Following a year packed with sporting surprises, analysts are peering into the future with a series of audacious forecasts for 2026. From potential player-coach rifts to league-shaking negotiations, the landscape could be set for significant upheaval.
High-Profile Tensions and Team Turmoil
The relationship between Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić and Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is tipped to fracture, becoming a major national story. Observers predict Redick, a 41-year-old first-time coach, will publicly express frustration with Dončić's inconsistent defensive effort and struggles to build chemistry with teammates like LeBron James. While Dončić reportedly arrived in "championship shape," the dynamic is seen as brittle, with the potential for a modern, combustible saga reminiscent of Allen Iverson and Larry Brown.
In the NHL, the era of Auston Matthews in Toronto could be nearing its end. Despite recently re-signing and being named captain, speculation is mounting that the Maple Leafs and their star are growing apart. Matthews, potentially playing through a long-term injury, has endured uncharacteristic scoring droughts, and a sense of mutual dissatisfaction with the fanbase is brewing. The spring of 2026, ahead of the trade deadline, is flagged as a possible breaking point.
Rising Stars and Systemic Pressures
On a brighter note, Audi Crooks, the 21-year-old Iowa State phenom, is predicted to become a household name. Dominating women's college basketball, she leads Division I in scoring and is on a historic pace, threatening to average a point per minute. Her low-post dominance, combined with her community work and charismatic presence, positions her as a crossover star ready to carry the Cyclones deep into the NCAA Tournament.
The financial model of college sports faces a critical test. With the costs of NIL deals, direct athlete payments, rampant transfer portal movement, and expensive coast-to-coast travel due to conference realignment, the strain on institutions is immense. The bold prediction is that one or more major colleges will reach a breaking point and either drop sports entirely or downgrade to Division III, potentially triggering a wave of similar decisions.
League-Wide Challenges and Ownership Shifts
The era of infinite growth for sports broadcasting is forecast to wane. As more live action migrates to streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video, fans face a fragmented, expensive landscape. This "subscription fatigue" and inconvenience is expected to shrink audiences, dry up advertising, and force leagues to adapt to an attention economy where all digital content fights for value.
In the WNBA, the 2026 season is predicted to happen—but only after the league and its players' union (WNBPA) nearly self-destruct during contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. With players unified and alternative structures like the Unrivaled league demonstrating options, their leverage has increased. A confrontation that brings the league to the brink is expected before a deal is finally struck, permanently shifting the balance of power.
Elsewhere, Miriam Adelson, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is tipped to sell the franchise. The fallout from the unpopular trade of Luka Dončić, coupled with her perceived remote, asset-focused ownership style, has damaged the team's goodwill. A sale is seen as a path to moral, if not competitive, closure for fans.
Finally, a grassroots political movement against publicly funded stadiums is predicted to gain serious traction in 2026. Following mega-deals like the near $2bn in public money for the Kansas City Chiefs' new stadium, voters are expected to become more attuned to what critics call corporate welfare. Activists may successfully campaign against these subsidies, using tactics that turned the tide on issues like FIFA World Cup ticket pricing.
