milan and Barcelona. In the final, they were leading their rivals Real Madrid until the last minute, but lost in extra time.
• Croatia (2018 FIFA World Cup) — Croatia had a great run in the 2018 World Cup, winning three straight knockout games in extra time or penalty shootouts. They reached the final for the first time in their history but lost to France.

Baseball

Major League Baseball

• 1995 Seattle Mariners — The Mariners had never made the playoffs before. They had a great comeback late in the season to make the playoffs, then came back from a 2–0 deficit to win their first playoff series. Their amazing run ended in the next round, but it helped convince their city to build them a new stadium.
• 2007 Colorado Rockies — The Rockies went on an incredible winning streak at the end of the season, winning 13 of their last 14 games to make the playoffs. They then swept two opponents to reach their first-ever World Series. However, they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the final.
• 2008 Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays had always been one of the worst teams in baseball. But in 2008, they had a breakout season, winning their division and reaching the World Series. They lost the World Series in five games to the Philadelphia Phillies.
• 2014 Kansas City Royals — The Royals had not made the playoffs since 1985. In 2014, they won the Wild Card game in extra innings, then swept two more teams to reach the World Series. They lost a very close Game 7 to the San Francisco Giants.

Basketball

College

• George Mason University (2006) — George Mason was an 11th seed and many thought they shouldn't even be in the tournament. But they proved everyone wrong, beating stronger teams like Michigan State and North Carolina. They made it all the way to the Final Four before losing to the eventual champions.
• Virginia Commonwealth University (2011) — The 11th-seeded VCU Rams made a surprising run to the Final Four for the first time in their school's history. They lost a close game in the semifinals.
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2018) — UMBC made history by becoming the first 16th-seeded team to ever win a game in the men's NCAA tournament, defeating the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers. Their amazing run ended in the next round.

National Basketball Association

• 1998–99 New York Knicks — The Knicks became the only eighth-seeded team in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals. They lost the series to the San Antonio Spurs.
• 2008–09 Orlando Magic — The Magic, led by Dwight Howard, made a surprising run to the NBA Finals. They beat the defending champions Boston Celtics and the favored Cleveland Cavaliers along the way. They lost the Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers.
• 2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder — The Thunder reached the Western Conference finals and took a 3–1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors, who had a record-breaking 73 wins. They were close to one of the biggest upsets ever but lost the series in seven games.
• 2019–20 Miami Heat — The Heat were the 5th seed in their conference. They surprised many by sweeping one opponent and then beating the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics to reach their 6th NBA Finals. They were the only 5th seed to ever reach the Finals, but they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ice hockey

National Hockey League

• 1990–91 Minnesota North Stars — The North Stars had a losing record but pulled off three huge upsets in the playoffs, including against the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks and the defending champion Edmonton Oilers. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• 1993–94 Vancouver Canucks — The seventh-seeded Canucks made an incredible run to the Stanley Cup Finals. They came back from being down 3–1 in their first series and won several overtime games. They pushed the New York Rangers to Game 7 of the Finals but lost a very close game.
• 2005–06 Edmonton Oilers — The eighth-seeded Oilers upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings and then two more teams to become the first eighth seed to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. They pushed the Carolina Hurricanes to Game 7 but lost the final game.
• 2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights — As a brand new expansion team, almost no one expected the Golden Knights to do well. But they had an amazing first season, winning their division and making a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Finals. They swept two teams and lost only three games on their way to the Finals. However, they lost the championship to the Washington Capitals.

International

• Germany (2018 Winter Olympics) — The German ice hockey team had not won an Olympic medal since 1976. But at the Pyeongchang Olympics, they made it all the way to the gold medal game, beating powerhouses like Sweden and Canada. They ended up with a silver medal after losing in overtime.