Worst sports organizations in 2024: Where White Sox, Panthers rank among futile franchises

The 2024 Chicago White Sox find themselves on the wrong side of history.

While there are a number of advanced statistics that illustrate the franchise's futility, the most glaring number is in the loss column. This year's White Sox team has lost more games than any other team in the modern MLB era. Chicago tied the previous record of 120 losses with less than a week remaining in the season, and set the record with a 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Friday.

The most fascinating aspect of the White Sox season is how they got to this point. Unlike other downtrodden professional sports franchises, Chicago's fall from grace was rather sudden — its historically bad campaign comes three years after its last postseason appearance and two years after finishing at .500.

After an abrupt freefall, Chicago is in the doldrums alongside other massively unsuccessful professional sports franchises in North America. When looking at a snapshot of the past year of pro sports, the White Sox season is one of the worst, though there are franchises that have somehow struggled even more.

In the wake of Chicago's historically poor season, take a closer look at where it ranks among some of the other struggling franchises in North America. When taking win percentage and the breadth of team success into account, you may soon realize that the White Sox situation isn't as uniquely bad as it may seem.

MORE: Who has the most losses in MLB history?

Worst records in North American professional sports in 2024

The White Sox are turning in a historically poor MLB season, but there are a few North American teams that have had worse showings in the last calendar year. The Carolina Panthers, who won just two of 17 games during the 2023 NFL season, posted a paltry .118 win percentage.

The NBA's Pistons and Wizards also posted sub-.200 win percentages, which stands as the mark of misfortune. Here are the worst seasons from the past year, including records of the White Sox and MLS' San Jose Earthquakes, both of whom have yet to complete their respective seasons.

*Active seasons

1. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers' futility seemingly reached rock bottom in 2023, as they became the first NFL franchise to lose 15 or more games in the league's new 17-game format. Adding insult to injury is that Carolina traded its 2024 first-round pick for the 2023 No. 1 pick used to select Bryce Young, who was benched three games into his sophomore season.

With no first-round pick in 2024, the Panthers turned in a historically bad NFL season only to send the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears.

Carolina's lack of success rings on a much larger scale. The franchise has never turned in consecutive winning seasons, has not qualified for the postseason since going 11-5 in 2017, and has posted a 26-68 record since a 6-2 start to the 2018 NFL season. The Panthers have won the NFC twice but have lost two Super Bowls in heartbreaking fashion. Factor in the five head coaches over the past three seasons, and it's hard to find a situation more dire.

MORE: Best potential landing spots for Carolina QB Bryce Young

2. Detroit Pistons

Detroit last qualified for the playoffs in 2019 but hasn't won a playoff game since advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008. Since their last playoff appearance, the Pistons have posted a 94-280 record, including a 31-133 mark from 2022-24.

Despite posting the league's worst record in each of the past two seasons, the Pistons have fallen in the lottery both years, selecting fifth in the 2023 and 2024 NBA Draft after being one of three teams to have a shot at the top pick.

Factor in the lack of luck, and Detroit has the feeling of being kicked numerous times while down.

MORE: Why Pistons tabbed J.B. Bickerstaff as next head coach

3. Chicago White Sox

In 2021, the White Sox won their division with a 93-69 record. In 2022, they broke even by going 81-81. After going 61-101 in 2023, Chicago has now rewritten the history books with its lack of success in 2024.

While things had been trending in this direction, it's hard to predict a team performing at an all-time bad level. The fans are frustrated, their social media admin is over it, and it's unclear how long it will take for things to turn around.

The apathy element of it all makes it a situation much more dire than most teams three years removed from a division title.

4. Washington Wizards

Washington is in full rebuild, seeing its win total fall from 35 in 2022-23 to 15 in 2023-24. The Wizards have parted ways with franchise stalwarts, made coaching changes, and taken on some undesirable contracts as part of a big-picture plan.

The Wizards have been bad, but their overarching issues toe more to the line of mediocrity than futility.

MORE: Struggles of Wizards' top pick among biggest Summer League storylines

5. San Jose Sharks

Things have gone downhill for the Sharks since they fell two wins shy of winning the Western Conference Finals in 2019. That would ultimately be the franchise's most recent postseason appearance, as their drought hit five seasons in 2024.

San Jose looks to a future headlined by 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini, who can, at the very least, instill hope for a return to relevance.

6. Los Angeles Sparks

There's a rebuild in Los Angeles, and a pair of outstanding rookies in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson stand at the forefront. After losing all-time great Nneka Ogwumike to free agency, LA went all-in on rebuilding and will be able to cash in more chips during the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Despite winning eight of 40 games in 2024, LA can turn things around to become a playoff team if things shake its way in 2025.

7. San Jose Earthquakes

Given the nature of soccer, it's a bit harder to place the Earthquakes. While they have been one of the worst teams in 2024, the franchise is just one year removed from a wild-card appearance in 2023.

MORE: Oakland A's owner John Fisher ripped for letter to fans

Longest playoff droughts in North American professional sports

Let the bigger picture serve as a reminder that things could be worse for the White Sox, who won the AL Central as recently as 2021. The New York Jets and Buffalo Sabres currently own the longest postseason droughts in North American pro sports.

In MLB, the Los Angeles Angels' drought officially reached 10 years in 2024.