Year in Review: The top sports stories of 2024

The world of sports certainly had its share of history-making events during 2024. So, like jolly ole’ Santa making his list and checking it twice, let’s look at some of the top sports moments of the year.

Kansas City Chiefs cement their legacy

We begin in February in Las Vegas, when the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl for the second straight season. They beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime, a back-to-back feat that hadn’t been done in 20 years. Yes, you can call them a dynasty. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also won his third Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award. Of course, when asked how he did it, he deflected to his teammates.

“I think it was where we started at. We started in Texas in the off-season,” Mahomes said. “Me meeting a completely new group of receivers and learning. Learning what they do well and what we could get better at and guys leading from there. The guys accepted the challenge. It was a crazy year, and we came out on top, can’t ask for anything more from those guys.”

UConn’s new basketball dynasty

In April, the UConn Huskies went back-to-back. They won their second straight NCAA championship with a blowout win over Purdue in the title game. The Huskies were the first team to win two straight since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007. Not long after the celebration, NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers wooed head coach Dan Hurley, but he chose to remain in Connecticut.

American Olympians shine in Paris

The summer was dominated by the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Team USA fared well and made headlines worldwide. They dominated during track and field events and on the basketball courts, where both the men and women beat the host nation, France, for the gold. There was also a little comedy and tragedy, from the “Pommel Horse Guy” to Raygun’s breakdancing routine. And, of course, there is no forgetting American gymnast Simone Biles, who completed her comeback by winning all-around gold in gymnastics. With 11 total medals, she cemented her legacy as the greatest gymnast ever.

“All in all, I’m super proud of my performance tonight and the fight that I’ve had for the last three years, mentally and physically. Competing on a world stage like the Olympics is an amazing experience and I couldn’t be prouder,” Biles said.

Dodgers win World Series as Ohtani shatters records

Dodgers fans are certainly proud of what their team accomplished in 2024. Led by the incredible, game-changing superstar Shohei Ohtani, they won their eighth world championship. Ohtani’s contribution: becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to have 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season. Ohtani-mania peaked on Sept. 19 when he hit three homers and stole two bases to surpass both milestones.

College football begins major transformation

College football underwent a few changes in 2024. Not only are we still in the midst of the first 12-team playoff, but getting to that point was certainly unsettling for fans and schools alike. This was the first season without the 108-year-old Pac-12 Conference. Add in the transfer portal and the expansion of name, image and likeness dollars, and the sport’s landscape is now more professional than amateur. Arizona State head coach Ken Dillingham put it all in perspective.

“In today’s landscape of college football, you can’t blame the kids. It’s an adult problem that the kids are just participating in,” Dillingham said. “That’s why everyone who leaves, I’m supportive, everyone who stays, I’m supportive. I just want what’s best for our team, so we’ll just take it one day at a time and see where we end up.”

Caitlin Clark puts women’s basketball back on the map

Finally, there was no bigger story in 2024 than women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. She set the NCAA all-time scoring record, men or women, while leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national women’s college basketball title game. She came to symbolize the emergence of women’s sports and society’s gender debate. Few athletes have entered the professional ranks with bigger expectations and scrutiny. Despite that, she set multiple rookie records while leading the Indiana Fever to the WNBA playoffs. On Tuesday, Dec. 24, Clark was named AP Female Athlete of the Year for her play and for leading the WNBA to viewership and attendance records.

“Playing at home in front of these fans and seeing the way the young girls dangle over the rail and some are so happy, and people are crying, and you understand the impact that you have on people’s lives and that’s what’s so cool about it for myself,” Clark said.