As another cycle of the calendar draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on a momentous year in the world of sports. 2024 was rich in unforgettable moments, including some championship teams retaining their crowns such as the Chiefs and Gamecocks, while others like Florida Panthers celebrated their first major victories. The highlight of the year was the magnetizing Summer Olympics held in Paris. Unexpected retirements in the coaching world (nod to Nick Saban) and unexpected comebacks (here’s looking at you, Bill Belichick) sparked heated discussions and shook up strategies. Notably, a formidable increase in the popularity of the WNBA and other women’s sports was seen, a trend buoyed by television coverage and, thus, revenue.
Looking back at the various transformations 2024 brought, we delve into the year’s most impactful athletes, coaches, and even ideas that made people sit up and take notice, nudging the world of sports in new directions. Of course, not everything was rosy and there were measurable lows too. Hence, we spotlight the echelons of sports in 2024, both the triumphant winners and the unfortunate losers.
Arguably, the most prominent figure of the sports saga in 2024 was Caitlin Clark. She captured the sports world’s attention with her stellar performance that propelled Iowa to the national title game. Subsequently, she became the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, joining the Indiana Fever.
Simone Biles, already recognized as the epitome of excellence in women’s gymnastics, added another feather to her cap. The Paris Olympics saw her bring home four more medals, including three prestigious gold ones. This victory was an amazing comeback after struggling with ‘twisties’ and an extended competitive break.
In a stark reversal of its status in previous years, the running back position enjoyed a revival in 2024. New team shifts fuelled a resurgence for Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, providing them with an opportunity to run riot against NFL defenses. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty gave college football a thrilling season, nearly breaking the long-standing rushing record set by Barry Sanders.
A mentionable figure of 2024 is surely Jim Harbaugh. He accomplished an impressive feat – leading his alma mater to a national championship and collecting $3 million in bonuses. He then dodged impending NCAA sanctions, returning to the professional circles in the NFL, and put the resurging Los Angeles Chargers on the map for playoff contention.
The list of success stories includes the $700 million men of MLB, with Shohei Ohtani securing a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani didn’t just earn big – he played big, helping his team claim the World Series title. While Juan Soto didn’t win the World Series, he scooped up an even bigger contract with the New York Mets, surpassing the previous record with a staggering $765 million deal.
In NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs continued to display dominance throughout the calendar year, winning 19 of their 20 games. However, it wasn’t the number of wins alone that made their performance so notable, but the sheer tenacity demonstrated in their multiple nail-biting victories by only a margin of three points or less, with two games extended into overtime.
The Summer Olympics, as expected, brought new faces onto the global sporting scene. The 2024 edition was particularly notable for highlighting less common sports and fostering stars out of a Turkish sharpshooter, a glasses-wearing pommel horse athlete, and an Australian breakdancer with a uniquely identifiable kangaroo hop.
Keeping up with the spirit of March Madness, a traditional underdog story unfolded with NC State’s men’s basketball team. It emerged as this year’s Cinderella, making a surprising run to return to the Final Four after nearly four decades, despite not being predicted to make it past their conference tournament’s second round.
The year, however, wasn’t only filled with victories. Sports critics with misogynistic views faced a disappointing year, as the rise in popularity and dominance of women’s sports, especially at the Olympics and the WNBA, continued unabated.
Law enforcement organizations in Louisville and Miami had a challenging year due to repercussions faced from the controversial arrests and detainments of Scottie Scheffler and Tyreek Hill.
In the soccer field, the U.S Men’s team floundered on home ground, failing to advance past their Copa America group stage and suffering a loss to Panama. These disappointing performances inevitably led to the termination of Gregg Berhalter’s short-lived return as head coach.