What are the best sports anime?

Captain Tsubasa is a long-running Japanese sports manga, animation and video game series that focuses on Tsubasa Oozora and his soccer team as they compete in a series of tournaments.

Free! is a Japanese anime television series based on the novel written by Koji Oji. The story is about four boys participating in swimming tournaments. They eventually create a swimming club in their school's outdoor pool.

Ace of Diamond is a sports anime TV show that came out in 2013. It follows the life of Eijun Sawamura, a gifted baseball player who has an extraordinary pitching talent. His goal is to become the ace of Seidou High School.

Yowamushi Pedal is about a young otaku named Onoda who wants to join his high school's anime club but it was disbanded. Since he had no luck in restoring the anime club, Onoda ends up joining a bicycle club when he takes on a challenge.

Slam Dunk is a sports anime series in 1993. Delinquent Hanamichi Sakuragi plans to become a basketball player to impress Haruko Akagi. Sakuragi's motivation changed when he joins Team Shohoku and participates in the Japanese championship.

Eyeshield 21 is a slapstick comedy sports anime that first premiered on TV Tokyo in 2004. It follows the story of Sena, who's gifted with speed and agility, and his football team's progress to becoming the number one team in Japan.

Air Gear is an anime released in 2006. It is an action-sports anime that is produced by ADV Films. It was based on the manga of the same name by Ito Ogure or commonly known as Oh! great.

Prince of Stride: Alternative is a sports anime centered on characters who are into track and field. The anime tells the story of Nana and Takeru who want to restore their school's Stride Club to participate in city-wide relay races.

Yuri!!! on Ice is a sports anime TV show that tells the story of Yuri Katsuki, a figure skater that has experienced a big loss during the Grand Prix finals. He goes back home unsure if he will continue on until he meets Russian figure skater Victor Nikiforov.

Big Windup is a comedy and sports anime. The story is about Mihashi who is a rookie baseball player who seems to have a hard time with the sport until he transfers to a new school and works together with a star player named Abe.

Prince of Tennis is a sports anime TV series that tells the story of Ryoma Echizen, a 12-year-old tennis prodigy that has moved back to Japan after living in America. He now attends Seishun Academy Middle School where get meets other players from other schools.

Baby Steps is an anime TV series that recounts the journey of a high-school boy that becomes interested in taking tennis as his sport. With no experience, he learns the sport through hard work, discipline, and using his smarts one step at a time.

Initial D is an anime based on the self-titled manga that focuses on the world of the Japanese street illegal races and has the spirit and the feeling of the classic racing games like Need 4 Speed or similar. 

The Knight in the Area is an anime centered around two brothers who are passionate about soccer. The brothers lead different lives since Suguru became a rising soccer player and Kakeru took on a managerial role after struggling on the field.

Chihayafuru is a sports anime about characters named Chihaya and Arata who are Karuta players. Chihaya met Arata and was inspired by the latter's talent in karuta, therefore, she takes on the challenge to become Japan's best Karuta player.

Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun, also known as Clean Freak! Aoyama kun, is a Japanese anime TV series based on the manga series of the same name by Taku Sakamoto. This centers on genius soccer player Aoyama who is obsessed with cleanliness.