FanSided 250: Washington Wizards nowhere in sight

The ultimate ranking of fandoms is here, and the Washington Wizards are nowhere in sight.

Ever wondered who has the best fans? Not just in the NBA or in sports, but the best fans, period? Well look no further, the FanSided 250 is here, and it has the definitive rankings of each and every fandom out there.

Noticeably absent from this year’s ranking are the Washington Wizards. Of all 30 NBA franchises, only four teams missed the top 250: the Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Phoenix Suns.

However, the ultimate ranking of fandoms doesn’t just include team fandoms. Player loyalty is also recognized, and eleven NBA ballers found their individual fandoms among the top 250 out there. However, none of those fandoms belong to Wizards players.

Given the methodology for this year’s list, it’s not all that surprising that the Wizards are absent. Among the many factors that determine fandom, this year’s list “took into account our longstanding values of magnitude (a fanbase’s size and scope), legacy (longevity and loyalty of the fanbase) and passion, but buzz was most important.”

And to be honest, there hasn’t been much buzz around the Washington Wizards in the past year. Even when there was, it was for the wrong reasons. The Wizards started 2019 without John Wall, and their playoff hopes were on life support. They didn’t create much buzz to end the season as they finished 32-50.

A new GM and a lottery pick created some offseason buzz, but when people mentioned the Wizards this summer, they were debating which team the Wizards would be trading Bradley Beal to.

Without their all-star point guard or a lot of wins, the Wizards haven’t been in the national conversation. But things look bright for a 2020 ranking on the FanSided 250. Bradley Beal is continuing to assert himself as a legit superstar in the NBA. Rui Hachimura is establishing himself as a top Rookie of the Year candidate. Davis Bertans is blowing everybody’s mind. And John Wall is getting ready to come back.

2019 might not have been the Wizards’ year, and the FanSided 250 rankings prove that. But 2020 might be. Expect them to bounce back in a big way in next year’s rankings.

The Rest of the District

The Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Washington Mystics were crowned WNBA champions in 2019. And the Washington Nationals are the reigning World Series winners. As a result, their fanbases all saw some love on the FanSided 250. Even the dumpster fire that is the Washington Redskins has one of the top 250 fanbases, coming in at 197 on this year’s list.

The Mystics, who were ranked 129th, were one of just two WNBA teams on this year’s list. MVP Elena Delle-Donne’s fans also got some props and made her one of only two WNBA players with a top 250 fandom (148). The Capitals finished 5th among all NHL teams, coming in at 127th overall. Riding their World Series run, the Nationals were by far the highest-ranked DC team. The MLB’s 4th biggest fandom ranked 45th overall. Not surprising news after a recent Washington Post poll revealed that the Nationals are now the city’s favorite team.

Among the District’s six major sports teams, only the Wizards and DC United were left off the list this year. However, only two MLS teams made the top 250. 26 NBA teams made the list.