Athletes Who Give Us 'Squad Goals'

Tennis star Serena Williams pals around with fellow athletes and celebrities all the time. The U.S. women's soccer team got on stage with Taylor Swift. MLB teams had what looked like an inordinate amount of fun in 2015. 

All of this adds up to a whole mess of #squadgoals, which are just what they sound like. These following 15 photos make you want to be a part of the group. Or, the people included are so baller, it's just awesome they're together at all. Or, you wish your friends group was this boss.

Put it this way: a photo with Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter would be a #squadgoal fulfilled.

U.S. Women's Soccer

The U.S. women's soccer team is the embodiment of #squadgoals. Luckily, Shannon Rosenberg at BuzzFeed was kind enough to compile a perfect collection of Instagram proof.

These girls hang out together off the field, clown around, take epic selfies—you name it. Perhaps their best #squadgoal moment (besides a trip to the White House), however, was their on-stage cameo with Taylor Swift. 

Bayern Munich

In August, the crew at Bayern Munich had a photoshoot with Paulaner Brewery. They wore traditional German lederhosen, which was spectacular, as evidenced by this group shot from defender Jerome Boateng. It looks like they had an awesome time.

LeBron James

LeBron James' Instagram is littered with pictures of him and awesome people. Here he is at the ESPYs with Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter (#halloffamesquad). Here he is again with Aaron Rodgers and David Beckham, and here he is with the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

Got it, LeBron—you know people.

Serena Williams

It seems like Serena Williams is always hanging out with baller people, too. Her Instagram is full of pictures of her and bestie Caroline Wozniacki, sister Venus and celebrities galore. This one at Ciara's birthday party is on-point, though. Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and La La Anthony were all there. No pictured: Russell Wilson.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is not the only Carolina Panther into "The Dab." Not only does this group Dab represent team unity, but it also shows support for Newton, who was criticized for doing the dance after a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. Everyone except tight end Greg Olsen seems to be pretty into it.

Golden State Warriors

Everything about the Golden State Warriors screams #squadgoals. Seriously, check out the Instagram account of a player on that team—Draymond Green, Steph Curry—most provide ample evidence of one of the most fun groups in sports. This slow-motion video of the ring ceremony, courtesy of Klay Thompson, however, is particularly magical.

Neymar, Messi, Suarez

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all play for the same club team. FC Barcelona's roster alone is enough to qualify it for #squadgoals. If Barca ever joined forces with the Warriors, the Internet would probably break. Keep working on it, Messi. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Apparently, team bonding is important to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In addition to the group shots on Instagram, they participated in Movember together. That's right, mustaches were everywhere in Cleveland for a month. Check out this epic shot of Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and Mo Williams.

Cortez Lewis

Wake Forest wide receiver Cortez Lewis has a handshake for 50-plus players on the team. He is such a model teammate, Wake released a YouTube video featuring said handshakes, aptly titled "#SquadGoals."

Cortez told Andrea Adelson of ESPN he started the whole thing in high school. He said, "That's how I kept up relationships with people. I had handshakes, so I always kept good relationships." Brilliant.

All the Golfers

There was no rest for the weary after America beat the International team at the Presidents Cup in October. In fact, the two teams merged for one, spectacular after-party. There were costumes, fake facial hair and one very sleepy Bubba Watson cradling a trophy. Good sportsmanship equals good times.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs were a fun team in 2015, on and off the field. Who could forget the post-no-hitter pajama party? Or the walk-off celebrations at home plate? One of the best moments, however, occurred when Cubs players sported Chicago Blackhawks jerseys on the team plane to, you know, represent Chi City.  

Pittsburgh Pirates

A Major League Baseball team full of grown men dressed up like superheroes? Yes, please.

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Pirates for flying in style after a victory in September. Seriously, were MLB teams more fun this year, or is Instagram just making their shenanigans more prominent?

Todd Gurley and the Rams

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports in January. Almost a year later, the rapper was on hand to watch Gurley in action against the Detroit Lions and even helped the team celebrate a 21-14 victory.

If hanging out with Jay isn't on your list of #squadgoals, it should be.

The Currys

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Curry family, in and of itself, is a pretty legit group, but when they get together to play golf with president Obama? That is a serious squad. According to Dell Curry, the family patriarch, he and son Steph once played against Obama and NBA great Ray Allen, per Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. The prez won.

Michael Jordan and Tom Brady

Tom Brady and Michael Jordan—two GOATs if there ever were any—played pickup basketball together in the Bahamas in March. Oh, and PGA golfers Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley were there, too. From the looks of it, Jordan hasn't lost a step in the trash-talk game.