Three-peat

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In sports (especially in North America), a three-peat is winning three consecutive championships or tournaments. The term, a portmanteau of the words three and repeat, originated with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, during their unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive championship during the 1988–89 season, having won the previous two NBA finals. Template:TOC right

Origin

The Oxford English Dictionary credits an Illinois high school senior, Sharif Ford, with the earliest published use of the word in the March 8, 1989, edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ford's quote uses the term in a sporting context and serves to provide a clear etymology as well:

The Lincoln High Tigers say they want to "three-peat". "You know, kind of like repeat, except doing it for the third time", senior Sharif Ford said.

In a comedic context, the same play on words, additionally incorporating the name "Pete", is known to have been used as early as 1930 on the radio program Empire Builders. The episode of that program broadcast on December 29, 1930, featured a trio of singers dubbed "The Three Visiting Firemen: Pete, Re-Pete, and Three-Pete".<ref>radiomemories 23248 Wizzard Media</ref>

Trademark

The term is a registered trademark owned by Pat Riley, the Lakers' head coach from 1981 to 1990. The original owner and assignor of the underlying THREE-PEAT "mark" was Bijan Khezri, former president of P.d.P. Paperon De Paperoni, a Delaware corporation. Khezri submitted in November 1988 a trademark application for the use of three-peat on shirts, jackets and hats. Around that time, the phrase was being used by members and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, of whom Pat Riley was the head coach, regarding the Lakers' quest that season to obtain what would have been a third successive NBA championship. According to Riley, it was Laker player Byron Scott who cited the term in reference to the team's goal for that season.

After Khezri assigned the trademark to Riley, it remained an entity of Riley's company Riles & Co.. In 1989, Riles & Co. successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980. The Lakers did not win a third consecutive NBA championship in 1989, but the Chicago Bulls did in 1993, and Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for use on merchandise commemorating that accomplishment.

Riles & Co. subsequently obtained additional registrations expanding the trademark to cover many other kinds of merchandise in addition to apparel. The company then went on to reap additional profits by again licensing the phrase to merchandisers when the Bulls again won three consecutive NBA championships from 1996 through 1998, as well as when the New York Yankees won three straight World Series championships from 1998 through 2000 and when the Lakers won three straight NBA championships from 2000 through 2002. It was the Lakers' second three-peat in franchise history and only their first since moving from Minneapolis. As of 2025, the Lakers are the last team of the four major American professional sports (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA) to achieve a three-peat. Incidentally, Pat Riley was the head coach of the losing teams (New York Knicks in 1992 and 1993, Miami Heat in 1996 and 1997) that were eliminated by the Bulls during their 1991-93 and 1996-98 three-peats of NBA Championships. Phil Jackson was the head coach of the Bulls for both of these three-peats, and serving in that same capacity for the Lakers when they achieved their second three-peat.

While originating in the United States, the three-peat has been replicated all over the world across different sports. In recent times, Spanish association football club Real Madrid notably became the first club of the modern era to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18). The American Rugby club the New England free jacks would become the first team to win three consecutive MLR titles (2023, 2024, 2025). They would also be the first North American team to complete a three peat since 2002.

The trademark registration for three-peat has been challenged over the years by those who argue that the term has become too generic in its usage for the trademark to continue to be applicable. However, such arguments have yet to succeed, with the registration continuing to be upheld by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as recently as 2001, in the case of Christopher Wade v. Riles & Co. This challenge documented the transfer of assignment from Khezri to Riles & Co., and upheld the validity of the trademark as originally conceived.

In 2005, a group of individuals attempted to trademark the phrase Three-Pete in anticipation of the (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt that year by the 2005 USC Trojans football team to win a third consecutive national championship. The change in spelling was a reference to the team's head coach Pete Carroll. However, the Patent Office ruled that the change in spelling was not dissimilar enough from Riles & Co.'s three-peat, and denied the registration. Later that year, USC fan Kyle Bunch began selling his own "Three-Pete" T-shirts. He discontinued sales once he was notified that he was infringing upon the Riles & Co. trademark.

Three-peats in North American leagues/championships

There have been numerous instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Football League, and Australian Football League, most of which occurred prior to the advent of the term three-peat.

North America: professional sports

  • 2020–2022   Boston Pride (2020 co-champions with Minnesota Whitecaps)

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA Finals)

United States: College Sports

NACDA Director's Cup (overall collegiate athletics)

NAIA National Football Championship

NAIA National Basketball Championship

NCAA Division I Baseball

  • 1970–1974 USC (5-peat)

NCAA Division I Softball

NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball

NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball

NCAA Division I Football

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball

  • 1967–1973 UCLA  (7-peat)

NCAA Division I Men's Water Polo

  • 2008–2013 USC (6-peat)

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball

NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country

NCAA Division II Women's Basketball

NCAA Division III Women's Basketball

NCAA Division I Women's Soccer

NCAA Division II Football Championship<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

NCAA Division III Football<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

U.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships

United States: tabletop games

Warhammer 40k American Team Championships<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Team Happy 2015–2017

United States: marching arts

Three-peats in domestic leagues/championships

Australian Football

Australia

West Australian Football League

AFL

Germany

Australian Football League Germany

American Football

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, American Football 1st Division:

Association Football

Argentina

First Division (association football)

Belgium

Belgian Pro League

Brazil

Brazilian Championship

Bulgaria

Bulgarian A PFG

Chile

First Division (Association football):

Croatia

Croatian Football League

Denmark

Danish Superliga

Egypt

Egyptian Premier League

Egypt Cup

Egyptian Super Cup

England

English football First Tier Template:Hatnote

FA Cup

Football League/EFL Cup

FA Charity/Community Shield

Finland

Veikkausliiga

  • 1998–2000 Haka
  • 2009–2014 HJK (6-peat)
  • 2020–2023 HJK (4-peat)

France

Ligue 1

Germany

Bundesliga

DDR-Oberliga

Iran

Persian Gulf League

Iran Super Cup 2017–2020 Persepolis (4-peat)

Iraq

Iraq Stars League

Iraq FA Cup

Umm al-Ma'arik Championship

Iraqi Super Cup

Iraq Central FA Premier League

Israel

Liga Leumit

Israeli Premier League

Italy

Italian Football Championship

Serie A

Coppa Italia

Japan

J1 League

Mexico

Liga MX

Netherlands

Eredivisie

Norway

Tippeligaen

  • 1972–1975 Viking (4-peat)
  • 1992–2004 Rosenborg (13-peat)
  • 2015–2018 Rosenborg (4-peat) (2015-2016 Tippeligaen, 2017-2018 Eliteserien)

Philippines

National Men's Championship

PFL

Portugal

Primeira Liga

Russia

Russian Football Premier League

Scotland

Scottish football league system first tier

Scottish Cup

Serbia

Serbian SuperLiga

Slovenia

Slovenian PrvaLiga

Spain

La Liga

Copa del Rey

South Africa

South African Premier Division

South Korea

K League 1

Sweden

Allsvenskan

Turkey

Süper Lig

USSR

Soviet Top League

United Arab Emirates

UAE Pro League

Yugoslavia

Yugoslav First League

Baseball

Puerto Rico

Baseball

Japan

Nippon Professional Baseball

South Korea

KBO League

Basketball

Argentina

Liga Nacional de Básquet

Czech Republic

Czech National Basketball League:

France

LNB Pro A

Germany

Basketball Bundesliga

Iraq

Iraqi Professional Basketball League

Iraqi Basketball Perseverance Cup

Israel

Israeli Basketball Premier League

Italy

Lega Basket Serie A

New Zealand

National Basketball League (Australia)

Philippines

In the Philippines, a similar concept of a grand slam, winning all 3 conferences (tournaments) in sequence in a single season exists. Leagues such as the PBA, PVL, and formerly PBL and MICAA had used this format.

A conventional definition of three peat, winning a conference championship in three or more consecutive seasons, can also be applied:

PBA

PBA D-League

Puerto Rico

BSN basketball

Russia

Russian Basketball Super League 1 (1992–2010)

Russian Professional Basketball League

VTB United League

Russian Women's Basketball Premier League

Slovenia

Premier A Slovenian Basketball League

Spain

Liga ACB

Spanish Cup

Spanish Super Cup

Switzerland

Swiss Basketball League

Turkey

Basketball Super League

Vietnam

VBA

Canadian Football

Canada

Canadian Rugby Union (pre 1958) / Canadian Football League (post 1958) (Grey Cup):

Collegiate women's basketball

Cricket

Australia

Queensland Premier Cricket T20

India

Indian cricket's Ranji Trophy

New Zealand

New Zealand cricket's Plunket Shield

Futsal

Brazil

Taça Brasil de Futsal

Iraq

Iraqi Futsal Premier League

Portugal

Campeonato Nacional de Futsal

Taça de Portugal de Futsal

  • 2017–2022 Sporting CP (4-peat) (2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22)

Taça da Liga de Futsal

Russia

Russian Futsal Super League

Russian Futsal Cup

Spain

Primera División de Futsal

Copa de España de Futsal

Copa del Rey de Futsal

Supercopa de España de Futsal

Gaelic football

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Handball

Iraq

Iraqi Handball Premier League

Slovenia

Slovenian First League of Handball

  • 1991–2001 Celje (10-peat)
  • 2002–2008 Celje (6-peat)
  • 2013–2020 Celje (7-peat)

Russia

Russian Handball Super League

Spain

Liga ASOBAL

Copa del Rey

Hurling

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

National Hurling League

Ice Hockey

Australia

Australian Ice Hockey League

USSR

Soviet Championship League

Rugby Union

Australia & New Zealand

Super Rugby (Union)

England

Men's Premiership Rugby

Premiership Women's Rugby

Women's Premiership

Rugby League

Australia & New Zealand

New South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League

England

Northern Rugby Football Union/Northern Rugby Football League/Rugby Football League/Super League

Volleyball

Philippines

PVL

South Korea

V-League

Three-peats in continental and international championships

Olympics

Template:Missing information Athletics

Basketball

Equestrian

Fencing

Field Hockey

Football

Handball

Sailing

Shooting

Swimming

Volleyball

Water polo

Curling

Ice Hockey

3 Peat 1984-1987-1991 Canada Cup

Chess

Unofficial Championships (before 1886)

Pre-FIDE World Championships (1886–1946)

FIDE World Championships (2006–present)

Association Football

National team competitions Club competitions
Men

FIFA Confederations Cup

AFC Asian Cup

Africa Cup of Nations

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Nations League

CONMEBOL Copa América

Arab Cup

Arabian Gulf Cup

Men

FIFA Club World Cup

UEFA Champions League

UEFA Europa League

CONCACAF Champions League

CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores

CAF Cup

African Cup Winners' Cup

AFC Cup

OFC Champions League

Arab Club Champions Cup

Arab Cup Winners' Cup

Athletics

World Athletics Championships

Cricket

Cricket World Cup

ICC Women's T20 World Cup

Darts

BDO World Darts Championship

PDC World Darts Championship

Template:Flagicon Gary Anderson could have made a three-peat in 2015–2017 but lost 7–3 to Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2017 World darts championship.

BDO Women's World Darts Championship

Esports

Counter Strike

Counter Strike: Global Offensive

League of Legends

Competitive eating

Men
Women

Nathan's Famous Lemonade Chug Contest

Futsal

FIFA Futsal World Cup

UEFA Futsal Championship

Intercontinental Futsal Cup

UEFA Futsal Champions League

South American Futsal Championship / Copa Libertadores de Futsal

Golf

Handball

National team competitions Club competitions
Men

IHF World Men's Handball Championship

IHF World Men's Outdoor Handball Championship

European Men's Handball Championship

African Championship

Women
IHF World Women's Handball Championship

European Women's Handball Championship

Men

IHF Super Globe

EHF Champions League

EHF European Cup

EHF Cup Winner's Cup

EHF Men's Champions Trophy

African Champions League

African Cup Winners' Cup

African Super Cup

SEHA League

Women
Women's EHF Champions League

International rules football

International Rules Series

Template:Note label International rules football games are held sporadically, hence the eight-year gap between 1990 and 1998.

Motorsports

Formula One World Drivers' Champion

Champ Car World Series auto racing

Motorcycling

MotoGP

Motorboat racing

Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship

Rugby

Rugby Union

Women's Rugby World Cup

Rugby League

Rugby League World Cup

Women's Rugby League World Cup

Surfing

IPS World Circuit World Champion

ASP World Tour World Champion

ASP World Tour World Champion

Winter X Games

Winter X Games SuperPipe

Tennis

Template:Hatnote

Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles

Template:Hatnote

Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Gentlemen's singles
Ladies' singles
Gentlemen's doubles
Ladies' doubles

Template:Hatnote

Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Singles
Doubles
Singles
Men's singles
Men's doubles
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles
Men's singles

National Football League

In the National Football League (NFL), a Super Bowl championship three-peat has not been accomplished. Two-time defending Super Bowl champions who failed to three-peat include the Green Bay Packers (1968), Miami Dolphins (1974), Pittsburgh Steelers (twice: 1976, 1980), San Francisco 49ers (1990), Dallas Cowboys (1994), Denver Broncos (1999), New England Patriots (2005), and Kansas City Chiefs (2024). The Chiefs became the first two-time defending Super Bowl champion to reach the Super Bowl, but lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles, the team they had previously defeated two years prior in Super Bowl LVII. The other eight teams failed to return to the title game in the third season (indicated in parentheses).<ref name="NBC">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls as the AFC champions from 1990 to 1993, which is a feat unmatched in NFL history; however, they lost in every appearance. The Miami Dolphins (1971-73), New England Patriots (2016-18), and Kansas City Chiefs (2022-24) have each won 3 consecutive Conference championships (and appeared in 3 straight Super Bowls) in their history.

In the early years of the NFL, decades before the introduction of either the term three-peat or the Super Bowl, the Packers won three consecutive NFL titles from 192931. This was achieved without playing any postseason playoff games, as the league title was determined at that time from the season standings. In addition, the Packers won the NFL championship in 1965, at a time when the rival NFL and AFL played separate exclusive championships. They then followed that 1965 championship with their first two Super Bowl victories in 1966 and 1967 (their Super Bowl berths were earned by winning both the 1966 NFL Championship Game and 1967 NFL Championship Game), thereby winning championships three years in a row.

There have been efforts to come up with a similarly clever name for the potential fourth consecutive championship in the year following a three-peat. Quat-row was trademarked by Lakers fan and graphic artist Jerry Leibowitz because he felt four-peat "didn't make any sense phonetically",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> though it's thus far failed to catch on and the latter continues to be the primary term. Since three-peat came into usage, however, only one team in major American sports has been able to achieve at least four in a row: Hendrick Motorsports with driver Jimmie Johnson, who won five NASCAR Cup Series championships in a row from 2006 to 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Johnson's streak has been accordingly described as a five-peat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

There are also terms for winning three trophies in the same season:

The trifecta (also known as a tricast, triactor or tierce) is a concept in gambling in which a bettor successfully guesses the win, place and show in a particular race.

Rather than three-peat, English-speaking people may instead talk of a hat trick of championships, or simply a three-in-a-row.

References

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