With 2023 drawing near, it will cap off an incredible year for United States sports. A few big personal milestones were achieved alongside the championship-winning teams of both professional and collegiate sports. I have decided to rank the top 10 sports moments from 2022 as a way to look back on this spectacular year in sports.
10. Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI
After recent heartbreaking playoff losses, the Rams finally pulled through in 2022. In January 2021, the Rams traded for star quarterback Matthew Stafford, a major upgrade over former QB Jared Goff. Stafford, combined with an incredible breakout season from wide receiver Cooper Kupp and a lockdown defense, led the Rams to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. The Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20, pulling ahead late with a one-yard touchdown to Kupp with only a minute remaining. Kupp was ultimately named Super Bowl MVP after he posted a stat line of 8 receptions for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns.
9. Rich Strike overcomes 80-1 odds to win Kentucky Derby
On May 8, 2022, Rich Strike won the 148th Kentucky Derby, scoring the second-biggest upset in the history of the event. This was also the biggest upset since 1913; Rich Strike overcame 80-1 odds, which ended up paying $163 for a $2 bet. Led by jockey Sonny Leon, Rich Strike posted a time of 2:02.61, beating out the favorite Epicenter (4-1 odds) by only three-quarters of a length.
8. Serena Williams retires in style at the US Open
Although we do not know for sure, it is pretty clear that Serena Williams may have played her last match at this year’s US Open. Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam championships in her career and is regarded as a legend in the sport of tennis, won her first two matches, highlighted by an upset over the number two player in the world, Anett Kontaveit. She ultimately lost in the 3rd round to Ajla Tomljanovic, in what probably will be her final match. Williams walked off the court to a standing ovation of more than 23,000 people that came to watch the end of her amazing career.
7. Aaron Judge sets an American League Record in Homeruns
Aaron Judge, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, capped off the MLB regular season with a bang. Judge broke a long-standing record set by former Yankee Roger Maris, who hit 61 home runs in 1961. No American League player had hit more than 61 home runs ever, until Judge launched his 62nd into the left field seats of Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. In what was a meaningless game for both teams, the stadium was completely packed as fans traveled from all over the country to witness this historic moment. Judge’s teammates streamed out of the dugout to congratulate him at home plate after hitting this milestone blast. Judge unanimously won the American League MVP award after accomplishing this feat.
6. Golden State Warriors win 4th NBA Finals in 8 years
In June, the Warriors ended the NBA’s 75th anniversary season by winning their fourth title in only eight years. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala have been on all four of those championship teams, being key reasons why the Warriors won each ring. Curry, undoubtedly the best player of the four, won the NBA Finals MVP award for just the first time in his career.
5. Saint Peter’s shocks the world in March Madness
In this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, Saint Peter’s University shocked the world. As a 15 seed, most people predicted that the Peacocks would lose in the first round to number two-ranked Kentucky, a prestigious basketball program. They not only beat Kentucky but followed that victory up with wins over Murray State in the round of 32 and Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen. Saint Peter’s became only the third 15 seed to make it to the Sweet Sixteen, and the first to advance to the Elite Eight. Despite losing to North Carolina in the Elite Eight, the Peacocks’ Cinderella run made this year’s tournament one of the best in recent years.
4. Houston Astros no-hit their way to a World Series win
The Houston Astros have been heavily criticized for a cheating scandal they participated in in 2017, leading to a World Series title. The Astros shut up their haters in 2022. They dominated the playoffs, sweeping both the Mariners in the Division Series and the Yankees in the Championship Series. In the World Series, they defeated the Phillies in six games. In Game Five, Astros pitchers Christian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to throw just the second no-hitter in World Series history. They finished the series off in Game Six and rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña was named World Series MVP after batting .400 in the series.
3. Tom Brady becomes the first to eclipse 100,000 passing yards
In Week Nine of the 2022 NFL season, Tom Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 100,000 passing yards in his career. Brady came into the game against the Los Angeles Rams 164 yards short of the milestone and broke it with a fifteen-yard completion in the fourth quarter. This is just another thing to check off in Brady’s legendary career which includes seven Super Bowl rings, 243 regular season wins and 35 postseason wins. And to top it off, Brady and the Buccaneers completed a fourth-quarter comeback, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with only nine seconds remaining.
2. US knocks off Iran to advance to Round of 16
In this year’s World Cup, which happens every four years, the US Men’s Soccer team found itself in a group with England, Iran, and Wales. After tying both Wales and England, all they had to do was beat Iran to advance to the knockout round. In the 38th minute, the Americans’ top player, Christian Pulisic, put one in the back of the net for the US. After a tough game from both sides, the US held on to beat Iran 1-0 and moved on to play the Netherlands in the next round. Although they ended up losing this matchup, this moment was unifying for the entire country as fans took to social media to display their pride for America.
1. Albert Pujols becomes 4th ever to hit 700 home runs
During the offseason, Albert Pujols, a legend in the sport of baseball, announced that 2022 would be his final season. He signed a one-year deal with his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, wanting to finish his career where it started. Pujols came into the season with 679 home runs in his career, just 21 shy of the big 700. As he got closer and closer to this milestone, baseball fans across the country came together in the hopes that he would hit it before the season ended. On September 23, 2022, Pujols did it. He launched numbers 699 and 700 into the left field seats of Dodger Stadium, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Pujols became just the 4th player ever to become part of the 700 HR club, finishing the season with 703.
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