Netflix fundamentally changed the game for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. For years, DCC: Making the Team lived on CMT, tucked away in a niche corner of cable TV where die-hard fans watched training camp every summer. Then came Greg Whiteley—the mastermind behind Cheer and Last Chance U—who stripped away the pom-poms to show the grit, the bruises, and the sheer psychological warfare of being an elite performer. Now, everyone is asking the same thing: when are we getting America’s Sweethearts Season 2 and the inevitable DCC Season 3 on Netflix?
It’s complicated.
Right now, fans are technically waiting for the second installment of the Netflix iteration, but because the CMT show ran for 16 seasons, long-time viewers often refer to the next chapter as the third season of the "modern" era. Honestly, it doesn't matter what you call it. What matters is that the demand for more footage of Victoria Kalina’s journey, Kelcey Wetterberg’s leadership, and Kelli Finglass’s terrifyingly high standards has never been higher. The first season was a cultural juggernaut. It wasn't just about dance; it was about the brutal reality of a "dream job" that pays less than a Chick-fil-A shift while demanding Olympic-level athleticism.
The Reality of the Next Installment
Netflix hasn't officially stamped a date on the calendar yet. That’s just the truth. However, if you look at how the Dallas Cowboys operate, they love the spotlight. Jerry Jones knows that the cheerleaders are a massive part of the "Cowboys" brand—a brand valued at over $9 billion. You don’t just walk away from a hit show that humanizes your organization to millions of people who couldn't care less about football.
Most industry insiders expect the cameras to follow the 2024-2025 squad. This means we are likely looking at a release window in early to mid-2025. Why? Because the narrative arc of a DCC season is tied to the NFL calendar. You need the auditions in May, the grueling training camp in the summer, the first home game in September, and the emotional exhaustion of the holidays. You can't rush the "Thunderstruck" choreo.
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The stakes for a potential DCC Season 3 are weirdly high. The first Netflix season pulled back the curtain on the "year of the veteran," focusing on girls like Kelcey who were retiring. This leaves a massive vacuum. Who steps up? Who becomes the new face of the franchise? It’s a literal audition for the spotlight.
What Most People Get Wrong About the DCC Audition Process
People think it's just about being a good dancer. It's not. You could be a prima ballerina or a hip-hop world champion and still get cut in the first week. Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell aren't looking for the best dancer; they are looking for the best brand ambassador who happens to be able to kick to her nose.
There's this thing called "The Look." It sounds superficial because it is. But in the world of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, it's a job requirement. They look at your social media. They look at how you carry yourself in a room. They look at whether you can handle a 10-minute interview with a local news station without saying something that embarrasses the Star.
- The Weight of the Uniform: The blue and white uniform is literally kept in a vault. It’s custom-fitted. If you gain five pounds, they notice. If you lose five pounds and the vest gapes, they notice.
- The "Kick Line" Physics: It’s not just about height. It’s about timing. If one girl is a millisecond off, the whole illusion of the "World's Most Famous Cheerleaders" breaks.
- The Salary Gap: This is the most controversial part of the show. These women are professional athletes. Yet, many of them work full-time jobs as nurses, teachers, or corporate recruiters just to pay rent in Dallas.
Why Victoria Kalina's Arc Changed Everything
If we get a DCC Season 3, the ghost of Victoria Kalina’s storyline will loom large. Her transparency about mental health, the pressure of being a "legacy" (her mom, Tina, was a DCC), and the feeling of being an outsider within her own team resonated with people who don't even like football. It broke the "Stepford Wife" image that the organization spent decades cultivating.
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The reality is that the DCC organization is a business. A very strict one. When Victoria talked about the "weight" of the expectations, she wasn't just talking about the scale. She was talking about the psychological toll of being "on" 24/7. Any future season has to address this. If Netflix continues the series, they can't go back to the shiny, sanitized version of the CMT days. The audience has seen the cracks in the foundation, and that’s what they’re coming back for.
Looking at the 2024-2025 Squad
If you’ve been following the current squad on Instagram, you already know some of the faces that would dominate a new season. Chandi Dayle and Megan Murphy are the veterans holding it down. We’re also seeing a huge influx of talent from college programs like LSU and TCU. These girls are coming in with millions of TikTok followers. They are already "famous" before they even put on the boots.
This creates a new dynamic for Charlotte Jones and the management. How do you control the narrative of a girl who has a bigger social media reach than the team's official account? That’s the drama of DCC Season 3. It’s the old guard versus the new influencer era.
The Technical Difficulty of Being a DCC
Let’s talk about the dancing for a second. The "Thunderstruck" routine is basically a cardio nightmare. Imagine doing high kicks, jumps, and floor work for four minutes straight in cowboy boots with two-inch heels on a turf field that’s over 100 degrees. Then do it again. And again.
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Why the "Vets" Get Cut
Every year, fans are shocked when a veteran gets cut. "But she was on the team for three years!" Doesn't matter. In the DCC world, you audition for your job every single year. There is no tenure. If a rookie comes in who is younger, faster, and has a "fresher" look, Kelli and Judy will pull the trigger. It’s cold. It’s business.
The Hidden Costs
The women have to pay for their own hair upkeep, their own makeup (to an extent), and the commute to the Star in Frisco. While the organization provides some perks, the net income for a first-year rookie is shockingly low. You do it for the resume. You do it for the "sisterhood." You do it for the chance to say you were one of the 36.
Predicting the Timeline for America's Sweethearts
Based on how Netflix handled Cheer and the first season of America's Sweethearts, here is the likely trajectory. The production crew was reportedly spotted at the 2024 auditions. That footage is currently in the "edit bay." They are likely following the team through the current NFL playoffs.
- Production Wrap: Usually happens after the final game of the season or the annual banquet in late winter.
- Editing: Whiteley’s team takes months to craft the narrative. They don't just throw clips together; they find the "characters."
- Announcement: Expect a teaser trailer in March or April of 2025.
- Premiere: A summer release (June/July) makes the most sense to build hype for the next NFL season.
Actionable Steps for Fans Waiting for the Return
While we wait for the official confirmation of DCC Season 3, there are ways to stay in the loop without falling for "clickbait" rumors.
- Follow the Rookies: Search for the "DCC Class of 2024." Their personal vlogs often give more "behind-the-scenes" info than the official Cowboys channels.
- Watch the Sidelines: If you watch Cowboys home games, pay attention to who is in the "Point" position during the pre-game. This is the ultimate indicator of who the show will focus on.
- Check the Podcasts: Former cheerleaders like Caroline Kraddick or even some of the girls from the Netflix season often guest on podcasts where they drop hints about filming schedules.
- Revisit the Classics: If you're new to the fandom via Netflix, go back and find old clips of Making the Team. Seeing the evolution from 2006 to 2026 is wild. The hair gets smaller, but the pressure stays the same.
The wait for the next season is a lesson in patience, but if the first 16 years of this franchise have taught us anything, it's that the drama never actually stops. It just changes outfits. Whether it's labeled as DCC Season 3 or America's Sweethearts Season 2, the blue and white stars aren't going anywhere.
Next Steps: Keep an eye on the official Netflix "Tudum" site for the first quarter of the year. Historically, that’s where they drop the first look at their unscripted summer lineup. You can also monitor the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' official Instagram; they usually post "Coming Soon" teasers when the film crews are active during major team events. For those wanting the deepest dive, follow the "DCC" subreddit, where fans track everything from hair color changes to which girls are missing from specific rehearsals—often predicting cuts before they are even announced.