The primary half of 2024 has offered sports activities followers with some unforgettable moments, whether or not it was the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs successful their second straight Tremendous Bowl, the skyrocketing reputation in girls’s basketball or the Boston Celtics cruising to their 18th NBA title. A excessive bar has been set for the remainder of the yr.
Happily, the second half of 2024 has no scarcity of extremely intriguing storylines. Take the Chiefs, for example. They’ve the chance to change into the primary NFL group to win three straight Tremendous Bowls, and whereas that recreation will not be performed till 2025, how Patrick Mahomes & Co. do in the course of the the rest of this calendar yr might reply quite a lot of questions there.
Elsewhere in sports activities, the New York Yankees will attempt to finish their 15-year World Collection drought with Aaron Decide and Juan Soto main the best way. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are vying for WNBA Rookie of the 12 months honors. And we’ll get on-campus playoff video games for the primary time ever because the Faculty Soccer Playoff expands to 12 groups.
Earlier than all that, the most effective athletes on the planet will come collectively to compete within the Paris Olympics. Can the USA clear up and run away with the medal rely this yr? We’re about to search out out.
Listed below are the highest 10 sports activities tales to observe within the second half of 2024:
Will the Chiefs set themselves up for a three-peat?
Is it loopy to say that the back-to-back Tremendous Bowl champions bought higher? Nicely, on the offensive aspect of the ball Kansas Metropolis actually set itself up this offseason for a doable three-peat. After the large receiver room was tormented by drops, the Chiefs double-dipped on the place this offseason bringing aboard Marquise Brown in free company and utilizing their first-round decide on Xavier Worthy. Not solely does that elevate the ceiling of the wideout room, however each go catchers are flat-out burners. That re-injects a component to the Ok.C. offense that hasn’t been felt because the days of Tyreek Hill. Pair that improve with the truth that the Chiefs retained defensive sort out Chris Jones and also you’re this group persevering with to be within the thick of the Tremendous Bowl dialog. — Tyler Sullivan
Will Aaron Rodgers keep wholesome lengthy sufficient to dwell as much as the hype with the Jets?
If every part goes proper, the Jets have the construction of a group that may go on a deep playoff run. Nevertheless, the elephant within the room is that they’ve a 40-year-old quarterback coming off of a season-ending Achilles damage. How Rodgers bounces again (or does not) may find yourself being a defining notice of the 2024 season. New York did a splendid job this offseason solidifying arguably its greatest weak point alongside the offensive line, including three starting-caliber tackles. In the event that they create a wall in entrance of Rodgers, the four-time MVP has weapons in place to choose aside defenses. And even when Rodgers is barely 80% of his former self, that is higher than any quarterback the Jets have had in many years. If he cannot recreate the magic, it is the most recent chapter in what has been a tragic state of affairs for the franchise on the place. — Tyler Sullivan
Faculty Soccer’s New Look: Who stands tall in the entire realigned conferences?
An expanded area and the convention realignment waves lastly settling (for now) create what must be a heated race for the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Conventional powers like Georgia and Ohio State stand tall amongst the rivals, however there are groups enjoying in new leagues value watching. Texas has the expertise to push for a nationwide title because it strikes to the SEC. The Longhorns would like to construct off of 2023’s CFP look. Utah must be within the working for the Large 12 title because it transitions from the now-defunct Pac-12, a convention it gained twice within the final three seasons. Talking of Pac-12 expats, Oregon can push Ohio State for Large Ten supremacy. Even when they cannot make a run on the convention title of their first yr, the Geese must be in good condition for an at-large bid.
The ACC, regardless of welcoming three new groups, ought to see its conventional powers battle it out on the prime. Clemson and Florida State seem like the early favorites, although darkish horses like Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech should not be discounted. — Will Backus
Will the Yankees lastly make it again to the World Collection after a sizzling begin? And can Juan Soto get his extension?
We’ll begin with the second query first, and that is nearly undoubtedly a tough no. Regardless of how nice this Yankees run is and the way properly he might love the clubhouse, there isn’t any cause for Soto and agent Scott Boras to not go to market and discover free company with all 30 groups. Does he return to the Yankees anyway? Positive, possibly. However he will take his good candy time, and he is earned it. Verify again in December. As for the Yankees’ World Collection odds, the playoffs are anybody’s recreation, as everyone knows. However the Yankees have set themselves up rather well to make a run as both the AL East winner or a powerful wild-card contender. Gerrit Cole is again, Aaron Decide is on observe for one more document dwelling run season and the aforementioned Soto is enjoying like an MVP. Something in need of the postseason could be a disappointment and a shock. — Kate Feldman
Dodgers had a $1 billion offseason and Ohtani is chasing the NL triple crown, however is it sufficient for a title?
As soon as once more, the postseason is a complete crapshoot, however it’s exhausting to have accomplished any extra to get there than what Andrew Friedman and crew did this offseason, and it is more durable to think about they will not fill within the holes on the commerce deadline (we will not be the one ones picturing Luis Robert Jr. in Dodger blue). Accidents have harm the beginning rotation too, which means they might and must be on the hunt for some pitching. And but right here we stand, with the Dodgers up 7 1/2 video games within the NL West as of this writing. They have been the World Collection favorites going into the season and never sufficient has modified for that to be any completely different right now. — Kate Feldman
Will Scottie Scheffler beat Tiger Woods’ document for many PGA tour wins in a single season?
Scottie Scheffler has put collectively the primary six-win season on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods in 2009, and now he is aiming for probably the most since 1983, which is co-held by Vijay Singh (2004) and Tiger Woods (2000), each with 9. The issue for Scheffler? He is working out of tournaments. Along with his subsequent begin anticipated on the Open Championship after which three FedEx Cup Playoff occasions after that, he would possible need to win out to get to 10 and reset the trendy document. That is not not possible, particularly since he’ll begin the Tour Championship with a lead on the sphere, however it is inconceivable given his gentle document at The Open and the way robust it is going to be to win the primary two playoff occasions on the FedEx St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship. I believe Scottie can get to seven or possibly even eight, however 9 or 10 are possible past his attain. — Kyle Porter
LeBron James now has Bronny James as a teammate and JJ Redick because the Lakers’ head coach — however will it truly work?
LeBron James has at all times been on the mercy of his entrance places of work way over his teaching staffs. His first tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers ended with no ring as a result of they could not put the correct group round him. The Lakers have equally bungled the roster since successful their 2020 championship. That has put each James and new coach JJ Redick in a clumsy place. That is the highest-profile group within the NBA … however maybe not even within the prime half of Western Convention rosters. Bronny James will not imply a lot on that entrance. He is a enjoyable story and a developmental mission, however No. 55 general picks do not instantly contribute to successful. The James-Redick duo’s success or failure will come right down to the expertise that Rob Pelinka surrounds them with. Currently, he hasn’t given James sufficient. This summer season, James has reportedly supplied a pay reduce to the group with a purpose to make it simpler. He is accomplished his half. It is as much as Pelinka to do his. — Sam Quinn
The 2024 Paris Summer time Olympics
America is projected to prime the medal rely for the eight conservative time, however on the best way to the rostrum there are a number of distinctive storylines to observe.
The ladies’s gymnastics group is on a “redemption tour” led by Simone Biles. The four-time gold medalist left the 2020 Tokyo video games early because of the “twisties,” however she is again to compete in her third Olympic video games. She will not be the one acquainted face in Paris as the swimming group is headlined by Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, who have already got seven Olympic gold medals every.
In observe and area, three-time world champion Noah Lyles will probably be chasing a dash double after successful each the 100m and 200m occasions on the US Olympic trials. In the meantime, Sha’Carri Richardson did not qualify for the ladies’s 200m occasion, however she would be the favourite to win the 100m race throughout her Olympic debut. Jamaican star Elaine Thompson-Herah won’t be there to finish a three-peat within the 100m and 200m occasions due to a small tear to her Achilles tendon. The 400m relay pool will embrace 16-year-old Quincy WIlson, who will change into the youngest American man to compete on the Olympics in observe and area. And talking of constructing historical past, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone already set the 400m hurdles world document for the fifth time in her profession and will probably be seeking to defend her gold medal in Paris.
In basketball, the ladies’s group is vying for its eighth consecutive gold medal with a star-studded roster that features Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and A’ja WIlson. The boys’s group will probably be searching for their fifth straight gold medal with the veteran management of Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards may even be thought-about one of many prime gamers to observe after his spectacular efficiency within the playoffs. — Isabel Gonzalez
Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese — who wins Rookie of the 12 months?
Because the 2024 WNBA season approaches the mid-way level, the Rookie of the 12 months race is heating up. Indiana Fever level guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 general decide, and Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese have separated themselves from the pack with historic performances. Over the subsequent few months, the 2 former collegiate rivals will battle for rookie supremacy.
Clark, as anticipated, has been an offensive dynamo. Already top-of-the-line playmakers within the league, she is main all rookies in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, She stays the betting favourite, however is now not the overwhelming one. That is as a result of Reese has come on extraordinarily sturdy in latest weeks with dominant performances on the glass. She lately set the longest double-double streak in league historical past and leads the league in rebounding. No matter which rookie sensation finally ends up incomes the award, it will be thrilling to observe them over the second half of the season. — Jack Maloney
Mike Tyson vs. Logan Paul
No sport is able to producing the weird like boxing, and Mike Tyson has so usually been concerned in these moments. That continues on Nov. 15 when 58-year-old Tyson clashes with 27-year-old Jake Paul. Tyson has not fought as knowledgeable since 2005, when he retired after the sixth spherical of his struggle with Kevin McBride. After an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, Tyson now returns to the ring as knowledgeable — albeit below particular guidelines together with shorter rounds and greater gloves — in opposition to a social media influencer-turned-boxer. Paul’s boxing profession has principally been constructed across the spectacle of preventing crossover athletes from the NBA and UFC. Tyson is clearly probably the most achieved boxer Paul has ever confronted, however at 31 years Tyson’s junior, there is a clear cause Paul is taking this “threat.” — Brent Brookhouse
Honorable mentions
- The subsequent UEFA Euro champion will probably be topped
- Joey Chestnut vs. Takeru Kobayashi in a dwell sizzling canine consuming contest
- Utah Hockey Membership brings NHL hockey to Salt Lake Metropolis
- Celtics will start their title protection with most of their core returning
- Ferrari, McLaren may push Purple Bull atop the F1 standings
