Year in review: The breakout sports stars of 2024

Barkley, obviously, has established himself as an NFL star, but how many expected the seventh-year running back to be amid a historic season during his first with the Philadelphia Eagles? Through his first 14 games of the 2024 season, Barkley has already set a career-best with 1,688 rushing yards for the NFC East-champion Eagles and even has his sights set on Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Wonder how the New York Giants and their fans are feeling about this?

Arguably, the biggest individual success story of the Paris Summer Olympics from a United States standpoint was that of celebrated gymnast Simone Biles. Out of the shadows of her issues from the Tokyo Games three years ago and with some believing she couldn't achieve elite Olympic glory, Biles was masterful while winning gold in the all-around competition, vault, and alongside her American pals in the team final competition. Biles raised her medal total to 14 and is the most decorated Olympic gymnast in U.S history. All while showing the competitive spirit and drive that makes her one of the most popular athletes on the planet.

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) gained more prominence in 2024, thanks to expanded network television coverage with CBS. And, fans of the league know how impressive Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga was while winning both the league's MVP and Golden Boot with a NWSL-leading 20 goals in 25 appearances—quite the first impression for the Malawian striker to make during her inaugural season in the league. Chawinga also scored in eight consecutive matches during one stretch and was the first player in league history to notch a goal against all 13 teams in a single campaign.

If possible, Clark exceeded the massive expectations she faced as both a collegiate and professional basketball player in 2024. On Feb. 15,Clark became the NCAA Division I women's career scoring leader, with a  49-point effort for Iowa, leading to a second straight national championship game appearance in '24. While also setting NCAA career records for assists and 3-pointers. After Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the WNBA's Indiana Fever, she averaged 19.2 points, a league-high 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while helping the franchise make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The WNBA Rookie of the Year, Clark was also the first rookie since   Candace Parker  to be named an All-WNBA First Team selection. In addition, Clark is TIME Magazine's Athlete of the Year.

Closer Clase's 2024 season for the Cleveland Guardians was so historically good  that he finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting. Already among baseball's best closers, Clase was undeniably dominant while setting a career-high and AL-best 47 saves in 50 chances. He allowed just five earned runs over 74 1/3 innings and walked only 10 batters while he helped the Guardians win the AL Central Division and reach the league championship series in Stephen Vogt's first season as manager. Interestingly, Clase was the complete opposite during the '24 postseason, where he yielded eight earned runs and 12 hits over eight innings of seven appearances.

Daniels closed out 2023 by winning the Heisman Trophy for his brilliant season as LSU quarterback. Taken second overall in the '24 NFL Draft by Washington, Daniels has not disappointed. Through Dec. 15, Daniels ranked among the NFL leaders in completion percentage (70.5) and passer rating (101.2), while also throwing for 3,045 yards and rushing for 656. Making him the third rookie in NFL history to throw for at least 3,000 yards and rush for more than 600. And, how about that improbably successful Hail Mary against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 27? Perhaps more importantly, he has the Commanders on track to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Darnold entered his seventh NFL season with his fourth different team. He wasn't expected to be a factor for Minnesota in 2024, but rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to Week 1. So, Darnold, who entered the campaign completing 61.3 percent of his passes and never throwing more than 19 touchdowns in any year, stepped in from the start and, shockingly, been among the best stories in all sports for 24. Entering Week 15, Darnold set career highs for completion percentage (68.4), passing yards (3,299), passing touchdowns (28) and passer rating (108.1) amid a MVP-caliber run. 

Already among baseball's greats, Freeman batted just .219 without a homer during the 2024 NL Division and Championship Series. Then, the lights got brighter with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the New York Yankees in the World Series. Game 1 at Dodger Stadium needed extra innings, where New York went ahead 3-2 in the 10th. But, the Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame after Mookie Betts was intentionally walked with two out. Up stepped Freddie Freeman, who didn't wait long, shook off a bum ankle, and sent a Nestor Cortes breaking pitch well into the right-field stands for a 6-3 Los Angeles victory and the  first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. Freeman would go on to hit 6-for-20 with four homers and 12 RBIs to win World Series MVP.

One of the biggest upsets on the track at the Paris Olympics came via 23-year-old American Cole Hocker, who unexpectedly won the 1,500 meters . Not much of a threat to medal coming into the race, Hocker was running fifth entering the bell lap, then made his kick and surged past the likes of reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigsten and current world champion Josh Kerr to stun the rest of the field and take home gold for the United States. Even more impressive, Hocker's winning time of 3:27.65 was an Olympic record.

The two-way Colorado superstar was already among the best players in the country entering the 2024 season. However, maybe not to the point of Heisman Trophy? Well, Hunter stepped up his game in '24, catching 92 passes for 1,152 yards with 14 touchdowns and also had four interceptions on the other side of the ball -- while logging more than 150 snaps. And, as the season went on, Hunter continued to shine and Colorado was actually a good team, it was not a surprise he did win the Heisman. He's the first predominant two-way player to win the award since Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997. 

No offense to Katie Ledecky, but Huske might have been the true star among U.S. swimmers -- men or women -- at the Paris Olympics. The 21-year-old Huske, a standout swimmer at Stanford who won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games as the member of the 4×100 meter medley,  totaled five medals in Paris . Including three golds, highlighted by a stunning swim to win the 100 butterfly ahead of teammate Gretchen Walsh. Huske earned silver in the 100 freestyle. 

Not even amid the nonsensical and demonizing harassment about her gender, Algerian boxer Khelif endured (and still must deal with ) on social media and from prominent world figures such as Elon Musk, she managed to prevail at the Paris Olympics. Khelif defeated China’s Yang Liu, via a unanimous decision, to win welterweight boxing gold in the women's competition. It was a moment of emotional and personal redemption for Khelif, who became one of the most inspirational stories of the Paris Games. 

Korda earned star status on the LPGA Tour a while back. However, her overall 2024 performance was among the best any American female golfer has ever delivered in a single calendar year. Korda recorded seven of her 15 career victories this year, including a second major title, this time at the Chevron Championship. She amazingly won four consecutive Tour events during one stretch spanning March and April. All more than good enough for Korda to be named LPGA Tour Player of the Year for the first time. 

After failing to medal in 2016 and 2020, the U.S. women's rugby sevens team finally earned some hardware by winning bronze in Paris. One of the central figures to the American's Olympic success was Maher, who became an immediate fan favorite. This is not only because of her hard-nosed, spirited play in competitions but also because of her quirky personality while touring the sites in Paris through her social media accounts, which gained thousands of followers by the day during the Games. In the aftermath of Paris, Maher, a champion for female body positivity, graced the cover Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition and finished second on Dancing with the Stars. 

Following a 100-assist regular season in 2023-24, the Edmonton Oilers superstar put together one of the all-time great playoff runs in NHL history. In helping Edmonton reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Final and rallying from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7, McDavid totaled 42 points over an eight-game span. That total ranks fourth all-time. And, his 34 postseason assists are the most in NHL history for a single season. Even though Edmonton fell short of winning the Cup to Florida, McDavid was the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. He's the sixth player from a losing team to win the award

Within the international track community, McLaughlin-Levrone is a household name that's headed toward legend status. However, perhaps even she outdid herself at the Paris Summer Games. The U.S. track and field team enjoyed one of its best Olympic showings in recent memory, winning 34 medals and 14 gold. At the forefront was McLaughlin-Levrone, who broke her own world record to repeat as 400-meter hurdles Olympic champion. She also won a second straight gold as the key cog in the 4×400 meter relay squad's victory.

Perhaps the most pleasantly surprising moment of the Paris Games for the U.S. was the performance of the American men's gymnastics team. Paced by bespectacled Stephen Nedoroscik's bronze-medal performance on the pommel horse, the Americans won bronze for the country's first men's team gymnastic medal since 2008. Nedoroscik's performance and refreshingly spirited approach to competition and life, was certainly one of the great feel-good sports moments of 2024. 

Another athlete who has already established himself as an elite performer. However, Schauffele was getting to that point where the dreaded label of "best golfer never to win a major" was creeping up on him. No worries, as Schauffele took matters into his own hands during the 2024 season. He officially got the major monkey off his back by winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla, by one stroke ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, and with a major championship-record score of 21-under par. Then, across the pond at Royal Troon, Schauffele won the famed Open Championship to become the first two-time major winner in the same season since Brooks Koepka in 2018.

Entering 2024, the Italian Sinner had never advanced past the semifinal round of any grand slam tennis match. That changed right away in January, when Sinner overcame a two-set deficit to beat Daniil Medvedev  in the final to become the first Italian winner of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Skinner then bookended this special 2024 by winning the U.S. Open, to become the fourth male in more than 50 years to win his first two grand slam titles in the same season.

Perhaps it wasn't a major surprise that Skenes dominated from the moment he stepped onto a major league mound in 2024. The first overall pick in the 2023 draft by Pittsburgh, Skenes debut in the majors on  May 11, at home against the Cubs. It was on from there. In his second MLB start, also against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Skenes fanned 11 over six hitless inning. The overpowering right-hander went 11-3 with a ridiculous 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 23 starts for the Pirates. Skenes also became the fifth to start the All-Star Game and was named NL Rookie of the Year.

Not one, but two two freshmen wide receivers took the 2024 college football world by storm. Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, a prized recruit had the talent for a big year, but he might be the best pure receiver in the country after leading all freshmen with 57 receptions, 934 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns entering the College Football Playoff. Not far behind is Williams, who began the '24 season as a 17-year-old for Alabama. The exciting and big-playmaking Williams caught 45 passes for 857 yards with eight TDs, and averaged 19.0 yards per reception. His unforgettable 75-yard, go-ahead touchdown catch against rival Georgia in September remains one of the great individual accomplishments of the season.

On Dec. 15, the 7-foot-4, 20-year-old Wembanyama reached the 2,000-career point mark in his 92nd NBA game. Only two players in NBA history, under age 21, did it faster -- Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic. "Wemby" continues to have an impact since being taken first overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was NBA Rookie of Year in 2023-24, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks. Through his first 20 games of the 2024-25 campaign, Wembanyama is scoring 23.8 per game, while also pulling down more than 10 boards a contest and dishing out nearly 4 assists.

Simply put, the kid can play. Just days before turning 17, Spain's Yamal solidified himself as a national soccer hero. On July 9 in Munich, against France in the semifinals of Euro 2024, Yamal became the youngest scorer in the history of the European Championship, when his 21st-minute goal leveled the match at 1-1. Spain would take the lead for good four minutes later, and eventually went on to win the country's fourth Euro title.