2023 National Siblings Day: Which pro sport has the most siblings? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The holiday weekend continued on Monday with National Siblings Day, a time to scour through old photos and restart family group chats.
No where is the sibling dynamic as first opponents and fierce supporters felt more than in sports, with countless family matchups taking place every year.
Just in the past year we saw two historic matchups between brothers.
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In the MLB, Austin and Aaron Nola became the first pair of brothers to face off as an opposing pitcher and hitter in the postseason. Over in the NFL, Jason and Travis Kelce became the first brothers to go against each other in the Super Bowl.
Looking ahead, there’s a chance the NBA postseason could include a clash of siblings as soon as this weekend. If the No. 8 Atlanta Hawks lose their first play-in game but win the second they’ll take on the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup between Aaron Holiday and older brother, Jrue.
Later this summer, the USWNT will head to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup with a roster that could potentially feature sisters Kristie and Sam Mewis. Back in 2019, Kristie was left off the roster in France while younger sister Sam went on to start for the championship team. Four years later Sam remains sidelined as she recovers from knee surgery while Kristie looks in good position to make the team. We’re still a couple months away from the official roster drop, but that’s definitely a storyline to keep an eye on.
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In honor of National Siblings Day on April 10, here’s a more detailed breakdown of some athletic siblings.
How many siblings are there in the NHL?
The NHL’s 31 pairs of brothers is far-and-away the most of any major sports leagues.
The ice also happens to be a great place to relive those sibling rivalries, with fights becoming a staple of the sport.
Nothing like mom and dad watching on as the Joseph brothers take high sticking penalties against each other. 😂 pic.twitter.com/UVyqWEjNDU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 21, 2023
The complete list of brothers in the NHL this season is:
- Joey Anderson andMikey Anderson
- MorganBarron andJustin Barron
- Jordie Benn andJamie Benn
- JesperBoqvist andAdam Boqvist
- Kirby Dach andColton Dach
- Hayden Fleury andCale Fleury
- Nick Foligno andMarcus Foligno
- Cal Foote andNolan Foote
- Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes
- Ryan Johansen andLucas Johansen
- Seth Jones andCaleb Jones
- Mathieu Joseph andPierre-Olivier Joseph
- Charlie Lindgren andRyan Lindgren
- Michael McLeod andRyan McLeod
- William Nylander andAlexander Nylander
- Darren Raddysh andTaylor Raddysh
- Brett Ritchie andNick Ritchie
- Jason Robertson andNick Robertson
- Buddy Robinson andEric Robinson
- Luke Schenn andBrayden Schenn
- Brendan Smith andReilly Smith
- Givani Smith andGemel Smith
- Eric Staal, MarcStaal andJordan Staal
- Riley Stillman andChase Stillman
- Michael Stone andMark Stone
- Ryan Strome andDylan Strome
- Evgeny Svechnikov andAndrei Svechnikov
- Chris Tanev andBrandon Tanev
- Tage Thompson andTyce Thompson
- Matthew Tkachuk andBrady Tkachuk
- James van Riemsdyk and Trevor van Riemsdyk
How many siblings are there in the NBA?
In a very distant second is the NBA which started the 2022-23 campaign with 13 brothers in the league.
Among these 13 are several sets of teammates including Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Evan and Isaiah Mobley of the Cavaliers and Franz and Mortiz Wagner of the Magic.
The complete list of brothers in the NBA this season is:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Julian Champagnie and Justin Champagnie
- Stephen Curry and Seth Curry
- Juancho Hernangomez and Willy Hernangomez
- Aaron Holiday, Jrue Holiday and Justin Holiday
- Tre Jones and Tyus Jones
- Caleb Martin and Cody Martin
- Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez
- Caleb Martin and Cody Martin
- Jaden McDaniels and Jalen McDaniels
- Evan Mobley and Isaiah Mobley
- Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris
- Franz Wagner and Mortiz Wagner
How many siblings are there in the NFL?
What the NFL lacks in numbers it makes up for in star power.
Among the 21 players with siblings who made NFL rosters last season, twelve of them are Pro-Bowlers. This includes the Kelces, Bosas and Diggs who have all multiple Pro Bowls to their name.
The complete list of brothers in the NFL last season is:
- Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce
- J.J. Watt, T.J. Watt and Derek Watt
- Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa
- Dalvin Cook and James Cook
- Romeo Okwara and Julian Okwara
- Stefon Diggs and Trevon Diggs
- Zack Martin and Nick Martin
- Tremaine Edmunds and Terrell Edmunds
- Equanimeous St. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Cameron Heyward and Connor Heyward
How many siblings are there in the MLB?
It might come as a surprise to some that the league with the richest history currently has the fewest sets of siblings.
There have been 438 groups of brothers in the MLB, according to Baseball Almanac. This includes 20 families with three or more children who debut in the majors, headlined by the Delahanty family who had five sons make the major leagues. Despite the tradition, it’s been nearly 23 years since more than three brothers made the big leagues.
There are currently only eight brothers on major league rosters to start the 2023 season.
The complete list of brothers in the MLB this season are:
- Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor
- Edwin Diaz and Alexis Diaz
- Nick Maton and Phil Maton
- Julio Urias and Luis Urias
- William Contreras and Willson Contreras
- Taylor Rogers and Tyler Rogers
- Aaron Nola and Austin Nola
- Yuli Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
How many siblings are there in the WNBA?
There were three pairs of sisters in the WNBA this past year -- Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike, Katie Lou and Karlie Samuelson and Erica McCall and DeWanna Bonner.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of sports, particularly the dynamics of sibling relationships within various professional leagues, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to the table. Over the years, I've closely followed the intersection of family ties and athletic prowess, keeping a keen eye on historic matchups and unique occurrences that showcase the extraordinary bonds among siblings in the sports realm.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article "2023 National Siblings Day: Which pro sport has the most siblings?" from NBC Sports Chicago:
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MLB Sibling Matchups:
- The article highlights a historic MLB matchup between brothers Austin and Aaron Nola. They became the first pair of brothers to face off as an opposing pitcher and hitter in the postseason.
- This is indicative of the unique experiences that siblings can have in the world of baseball, showcasing the intricate connections between family members on the field.
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NFL Sibling Rivalry:
- The NFL section brings attention to the Super Bowl matchup between brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, making them the first brothers to go against each other in a Super Bowl.
- The star power among NFL siblings is emphasized, with mention of twelve Pro-Bowlers among the 21 players with siblings who made NFL rosters last season.
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NBA Potential Sibling Clash:
- The article speculates about a potential NBA postseason clash between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks, featuring brothers Aaron Holiday and Jrue Holiday.
- This illustrates the ongoing tradition of sibling rivalries in basketball and the anticipation surrounding potential matchups in the postseason.
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USWNT Sibling Storyline:
- Looking beyond the major professional leagues, the article mentions the upcoming Women's World Cup and the possibility of sisters Kristie and Sam Mewis representing the USWNT.
- It touches upon the narrative of family members sharing the field in international competitions and the evolving dynamics within teams.
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NHL Dominance in Sibling Numbers:
- The article provides a comprehensive breakdown of sibling pairs in the NHL, emphasizing that the NHL has 31 pairs of brothers, surpassing other major sports leagues in terms of sibling representation.
- It includes a list of NHL brothers, showcasing the diversity of sibling connections within the hockey world.
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Sibling Counts Across Leagues:
- The article quantifies the number of siblings in each major professional league: NHL (31 pairs), NBA (13 brothers), NFL (21 players with siblings), MLB (438 groups of brothers historically, with eight currently in the 2023 season), and the WNBA (three pairs of sisters).
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Historical Context in MLB:
- The historical context in MLB is highlighted, noting that there have been 438 groups of brothers in the league, with 20 families having three or more children who debuted in the majors.
- The Delahanty family is mentioned, showcasing a notable example of a family with five sons who made it to the major leagues.
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WNBA Sibling Pairs:
- The article mentions three pairs of sisters in the WNBA during the past year: Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike, Katie Lou and Karlie Samuelson, and Erica McCall and DeWanna Bonner.
- It acknowledges the presence of sibling relationships in women's professional basketball, contributing to the broader narrative of familial connections in sports.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of sibling relationships across various professional sports leagues, highlighting historical milestones, potential future matchups, and the diversity of sibling connections within each league.
