1871First professional baseball league
America's pastime goes pro
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players formed as the first professional sports league in America.
History Explainer · Sports
Sports History Timeline
Sports history is really a history of firsts and of barriers falling: the first Wimbledon in 1877 with 22 players, Jesse Owens in Berlin, Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's colour line, Roger Bannister proving the four-minute mile was never impossible, Billie Jean King turning a tennis match into a landmark for equality. Each moment makes the next one thinkable.
Here is every sports event in the Chrono Trivia database, in chronological order and grouped by era — covering baseball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis, boxing, athletics, motorsport, and the Olympic Games. Each entry includes the year and the full story behind the moment, exactly as revealed after each puzzle.
This timeline covers 157 events from 1871 to 2024, grouped by era. Every event below can appear in the daily Sports puzzle.
1800s
6 events in this era
1875First Kentucky Derby run
Horse racing tradition begins
The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, launching what would become America's most famous horse race.
1876Baseball's National League founded
America's pastime goes official
The National League was founded as baseball's first major professional league, establishing the structure of America's national pastime.
1877First Wimbledon championship held
Tennis tradition begins
The first Wimbledon Championships were held in London with 22 players competing, starting the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
1877First Test cricket match played
England vs Australia begins rivalry
The first official Test cricket match was played between England and Australia in Melbourne, beginning sport's oldest international rivalry.
1897First Boston Marathon run
American road race tradition
The first Boston Marathon was inspired by the 1896 Olympic marathon, with 15 runners completing the course from Ashland to Boston.
1900s
6 events in this era
1900Live pigeon shooting at Olympics
Strangest Olympic event ever
The 1900 Paris Olympics featured live pigeon shooting as an official event — the only time animals were deliberately killed at the Games.
1903First World Series played
Baseball crowns a champion
The Boston Americans defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern World Series, a best-of-nine affair.
1903First Tour de France held
Cycling's greatest race begins
The first Tour de France covered 2,428 kilometers over 19 days, with only 21 of 60 starters finishing the grueling race.
1904FIFA founded
World football unified
FIFA was founded in Paris to organize international football, eventually growing to oversee the world's most popular sport.
1906Forward pass legalized in football
American football transformed
The forward pass was legalized in American football, fundamentally changing the sport from a running game to an aerial one.
1908Jack Johnson becomes first Black heavyweight champ
Boxing barrier shattered
Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns to become the first Black world heavyweight boxing champion, defying intense racial hostility.
1910s
1 event in this era
1912Jim Thorpe wins Olympic gold
Greatest all-around athlete
Jim Thorpe won gold in both the pentathlon and decathlon at the Stockholm Olympics, a feat never repeated before or since.
1920s
5 events in this era
1920NFL founded
Professional football begins
The American Professional Football Association was founded in Canton, Ohio, later becoming the NFL.
1920Tug-of-war ends as Olympic event
Final Olympic tug-of-war
Tug-of-war was dropped as an Olympic sport after the 1920 Antwerp Games, having been contested since 1900.
1920Babe Ruth sold to Yankees
Curse of the Bambino begins
The Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000, beginning an 86-year championship drought and baseball's most famous curse.
1924First Winter Olympics held
Ice and snow sports debut
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, with 16 nations competing in events like figure skating and bobsled.
1927Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs
Sultan of Swat sets record
Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in a single season for the New York Yankees, a record that stood for 34 years.
1930s
6 events in this era
1930First FIFA World Cup
Uruguay hosts and wins
The first World Cup was held in Uruguay with 13 nations competing. Uruguay won the final 4-2 against Argentina.
1932Babe Didrikson dominates Olympics
Multi-sport superstar emerges
Babe Didrikson won two golds and a silver at the 1932 Olympics, then took up golf and won 82 tournaments, considered one of the greatest all-around athletes ever.
1932Babe Ruth calls his shot
Legendary World Series moment
Babe Ruth allegedly pointed to center field before hitting a home run there in the 1932 World Series, a moment debated by baseball historians for decades.
1935Jesse Owens breaks 4 records in 45 minutes
Greatest athletic feat of the century
Jesse Owens broke three world records and tied a fourth in just 45 minutes at the 1935 Big Ten Championships.
1936Jesse Owens wins 4 golds
Berlin Olympics triumph
Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, defying the host nation's ideology of racial superiority.
1938Joe Louis avenges loss
Heavyweight boxing legend
Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round, avenging his earlier loss in one of boxing's most symbolic fights.
1940s
3 events in this era
1941Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak
Baseball's unbreakable record
Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive games, a record so remarkable it's widely considered the most unbreakable in baseball.
1947Jackie Robinson breaks barrier
First Black MLB player
Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1948London hosts postwar Olympics
Austerity Games
London hosted the first Olympics after WWII, known as the Austerity Games due to postwar rationing.
1950s
7 events in this era
1950Uruguay shocks Brazil
World Cup's greatest upset
Uruguay defeated heavily-favored Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup final at the Maracanã in front of 200,000 stunned fans.
1951Shot Heard Round the World
Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning homer
Bobby Thomson's walk-off home run for the Giants against the Dodgers is considered the most dramatic moment in baseball history.
1954Roger Bannister breaks 4-minute mile
Impossible barrier shattered
Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3:59.4, breaking a barrier many doctors said was physically impossible.
1954Miracle of Bern
Germany shocks Hungary
West Germany defeated heavily-favored Hungary 3-2 in the 1954 World Cup final, one of the greatest upsets in football history.
1957Milwaukee Braves win Series
Hank Aaron's first title
A young Hank Aaron led the Braves to the World Series title, hitting .393 with 3 home runs.
1958Pelé debuts at World Cup
17-year-old becomes a star
A 17-year-old Pelé scored six goals including two in the final as Brazil won their first World Cup.
1958Greatest Game Ever Played
NFL championship in overtime
The Colts defeated the Giants in the first-ever sudden death overtime in NFL championship history, popularizing professional football.
1960s
11 events in this era
1960Muhammad Ali wins Olympic gold
Cassius Clay's debut
An 18-year-old Cassius Clay won boxing gold at the Rome Olympics, beginning his journey to becoming The Greatest.
1961Roger Maris hits 61 homers
Breaking Babe Ruth's record
Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60, a mark that had stood since 1927.
1962First arm wrestling championship
Obscure sport goes official
The first organized arm wrestling world championship was held in Petaluma, California, legitimizing the bar-room contest as a sport.
1962Wilt Chamberlain scores 100
Basketball's unbreakable record
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game, a record that has stood for over 60 years and may never be broken.
1965Muhammad Ali beats Liston
I shook up the world
Cassius Clay, now Muhammad Ali, defeated Sonny Liston to become the youngest heavyweight champion at 22.
1966England wins World Cup
They think it's all over
England won their only FIFA World Cup on home soil, with Geoff Hurst scoring a hat trick in the final.
1967First Super Bowl played
NFL vs AFL championship
The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first-ever AFL-NFL Championship Game.
1967Kathrine Switzer runs Boston Marathon
First woman to officially run
Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run Boston Marathon with an official number despite a race official physically trying to stop her.
1968Bob Beamon's long jump
Leap of the century
Bob Beamon shattered the long jump record by nearly two feet at the Mexico City Olympics, a record that lasted 23 years.
1969Miracle Mets win Series
100-1 underdogs triumph
The New York Mets, who had never finished higher than 9th place, stunned the baseball world by winning the World Series.
1969Pelé scores 1,000th goal
Football's greatest milestone
Pelé scored his 1,000th career goal from a penalty kick at the Maracanã, a feat celebrated across Brazil and the world.
1970s
12 events in this era
1970Pelé's last World Cup
Brazil wins fourth title
Pelé led Brazil to their third World Cup victory in his final tournament, capping the career of football's greatest player with a dominant performance.
1971Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier I
Fight of the Century
The first bout between Ali and Frazier at Madison Square Garden was billed as the Fight of the Century, with Frazier winning by decision.
1972Olga Korbut stuns Munich
Gymnastics captivates world
The 17-year-old Soviet gymnast's daring backflip on the uneven bars made her an overnight global sensation.
1972Title IX passes
Gender equality in sports
Title IX banned gender discrimination in US education programs including sports, transforming women's athletics forever.
1973Secretariat wins Triple Crown
Greatest racehorse ever
Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, completing the Triple Crown with a performance considered the greatest in racing history.
1973Billie Jean King wins Battle of Sexes
Tennis match for equality
King defeated Bobby Riggs in front of 90 million viewers in a match that became a landmark for women's sports.
1974Muhammad Ali reclaims title
Rumble in the Jungle
Ali knocked out George Foreman in Zaire using his rope-a-dope strategy in one of sports' greatest moments.
1975Ali vs Frazier Thrilla in Manila
Greatest fight ever
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier fought 14 brutal rounds in Manila in what many consider the greatest boxing match ever.
1976Nadia Comaneci scores perfect 10
First perfect score in gymnastics
The 14-year-old Romanian gymnast earned the first perfect 10 in Olympic history — the scoreboard couldn't display it.
1979Wayne Gretzky joins NHL
The Great One arrives
An 18-year-old Wayne Gretzky began his NHL career, going on to set records that may never be broken.
1979ESPN launches
All-sports television begins
ESPN launched as the first 24-hour sports network, transforming how Americans consume sports and creating a media empire.
1979Magic and Bird NBA rookies
Rivalry that saved basketball
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird entered the NBA the same year, sparking a rivalry widely credited with saving the then-struggling NBA and driving its rise to global popularity.
1980s
16 events in this era
1980Miracle on Ice happens
USA hockey beats USSR
A team of American college players defeated the seemingly invincible Soviet hockey team at the Lake Placid Olympics.
1980US hockey wins Olympic gold
Do you believe in miracles
After defeating the Soviets, the young US team went on to win the gold medal, completing the Miracle on Ice.
1980Eric Heiden wins 5 speed skating golds
Lake Placid dominance
Eric Heiden won all five individual speed skating events at the Lake Placid Olympics, an unprecedented feat in Winter Games history.
1983Australia II wins America's Cup
132-year drought broken
Australia II ended the longest winning streak in sport, defeating the US in the America's Cup after 132 years.
1984Mary Lou Retton perfect 10
Olympic all-around gold
Retton scored a perfect 10 on the vault to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around.
1984Michael Jordan drafted by Bulls
Air Jordan era begins
The Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the third overall pick, beginning the career of basketball's greatest icon.
1984Carl Lewis wins four golds
Matching Jesse Owens' feat
Carl Lewis won four gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics — in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay — matching Jesse Owens' 1936 feat.
1985Vilanova Park tennis marathon
Longest match in history
The longest professional tennis match took 6 hours and 33 minutes before John McEnroe defeated Mats Wilander.
1985Boris Becker wins Wimbledon at 17
Youngest men's champion
An unseeded 17-year-old Boris Becker became the youngest men's Wimbledon champion in history.
1986Maradona's Goal of the Century
World Cup magic in Mexico
Diego Maradona dribbled past five English players in one of the greatest individual goals ever scored.
1986LeMond wins Tour de France
First American champion
Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France, breaking European dominance of cycling's biggest race.
1986Mike Tyson becomes youngest heavyweight champ
20-year-old claims boxing crown
At age 20, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history, a record that still stands today.
1987NFL Players go on strike
Replacement players take the field
NFL players walked off the field for 24 days, with replacement players filling rosters in one of professional sports' most contentious labor disputes.
1987Rugby World Cup first held
Rugby crowns its champion
New Zealand's All Blacks defeated France 29-9 in the inaugural Rugby World Cup final, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia with 16 teams.
1988Gretzky traded to LA Kings
Hockey's biggest deal ever
Wayne Gretzky's shocking trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles transformed hockey's popularity across the US.
1988Ben Johnson stripped of gold
Olympic doping scandal
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the 100m in Seoul but was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for steroids.
1990s
20 events in this era
1990Buster Douglas shocks Tyson
42-1 upset of the century
James 'Buster' Douglas knocked out the undefeated Mike Tyson in one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
1991Jordan wins first ring
Bulls dynasty begins
Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their first NBA championship, beginning a dynasty of six titles in eight years.
1991FIFA Women's World Cup debuts
Women's football goes global
The first FIFA Women's World Cup was held in China, with the United States winning the inaugural tournament.
1992Dream Team dominates Barcelona
NBA stars at the Olympics
The US basketball team featuring Jordan, Bird, and Magic won every game by an average of 44 points.
1992Mango Dukes cricket controversy
India-Pakistan rivalry peaks
The 1992 Cricket World Cup saw Pakistan stun favorites to win the tournament under Imran Khan's captaincy, one of cricket's greatest underdog stories.
1993Michael Jordan retires (first time)
His Airness walks away
At the peak of his powers, Michael Jordan shocked the world by retiring from basketball to play baseball.
1994George Foreman oldest champ
Comeback for the ages
At 45, George Foreman became the oldest heavyweight boxing champion, 20 years after losing his title to Ali.
1994OJ Simpson car chase
Bronco pursuit mesmerizes America
95 million Americans watched the slow-speed Bronco chase live on TV, making it one of the most-viewed events in television history.
1995Cal Ripken breaks streak
Iron Man of baseball
Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig's 56-year-old record.
1995Jordan returns: 'I'm back'
Two-word press release
Michael Jordan ended his baseball stint and returned to the Bulls with a simple two-word fax: 'I'm back.'
1996Kerri Strug lands on one foot
Gymnast's heroic vault
Strug performed her final vault on an injured ankle, securing the first-ever team gold for US women's gymnastics.
1996Atlanta Olympics hosted
100th anniversary Games
Atlanta hosted the centennial Olympic Games with a record 197 nations participating.
1996Tiger Woods turns professional
Golf's prodigy arrives
Tiger Woods turned pro at age 20, declaring 'Hello world' in his Nike ad and immediately transforming professional golf.
1997Tiger Woods youngest Masters champ
Tiger changes golf forever
A 21-year-old Tiger Woods won the Masters by 12 strokes, the largest margin of victory in tournament history.
1998McGwire hits 70 homers
Home run race captivates
The Cardinals slugger shattered Roger Maris's single-season home run record in a legendary chase with Sammy Sosa.
1998Nagano Olympics hockey
NHL players at Winter Games
The 1998 Nagano Olympics featured NHL players for the first time, with the Czech Republic stunning Canada and the US to win gold.
1999Brandi Chastain's celebration
Women's World Cup moment
Chastain scored the winning penalty and celebrated in an iconic moment that became a landmark for women's sports.
1999Lance Armstrong comeback
Tour de France victory
Lance Armstrong won the first of seven Tour de France titles after surviving cancer, inspiring millions worldwide.
1999Serena Williams wins first Slam
Tennis dynasty begins
A 17-year-old Serena Williams won the US Open, her first Grand Slam title, launching one of the greatest careers in tennis history.
1999Tony Hawk lands the 900
Skateboarding's impossible trick
Tony Hawk became the first skateboarder to land a 900 — two and a half airborne rotations — on his 11th attempt at the X Games.
2000s
20 events in this era
2000Tiger Woods dominates golf
Tiger Slam begins
Tiger Woods won three consecutive major championships and held all four major trophies simultaneously.
2001Barry Bonds hits 73 homers
New single-season record
Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire's three-year-old record by hitting 73 home runs in a single season.
2002Brady wins first Super Bowl
Tom Brady dynasty begins
The sixth-round pick led the Patriots to an upset victory over the Rams, beginning a record seven Super Bowl wins.
2002Winter Olympics in Salt Lake
Post-9/11 Games unite
The Salt Lake City Winter Olympics became a powerful unifying event for America following the September 11 attacks.
2002Brazil wins fifth World Cup
Ronaldo's redemption
Ronaldo scored twice in the final against Germany, redeeming himself after his mysterious illness in the 1998 final.
2003LeBron James drafted #1
The Chosen One arrives
The 18-year-old from Akron, Ohio was selected first overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
2003Federer wins first Wimbledon
Tennis greatness begins
Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, starting a run of 20 major championships.
2003England wins Rugby World Cup
Wilkinson's drop goal stuns Australia
Jonny Wilkinson's last-minute drop goal won England the Rugby World Cup in dramatic fashion against host Australia.
2004Red Sox reverse the curse
86-year drought ends
Boston came back from 0-3 against the Yankees in the ALCS, then swept the Cardinals to win the World Series.
2004Athens Olympics marathon drama
Runner attacked by spectator
Brazil's Vanderlei de Lima was leading the marathon when a spectator pushed him off course, yet he still won bronze.
2004Greece wins Euro 2004
Football's greatest shock
Greece, 150-1 outsiders, stunned host Portugal to win Euro 2004 in one of the biggest upsets in football history.
2005Nadal wins first French Open
King of Clay crowned
A 19-year-old Rafael Nadal won his first Roland Garros title, beginning an unprecedented reign of 14 French Open titles.
2005Liverpool's Champions League miracle
Istanbul comeback from 3-0 down
Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at halftime to beat AC Milan on penalties in the Champions League Final in Istanbul.
2006Italy wins World Cup
Fourth title for Azzurri
Italy defeated France in a penalty shootout to claim their fourth FIFA World Cup title in Germany.
2007New England goes 16-0
Perfect regular season
The Patriots became the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to finish an NFL regular season undefeated at 16-0.
2008Phelps wins 8 gold medals
Beijing Olympics record
Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at a single Olympics — more than any individual in history.
2008Federer and Nadal at Wimbledon
Greatest match ever played
Nadal defeated Federer in a five-set Wimbledon final widely regarded as the greatest tennis match in history.
2008New York Giants upset undefeated Patriots
Super Bowl XLII shock
The Giants ended New England's perfect 18-0 run with a stunning Super Bowl upset capped by the Helmet Catch.
2009Bolt runs 9.58 seconds
Fastest human ever recorded
Usain Bolt shattered his own 100m world record in Berlin, a mark that still stands today.
2009Messi wins first Ballon d'Or
Beginning of an era
Lionel Messi won his first Ballon d'Or at age 22, the start of a record-setting run of eight wins.
2010s
26 events in this era
2010Spain wins first World Cup
Tiki-taka triumphs
Andrés Iniesta's extra-time goal against Netherlands gave Spain their first-ever FIFA World Cup title.
2010Landon Donovan's last-minute goal
USA advances at World Cup
Donovan scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal against Algeria to send the USA through to the knockout round.
2011Novak's incredible season
Djokovic breaks through
Novak Djokovic won three of four Grand Slams and went 43-0 to start the year, reaching world #1.
2011NBA lockout shortens season
Labor dispute rocks basketball
A 161-day NBA lockout reduced the 2011-12 season to 66 games, the shortest non-strike season in modern NBA history.
2011Japan wins Women's World Cup
Post-tsunami triumph inspires nation
Japan's women's team won the World Cup just months after the devastating tsunami, providing an emotional lift for the entire country.
2012Bolt goes back-to-back
Double Olympic sprint gold again
Usain Bolt became the first man to win both 100m and 200m gold at consecutive Olympics.
2012Serena Williams wins Olympic gold
Golden Slam completed
Serena Williams won Olympic singles gold at London, having won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in her career.
2012Phelps becomes most decorated Olympian
Swimming legend's record
Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, later extending his record to 28 medals.
2013Peyton Manning breaks TD record
55 touchdowns in a season
The Broncos quarterback threw 55 touchdowns, shattering the single-season record and rewriting the record book.
2013Andy Murray wins Wimbledon
Britain ends 77-year wait
Andy Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, ending the nation's longest sporting drought.
2013Magnus Carlsen wins chess world title
22-year-old becomes champion
Norwegian Magnus Carlsen defeated Viswanathan Anand to claim the World Chess Championship at age 22, becoming one of the youngest champions in history.
2014Germany wins World Cup
Fourth title for Germany
Germany defeated Argentina in the final with Mario Götze's extra-time goal to claim their fourth World Cup.
2014Germany beats Brazil 7-1
World Cup's biggest shock
Germany demolished host Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semifinal, scoring four goals in just six minutes.
2015Warriors break wins record
Curry's team goes 73-9
Stephen Curry's Warriors broke the 1996 Bulls' regular season record with 73 wins in a single season.
2015Serena holds all four Slams
Serena Slam achieved
Serena Williams held all four Grand Slam trophies simultaneously, one of the greatest feats in tennis history.
2015American Pharoah wins Triple Crown
37-year drought ended
American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years, ending one of sports' longest championship droughts.
2016Leicester City wins the league
5000-1 odds champions
Leicester City's Premier League title at 5000-1 odds is considered the greatest underdog story in sports history.
2016Cubs end 108-year drought
World Series curse broken
The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908, ending the longest championship drought in baseball.
2016LeBron brings title to Cleveland
The Block, The Shot, The Stop
LeBron James led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit to win Cleveland's first major championship in 52 years.
2016Simone Biles wins first Olympic gold
Gymnastics legend debuts
Simone Biles won four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, establishing herself as the greatest gymnast of all time.
2016Usain Bolt wins triple-triple
Nine Olympic sprint golds
Usain Bolt won his third consecutive 100m Olympic gold in Rio, completing an unprecedented triple-triple in sprint events.
2017Patriots 28-3 comeback
Greatest Super Bowl ever
New England overcame a 25-point deficit against Atlanta to win Super Bowl LI in the first-ever overtime.
2018France wins World Cup
Les Bleus triumph in Russia
A young French squad defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final, with Kylian Mbappé becoming a global star at 19.
2018Tiger Woods comeback at Tour Championship
Greatest comeback in golf
Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship after years of injuries and personal struggles, completing one of sports' greatest comebacks.
2019Raptors win NBA title
Canada's first championship
Kawhi Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first championship, making them the first non-US team to win.
2019US Women win fourth World Cup
Soccer dominance continues
The US Women's National Team won their fourth World Cup title in France, sparking national conversation about equal pay in sports.
2020s
18 events in this era
2020Lewis Hamilton 7th title
Matching Schumacher's record
Hamilton equaled Michael Schumacher's record of seven Formula 1 World Championships with Mercedes.
2020Kobe Bryant remembered
Basketball legend lost at 41
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna, prompting worldwide tributes to the NBA icon.
2020Djokovic reaches 17 Grand Slams
Closing in on the record
Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of the all-time Grand Slam record with dominant performances across all surfaces.
2020Skateboarding debuts at Olympics
Street culture goes Olympic
Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, with Japan's Yuto Horigome winning the first-ever street gold.
2021Steph Curry 3-point record
Greatest shooter ever
Curry broke Ray Allen's all-time 3-point record, cementing his legacy as the greatest shooter in basketball history.
2021Emma Raducanu wins US Open
Qualifier makes history
The 18-year-old British qualifier won the US Open without dropping a set, the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
2021Tom Brady wins seventh Super Bowl
GOAT extends his record
Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl at age 43 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, further cementing his status as the GOAT.
2021Max Verstappen wins first F1 title
Abu Dhabi controversy
Max Verstappen won his first Formula 1 championship on the final lap in Abu Dhabi in one of the most controversial finishes in F1 history.
2022Messi lifts the World Cup
Argentina's GOAT completes legacy
Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory over France in a dramatic penalty shootout in the 2022 Qatar final.
2022Aaron Judge hits 62 homers
AL record shattered
The Yankees slugger broke Roger Maris's 61-year American League home run record with his 62nd blast.
2022Serena Williams retires
Tennis legend says goodbye
Serena Williams played her final match at the US Open, ending a career with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and transforming women's tennis.
2023Messi joins Inter Miami
GOAT comes to MLS
Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami sparked a surge in MLS interest and ticket prices across the league.
2023Coco Gauff wins US Open
19-year-old champion
Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, becoming the youngest American winner since Serena Williams.
2023Djokovic wins 24th Grand Slam
GOAT debate settled
Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open, surpassing Rafael Nadal's record of 22.
2023LeBron passes Kareem scoring record
All-time NBA points record broken
LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer — a record that had stood for 39 years.
2024Simone Biles returns to gold
Greatest gymnast ever
After stepping back for her mental health in 2021, Biles returned to win multiple golds at the Paris Olympics.
2024Ohtani's $700M contract
Biggest deal in sports history
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the largest in professional sports history.
2024Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA record
Women's basketball superstar
Caitlin Clark broke the all-time NCAA scoring record for both men and women, transforming the popularity of women's basketball.