The past 365 days have displayed some of the most memorable moments in sports, from the internet-breaking Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade to Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies acquiring their 13th ring after an almost 10-year drought. Even tennis has impacted other industries through Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, a love story following a grand-slam champion, starring Zendaya. While films take us through the exciting lives of athletes, nothing beats the exhilaration of watching an unpredictable, in-game moment in real time. Let us take a look back at some of the most surprising comebacks and upsets of the year, across some of the most beloved national leagues.
NBA: Indiana Pacers defeating the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs
Before the playoffs in April, Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland had a 64-18 record, ranked 2nd in the league, only behind the soon-to-be champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton-led Indiana had a 50-32 record, tied for the 6th-best team in the NBA. The chance of a Pacer series sweep was slim, with long-shot odds of +6600 to win the actual title. They struggled with a 10-15 start to the season, but their strong second-half performance rallied them to the finals. Mitchell’s aggressive 48 and 43-point performances in Games 1 and 2 were not enough to defeat the Pacers’ determination and Haliburton’s last-second game-winners.
WNBA: the 4th seed Phoenix Mercury sweeping the #1 seed Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals to reach the Finals
Led by star veteran and Unrivaled league co-founder Napheesa Collier, the Minnesota Lynx lost only one game in the 2024 WNBA finals against the New York Liberty. With its defense as extraordinary as its offense, the team was in an incredible position to reach the finals again this past October. However, Phoenix’s forward Alyssa Thomas had other plans. The Mercury fought back from several 14-point deficits during the series to win the deciding Game 4 without Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who sustained a left ankle injury. Just one season into being traded from Connecticut to Phoenix, Thomas has recorded several triple-doubles, asserting dominance on and off the court.
NFL: The Carolina Panthers’ week 9 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field
Although the Green Bay Packers were the favorite, and although the game was played at their home, the Panthers won as 13-point underdogs. The final score was 16-13. Also worth mentioning is the Minnesota Vikings’ 9.5-point underdog win over the Detroit Lions on the same day, the second-biggest upset. Minnesota defeated Detroit despite being 9.5-point underdogs.
MLB: The Seattle Mariners’ ALCS Game 7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays
With a final series record of 4-3, Toronto’s George Springer hit a decisive three-run homer in the seventh inning, collapsing any chance of a first World Series appearance for the Mariners. Seattle remains the only MLB team to never reach a Fall Classic, despite a memorable season. Despite the fantastic season, the ending of this matchup on October 20th was one of the most disappointing moments for Mariners fans in Washington.
NWSL: Gotham FC’s 2-1 extra-time victory over the top-seeded, record-breaking Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals of the NWSL Playoffs
On November 9th, Gotham’s Katie Stengel scored the winning goal in the 121st minute after Jaedyn Shaw’s opener and an equalizer from KC’s Ellie Wheeler. Critics argue this marked the biggest upset in National Women’s Soccer League history. This was Gotham’s third straight semifinal appearance as the lowest seed, 8th, displaying a stunning performance over the #1 Current, who had not lost a home game all season. Despite missing key players, this incredible performance resembled Gotham’s 2023 championship run as a low seed.