2016 was a year that produced a number of unlikely events. From Brexit, to the deaths of many beloved celebrities to Donald Trump becoming president-elect of the United States, it was a year to remember. The sports world was equally as exciting. In a year of highs, lows and controversies, here are my top sports moments of 2016.

Golden State Warriors blow a 3-1 lead

“Anything can happen” is a cliché phrase, but this year showed that some games can be indeed unpredictable. In an NBA final that featured the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, most people had their money on the fan-favorite Warriors. 

Led by MVP Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors ended the regular season with 73 wins and nine losses out of 82 games. This broke the previous record for most wins in a season held by Michael Jordan and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, with 72 wins and 10 losses. The Warriors only needed to win one more game to become the greatest team in NBA history and it seemed destined to happen when they held a 3-1 lead against the Cavaliers in a best of seven final series. 

No team had ever lost the finals after going up 3-1, but LeBron James had other plans. The Ohio-native delivered on his promise to win the city of Cleveland its first major championship since 1964, as he scored 41 points in back-to-back games to force game seven. 

James stayed on the block in the final game, and Kyrie Irving hit the memorable game-winning 3-point jump shot over Curry to shock the sports world and win the Larry O’Brien trophy. 

Women’s Huskies Basketball win first national championship

For the first time in the history of the program, the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball team won the CIS national championship. The well-coached team defeated the Ryerson University Rams 85-71 in an impressive final display. 

The team was lead by head coach Lisa Thomaidis. Huskie Athletics’ last basketball championship came in 2009 when the men’s basketball team achieved a similar feat.

Chicago Cubs win the World Series for the first time

Like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ben Zobrist and the Chicago Cubs came back from 3-1 down against the Cleveland Indians to win the Cubs’ first championship since 1948. Chicago led the league for wins in the regular season but ended up on the other side of a 3-1 lead before they rallied to force a game seven.

Game seven was a thriller, and both teams were so equally matched that an extra inning was needed to separate the teams. That 10th inning 8-7 win is one for the record books.

Connor McGregor makes UFC debut

It was a breakthrough year for Connor McGregor, the UFC fighter who is as well-known for his trash talking as he is for his skills in the Octagon. McGregor started out 2016 by losing his first ever UFC fight in a welterweight match against Nate Diaz at UFC 196. 

Instead of wallowing in defeat, McGregor used his charisma as a shield and won his next two fights, one of which was a rematch against Nate Diaz. He is arguably the most successful UFC fighter ever, and after introducing himself to the world in 2016, he doesn’t seem to be backing down anytime soon.

Leicester City won the English Premier League

Do you believe in miracles? It was a memorable season for English soccer as relegation-bound Leicester City upset 5000-1 odds on the way to being crowned champions of England’s Premier League. 

Ousting Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, Leicester only lost three of 38 games and completed what some refer to as the most unlikely triumph in the history of team sports.

They won the league with a game left to play. The defensively sound team, which thrived off the brilliance of Jamie Vardy and league MVP Riyad Mahrez, gave soccer fans a season to remember for a long time.

Although 2016 is nearly over, it’s certainly a year sports fans won’t be forgetting anytime soon. If 2017 is even half as exciting, we have a lot to look forward to in the New Year!

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Tobi Ajayi

Graphic: Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor