Pittsburgh sports fans have not celebrated a championship win in any sport since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2017. This seven-year drought has frustrated many fans and residents of the Pittsburgh area. Recently, however, each Pittsburgh team has shown signs of good things to come.
The Pirates are widely regarded as the most disappointing of the Pittsburgh franchises. With that being said, the Pirates started their 2024 season 5-0 for the first time in forty years. With star center fielder Andrew McCutchen also making his return to Pittsburgh in 2023, there is a lot to be happy about regarding the Pirates. The Pirates have a lot of young talent and are looking to develop these players over time. Eventually, these players could become a playoff-caliber team and make some noise in the league. As of May 15 , the Pirates sit in third place in the National League Central division with a record of 18-23. Only time will tell how good of a chance the young Pirates have at a playoff appearance or even championship.
The Penguins have consistently been playoff contenders for the past several years. They typically sit in the middle of the division and their odds of getting a spot in the playoffs or not differ from year to year. Contrary to the Pirates, the Penguins are a much older team. With players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kristopher Letang leading this experienced lineup, contention for a playoff spot goes without question. To many, it seems that the Penguins are one young star away from becoming a real contender. Many talks are circulating about the Penguins attaining Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the offseason. If this deal happens, it could be the missing piece the Penguins need to take home their sixth Stanley Cup.
As for the Steelers, it seems like a deep playoff run is right around the corner. The Steelers had a very successful draft, with NFL.com ranking their performance in the draft as the best in the league. Many other sites gave the Steelers an “A” grade for their draft this year as well. Outside of the newly acquired rookies, the Steelers also acquired quarterback Russel Wilson from the Broncos and young quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. Many fans welcome these changes after trading away quarterback Kenny Pickett. The Steelers also attained various other defensive players during the offseason to work alongside Trent Jordan (T.J.) Watt and Cameron Heyward. No matter the outlook, it seems like the Steelers always find a way to have a winning season, so fans will have to wait and see how far the Steelers can go with these new playmakers.
Overall, Pittsburgh sports all seem to be in relatively good shape. In sports, anything can happen. Every team is one bad injury away from a ruined season. Fans will just have to hope and pray that something like that doesn’t happen. There is no telling exactly how each team’s season will wind up going but fans will surely be there to cheer on the black and gold, whether from the couch or in the stands.