Be mindful that “year” and “season” are not synonymous.

Year refers to the calendar period between Jan. 1-Dec. 31.

Season refers to the period of time designated by a league or governing body, at the end of which a champion usually is crowned, followed by an offseason.

When referring to the NFL, NBA, or NHL, “year” should be avoided, as their seasons span multiple calendar years. For instance, the Philadelphia Eagles became the champions of the 2024 NFL season by winning Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

When referring to MLB, WNBA, golf, tennis and other sports wherein the entire season usually is confined to a single year, keep in mind that the year begins long before and ends long after the season does. For instance, when writing about the WNBA in November, both last season and this year would refer to the most recently concluded season.

In most cases, “this season” is implied and does not needed to be stated, unless confusion could occur. Whenever possible, use last season, this season or next season when referring to the previous, current or upcoming seasons, respectively, rather than the year date.