Welcome everyone, to the fourth ever Sports Examiner awards. This is quickly becoming an annual tradition that is growing every year. This year, we add a whole new category about college basketball. Whether or not you agree with my picks here, leave a comment and share who you thought should have won. Let's get started.
NBA
Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors & Detroit Pistons
By the time Casey won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2018, he had already been fired by the Toronto Raptors and hired by the Detroit Pistons. That may seem like Casey had a disappointing season with the Raptors, but that's not true at all. The Raptors won the Atlantic Division, easily the best division in the Eastern Conference, and earned the best record in the conference. Yes, they did get swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs but hey, no one's perfect. Meanwhile, his tenure in Detroit has gotten off to a promising start. He has the Pistons, who have only made the playoffs once in the last 9 seasons, in the thick of the playoff hunt and has helped revitalize the career of Blake Griffin.
2017 Winner: Mike D'Antoni
2016 Winner: Steve Kerr
Most Improved Player of the Year: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic wins MIP in the same vein that Giannis won the official NBA award in 2017: he went from being a very good player to an elite star. At the time of writing in early January of 2019, Jokic is playing like a true MVP candidate. He's averaging 18.2 points, 10 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.4 steals while Denver boasts the best record in the Western Conference. Our runner-ups here are a pair of teammates: Brooklyn' Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie. Both men played extremely well in 2018 and have Brooklyn surprisingly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
2017 Winner: Victor Oladipo
Breakout Star of the Year: Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
No one in the NBA saw as dramatic an increase of buzz from one year to the next as Clint Capela did. The 2017-2018 season was easily the best of his career, until the 2018-2019 one. Capela was a valuable piece of the Houston Rocket team that had the league's best record in the 2017-2018 season and took the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference finals. The big man dazzled in that series as he put up 12.7 ppg while pulling down 11.6 rebounds per game. As Houston looks to contend for a title for the next few years, Capela will play an important part in helping them achieve that goal.
2017 Winner: Kyle Kuzma
2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis
Player of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers & Los Angeles Lakers
James becomes the first two-time winner of this award as well as the first player to win it without winning Finals MVP in the same year. In fact, James didn't even win a title, as the Cavaliers were blown out by the dominant Warriors. Still, it says a lot that they even got there, and James was the reason why. He had another sublime season and finished second in the regular season MVP voting to Houston's James Harden. It was exceptionally easy to make the case for LeBron as he was named to the All-NBA first team, was named MVP of the All-Star game, won Player of the Month in both February and March 2018, led the league in minutes played, and was second in assists.
Following the conclusion of the 2017-2018 season, James took his talents to Los Angeles and gave the Lakers their first true superstar since Kobe Bryant retired. Last year, the Lakers were a downtrodden lottery team. This year, they're almost certain to make the playoffs and are set to be a dominant force in the Western Conference for years to come.
2017 Winner: Kevin Durant
2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
This was the easiest individual award to give out, as no one even comes close. The youngest Euro League MVP has been phenomenal this year (and was nearly named an All-Star). He seemingly produces highlights on a nightly basis and has the Dallas Mavericks in the playoff conversation. The Mavs have not been relevant in years and Doncic has them on pace for a 47.6 win percentage, their best since the 2015-2016 season.
2017 Winner: Ben Simmons
2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns
Comeback Player of the Year: Kwahi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs/ Toronto Raptors
Look, we have to talk about Leonard's 2017-2018 season here. Leonard essentially refused to play and demanded a trade. This shocking development essentially torpedoed the Spurs' immediate future. Still, the fact remains that between his groin injury and self-imposed exodus, Leonard only played nine games last season.
Because of his off-the-court issues, Leonard's basketball skills were seemingly forgotten about. That's all changed during his time with the Toronto Raptors. Leonard has been one of the best two-way players in the NBA and is looking like an early front-runner for the MVP award. The Raptors also have the best record in the league and have a great shot at making it to the Finals.
2017 Winner: Joel Embiid
2016 Winner: Paul George
Rising Star of the Year: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
Middleton really broke out in the first round of the playoff as the Bucks pushed the #2 seed Boston Celtics to seven games. Though his teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo got most of the spotlight, and deservedly so, Middleton deserves some praise for his work. He scored 24.7 ppg while shooting 61% from behind the arc. That stellar play has continued thus far into the 2018-2019 season. His 5.6 rebounds per game are a career high as is his 52.7% effective FG percentage. More importantly, the Bucks have the second best record in the league and look like a genuine threat to make it to the Finals.
2017 Winner: Jayson Tatum
2016 Winner: Andre Drummond
Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors
Who else would it be? The Warriors won their third NBA Championship in four years by dismantling the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals. SI's 2018 Sportsperson of the Year has been one of the most dominant franchises in all of sports. The Dubs have been so dominant that we've stopped looking for worthy contemporary rivals and have started comparing them to the best squads in NBA history.
2017 Winner: Golden State Warriors
2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
NFL
Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
This was an incredibly easy award to hand out. No player was as dominant as Mahomes was in the 2018 regular season. He became the youngest player to throw for 5,000 yards in a season (and one of only seven to ever do it), was named to the First Team All-Pro, threw for 50 touchdowns, led the Chiefs to the #1 seed in the AFC, posted a QBR of 82, and nearly took the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. There's a very good chance Mahomes wins this award every year for the next five years.
2017 Winner: Tom Brady
2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady
Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Leonard got absolutely zero media love when the season started. That all changed just a few weeks in when everyone realized that the Colts' second-round rookie was looking like a defensive stud. Not only was Leonard named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, but he led the NFL in tackles. On top of that, the Colts took a massive leap up the standings from last year and made it to the AFC Divisional Round.
2017 Winner: Alvin Kamara
2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot
Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon may have lost out to Leonard in our last category, but the #2 overall pick in the 2018 draft picks up the nod here over more established names such as Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, and last year's winner Todd Gurley. Barkley trailed only Elliot in rushing yards (1,307), was fifth in rushing touchdowns, and possibly most importantly for this award, led the league in yards from scrimmage. The most impressive part of all this is that Barkley didn't get much help. QB Eli Manning looked like he was on his last legs and the Giants' offensive lines had more holes than a moth-eaten sweater. Imagine how good he'll be when he gets some help.
2017 Winner: Todd Gurley
2016 Winner: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
I really, really wanted to gives this award to Khalil Mack, but I couldn't stiff Donald two years in a row. Donald was unquestionably the league's best defensive player last year and is a big reason why the Rams played in the Super Bowl this month. His 20.5 sacks led the league (J.J. Watt finished second with 16) and did his 41 QB hits. On top of that, he forced four fumbles and notched 59 tackles.
2017 Winner: Calais Campbell
2016 Winner: Von Miller
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Looking back at the 2018 regular season, it's clear that one thing is true: offense is king. With all the new rules protecting the QB and promoting offense, it's clear that a team needs an explosive offense to win in the NFL. Andy Reid understands this very well. His Chiefs had the most dangerous offense in the league and put up points like no one's business. In this offensive revolution, Reid stands out as a true genius.
2017 Winner: Sean McVay
2016 Winner: Bill Belichick
Most Improved Player of the Year: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Last year, Kittle was barely on anyone's radar. Fantasy players might have heard of him when scouring the waiver wire, but otherwise he was relatively unknown. That all changed this year when he solidified himself as a tier-1 tight end. Even with franchise QB Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined for most of the year, Kittle caught 88 passes for five touchdowns and 1,377 yards. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl.
2017 Winner: Jared Goff
Breakout Star of the Year: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
Jackson was part of a dominant Chicago Bears defense that included studs such as Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. The Bears fielded the best defense in the league and won the NFC North for the first time since 2010. Only three players bested his six interceptions, including teammate Kyle Fuller, and was fifth in pass deflections.
2017 Winner: Kareem Hunt
2016 Winner: Dak Prescott
Comeback Star of the Year: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
There are a number of contenders for this award, such as Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt, but Luck is the clear choice. He missed all of last season and even went to Europe for rehab. Just weeks before the season started, Luck couldn't even throw a regulation football. No one was expecting much from both Luck and the Colts, but apparently, someone forgot to tell them. The Colts won six more regular season games than they did in 2017, nabbed a wild card spot, and made it to the AFC Divisional round. Luck meanwhile, started all 16 games, completed a career-high 67.3% of his passes, threw 39 touchdowns, and was named the November AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
2017 Winner: Rob Gronkowski
Rising Star of the Year: Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
The Lions fielded an abysmal run game in 2017 and sought out to change that in the 2018 draft. In the first round, they drafted offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. In the second round, they drafted Johnson, the reigning SEC Player of the Year. Though his season was shortened due to injury, Johnson showed plenty of potential and became the first Lion to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Reggie Bush did so in 2013. The former Auburn Tiger finished the season with 5.4 yards per attempt, third in the league, and 32 receptions. If the Lions can turn things around next year, Johnson will be a name to keep an eye on.
2017 Winner: Deshaun Watson
2016 Winner: Carson Wentz
Team of the Year: Philadelphia Eagles
At one point in the 2017-2018 season, the Eagles looked like the best team in the NFL. Then, starting QB Carson Wentz tore his ACL in a game against the LA Rams. Most assumed the Eagles' chances of winning the Super Bowl had gone up in smokes with the loss of Wentz, who almost certainly would have been named regular season MVP had he not gone down with an injury.
Fortunately for Eagles fans, journeyman QB, and former Eagles star, Nick Foles stepped in. He led the Eagles to a dominating victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game and then captured MVP honors as the Eagles defeated the reigning champions, the New England Patriots. And though the Eagles got off to a rough start in the 2018-2019 season (in large part thanks to injuries), they still managed to make it to the NFC Divisional Round.
2017 Winner: New England Patriots
2016 Winner: Denver Broncos
NHL
Coach of the Year: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
Gallant becomes our second ever NHL Coach of the Year and does so after leading the Knights to a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. He also won the 2018 Jack Adams award for best coach.
2017 Winner: John Tortorella
Goalie of the Year: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
In his fourth year as a finalist, Rinne finally won the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper. He finished the 2017-2018 regular season tied for first in shutouts, second in overall saver percentage, and third in goals-against average. Rinne has also been a standout in the 2018-2019 season so far. He was named to the All-Star team yet again and at time of writing, is second in shutouts and eighth in games played.
2017 Winner: Sergei Bobrovsky
2016 Winner: Braden Holtby
Player of the Year: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Ovechkin was drafted #1 overall by the Capitals in 2004. Since then, he has been waiting for a Stanley Cup. He finally achieved that goal in 2018 as his Capitals bested the Golden Knights for their second ever title. Ovechkin scored 15 goals in the playoffs, a feat that has been matched only once in the last nine year. For his efforts, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy.
2017 Winner: Sidney Crosby
2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby
Team of the Year: Washington Capitals
As written earlier, the Capitals bested the Knights to win their second ever Stanley Cup. It was an extremely cathartic win for a team long labelled as a playoff choker. They are hoping to repeat in 2019 and it looks extremely possible. At the time of writing, they have the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference.
2017 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
MLB
Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland A's
Expectations for the A's going into this season were not high. No one expected them to hang with American League powerhouses such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros, especially as they had the league's lowest Opening Day payroll. Still, the A's overcame all that, and a host of injuries, to win 22 more games than they did in 2017 and earn a playoff spot. They were truly one of the feel-good sports stories of 2018.
2017 Winner: Paul Molitor
2016 Winner: Terry Francona
Pitcher of the Year: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
deGrom played so well this year and many wondered if he should be considered for the NL MVP award, not just the Cy Young. The only issue: the Mets absolutely stunk. Still, we can't deny deGrom's individual brilliance; his 1.70 ERA was the sixth lowest since MLB lowered the mound to its current height in 1969.
2017 Winner: Corey Kluber
2016 Winner: Max Scherzer
Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani came into the 2018 season with a ton of hype. The man known as the Japanese Babe Ruth was expected to be a total phenom. And while he didn't meet those lofty standards, and even spent time on the shelf, he was still great. Ohtani became the first player since Ruth to hit 20 homers and have 10 pitching appearances in the same season while also logging a 3.31 ERA.
2017 Winner: Aaron Judge
2016 Winner: Corey Seager
Hitter of the Year: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
In this year of home runs and strikeouts, Martinez was undoubtedly MLB's best hitter in 2018. He led the league in RBIs and total bases while finishing second in home runs. On top of that, the Sox won the World Series.
2017 Winner: Giancarlo Stanton
2016 Winner: David Ortiz
Player of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
Boston's right fielder won the AL batting title, the AL MVP award, won his third straight Gold Glove award, and helped the Sox win the World Series. Our runner-up for this award is Betts's teammate, J.D. Martinez (see the previous award for details).
2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: Kris Bryant
Team of the Year: Boston Red Sox
Who else could it be? The Sox were easily baseball's best team this year. They were absolutely dominant during the regular season and carried that momentum into the playoffs. There, they defeated their hated rival the New York Yankees in four games, defeated the defending champions Houston Astros in five games, and defeated the NL champions LA Dodgers in five games.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
NCAAF:
Player of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
We can talk about Tua being robbed of the Heisman, but if we look at 2018 as a whole, Tua was definitely the best player in the country. He stepped off the sidelines to help Alabama rally and defeated Georgia to win the national championship. Because of that win, Tua was named the starter for the 2018-2019 season. The Crimson Tide went undefeated, Tua was the Heisman runner-up, and the Tide advanced to their fourth straight national title game.
2017 Winner: Baker Mayfield
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey
Rising Star of the Year: Travis Etienne, Clemson
Though most of the hype surrounding Clemson's offense belongs to freshman QB Trevor Lawrence, Etienne deserves some love. His 24 rushing touchdowns led FBS, he finished fifth in rushing yards per attempt, and he was fourth in yards. If you're looking for dark horses for the 2019 Heisman race, look no further.
2017 Winner: Trace McSorley
2016 Winner: Derrius Guice
Breakout Star of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
As I wrote before, Tua literally came off the sidelines for Alabama in the national championship game. It was an incredibly risky move for head coach Nick Saban. Tua had never played any meaningful games and was a freshman while starting QB Jalen Hurts was the 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and had only lost one start in two seasons as Alabama's starter. Ultimately, the gamble paid off as Tua threw for three scores as the Tide came back from a 13-0 deficit at the half to win their second CFP title.
2017 Winner: Bryce Love
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Of the four teams that made the 2018 College Football Playoffs, Notre Dame was the biggest surprise. The Irish had won nine games in 2017, but no one thought they were on the level with the likes of Clemson and Alabama. Nonetheless, Kelly and the Fighting Irish won all 12 of their regular seasons and finished the season #3. They even endured a QB change from Brandon Wimbush to Ian Book. For his efforts, Kelly was named the AP Coach of the Year and the Home Depot Coach of the Year.
2017 Winner: Scott Frost
2016 Winner: Nick Saban
Team of the Year: Alabama
Alabama ended the 2017-2018 season as the national champions and the early favorites for the 2018-2019 season. They made good on that promise as they posted an undefeated regular season record and never were ranked lower than #1. In the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, they knocked off Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and #4 Oklahoma to setup a meeting with #2 Clemson in the title game.
2017 Winner: Clemson
2016 Winner: Alabama
NCAAB
Men's Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson, Villanova
If we look at all of Brunson's accomplishments from last year, it's clear why he's the winner. The Villanova star was National Player of the Year, a First-Team All-American, the Big East Player of the Year, and won the Bob Cousy Award, which is awarded to the best collegiate point guard. Oh, and Villanova won their second national championship in two years.
Women's Player of the Year: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
While Wilson deserves love for her work in the WNBA, that's not what we're looking at here. Wilson left South Carolina with a top-notch resume. She was the National Player of the Year in 2018, was a First-Team All-American three years in a row, and a three-time SEC Player of the Year. The only blemish on her 2018: being knocked out in the Elite Eight by Connecticut.
Men's Coach of the Year: John Beilein, Michigan
Michigan fans have long praised John Beilein, but 2018 was the year where everyone else realized he was one of the best coaches in the nation. The CBS Sports 2018 Coach of the Year made his presence known during March Madness when Michigan made it to the national championship game before falling to 'Nova.
Women's Coach of the Year: Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
Unlike Beilein, college basketball fans were well aware of the brilliance of Muffet McGraw. After all, she's coached in eight Final Fours and has been named Coach of the Year four times. Still, 2018 may have been one of her best years yet. The Fighting Irish overcame every single obstacle to win the 2018 national championship and McGraw won her fourth Coach of the Year award.
Men's Team of the Year: Villanova
Villanova was easily the best team of the 2017-2018 season. They finished the regular season sixth in the polls, won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, won the Big East tournament, and survived March Madness to win their second national championship in three years.
Women's Team of the Year: Notre Dame
Notre Dame entered March Madness as a #1 seed and won all of their regional games by at least two possessions. In the Final Four, they met the dominant UConn Huskies. While the Huskies were heavily favored, someone forgot to tell ND. Arike Ogunbowale made one of the year's best plays when she hit a buzzer beater to sink UConn and then did it all over again in the finals against Mississippi State.
Individual Sports
Female Golfer of the Year: Ariya Jutanugarn
Jutanugarn becomes the first golfer, male or female, to win Golfer of the Year twice. She does so after a phenomenal 2018 LPGA Tour that saw her be named Rolex Player of the Year, lead the money list, and win three events (which was tied for first with our 2017 Female Golfer of the Year, Sung Hyun Park).
2017 Winner: Sung Hyun Park
2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn
Male Golfer of the Year: Brooks Koepka
In terms of media coverage, few athletes (let alone golfers) got more press coverage than Tiger Woods. Regardless, Koepka is more than deserving of this award. He won the Jack Nicklaus Award for PGA Tour Player of the Year, was fifth in prize money, was named PGA Player of the Year, won the PGA Championship, and won his second-straight U.S. Open.
2017 Winner: Justin Thomas
2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth
Female Tennis Player of the Year: Simona Halep
If you didn't believe Halep was one of the top female players in the world going into 2018, you definitely believe it now. The prize money leader of the 2018 WTA Tour spent the entire year ranked at either #1 or #2 and reached six tournament finals.
2017 Winner: Caroline Wozniacki
2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams
Male Tennis Player of the Year: Novak Djokovic
The Serbian tennis ace had a bit of a resurgence in 2018, as he finished the year ranked #1, the first time he had done so since 2015. He achieved that ranking by reaching seven tournament finals (tied for Roger Federer for first), led the ATP in points and money, and was named player of the year.
2017 Winner: Rafael Nadal
2016 Winner: Andy Murray
Female Swimmer of the Year: Katie Ledecky
Ledecky reclaims her throne after a fantastic 2018 that saw her covered in awards. She was named Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year for the fifth time in six years, was named the Swimming World American Swimmer of the Year for the sixth year in a row, and won three individual titles in the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. On top of that, 2018 was her first year as a professional swimmer.
2017 Winner: Sarah Sjostrom
2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky
Male Swimmer of the Year: Adam Peaty
The British Peaty is the first non-American to win this award, but fans of swimming will know his name. He put in notable performances at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships, all which helped him win his fifth straight Swimming World European Swimmer of the Year.
2017 Winner: Caeleb Dressel
2016 Winner: Michael Phelps
Soccer
Premier League Team of the Year: Manchester City
Manchester City wins this award after winning their third Premier League title with five games to spare. They've carried that momentum over into the 2018-2019 season. At the time of writing, they sit second behind Liverpool. Manchester City also experienced success in the Champions League. They will play FC Shalke 04 in the Round of 16 next month.
2017 Winner: Chelsea
2016 Winner: Leicester City
Male Player of the Year: Luka Modric
If there was one athlete who had a breakout year in 2018, it was Modric. The midfield captained Croatia all the way to the World Cup finals while capturing the hearts of fans all over the world. His success didn't stop there, as he won the 2018 Ballon d'Or (thus becoming the first person not named Ronald or Messi to win the award since 2007), won the World Cup Golden Ball, and won the Champions League with club Real Madrid.
2017 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi
Premier League Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Mo Salah solidified his spot as one of the best footballers in the world with a phenomenal 2017-2018 Premier League season. He was the leading goal scorer, fifth in assists, and was named Premier League Player of the Season. While Liverpool did not win the title in 2018, they are currently the favorites to do so in 2019.
2017 Winner: Harry Kane
Female Player of the Year: Wang Shuang
Shuang is the first Asian player to win this award and does so after being named AFC Women's Football of the Year, becoming the first Chinese player to win the award since 2006. She also helped China win the 2018 Four Nations Tournament.
2017 Winner: Lieke Martens
2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd
MLS Player of the Year: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United FC
Anyone who followed MLS this year will not be surprised with this pick. Not only did he set the single-season record for most goals scored in a season, he won the 2018 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. Martinez also experienced success in the postseason as Atlanta United FC won the 2018 MLS Cup. No points for guessing who the MVP was.
2017 Winner: Diego Valeri
2016 Winner: David Villa
MLS Team of the Year: Atlanta United FC
As I wrote above, Atlanta United FC won the 2019 MLS Cup. They did so after defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0. During the regular season, they finished second in the Eastern Conference behind only New York Red Bulls.
2017 Winner: Toronto FC
2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders
Men's National Team of the Year: France
France is the easy choice after hoisting the World Cup trophy during the summer of 2018. They emerged from the Group Stage unbeaten (although they did draw with Denmark) and in the knockout stage, they defeated Argentina, Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia.
2017 Winner: Germany
2016 Winner: Argentina
Women's National Team of the Year: United States
The American women spent all of 2018 ranked #1 in the FIFA world rankings. In fact, they've been ranked #1 since 2015. The fact that they went undefeated in 2018 might have helped keep that top spot. They are also the current favorites to win the FIFA Women's World Cup this year.
General Awards:
Legend of the Year: Sir Roger Bannister
This year we lost one of the all-time great runners. The Englishman was the first person to ever run a mile in less than four minutes, doing so when he was just 25 years old in 1954. That year, Sports Illustrated named him their first-ever Sportsman of the Year, creating a tradition that endures to this day. He passed away last March at the age of 2018.
2017 Winner: Ara Parseghian
2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant
Moment of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa Arrives
They say that an overnight sensation takes ten years in the making. And while Tua Tagovailoa did put in years of hard work, he was made in just half of a football game. Before a national audience, Tua stepped off the sidelines and helped engineer a comeback for Alabama in the national championship game. There were fans in Tuscaloosa who weren't even aware of Tua, and now the entire world knew his name. If that's not a star-making moment, I don't know what is.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros win the World Series
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series
Upset of the Year: #16 UMBC beats #1 Virginia
March Madness is a cultural institution. Every year, fans around the globe tune in for weeks of mayhem and great basketball. While there are huge upsets every year, one thing has remained constant: a #16 seed has never beaten a #1 seed. That makes perfect sense, a #1 seed is one of the best teams in the country while a #16 seed is happy to just be there.
Going into this game, no one gave UMBC a chance. Most basketball fans had never even heard of them while Virginia was picked by many (including myself unfortunately) to win the national championship. Instead, UMBC beat Virginia 74-54 and shocked the world. Nothing is a guarantee anymore.
2017 Winner: Mississippi beats UConn in the Final Four
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers come back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey
Play of the Year: Arike Ogunbowale's Back-to-Back Game Winners
This was a tough call between this and the Minneapolis Miracle, but context proved a decisive tie-breaker. Ogunbowale hit game winners in both the Final Four and title game to lift Notre Dame to a national championship. And while the Minneapolis Miracle did allow the Minnesota Vikings to beat the New Orleans Saints, they ended up getting manhandled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game.
We also have to take into consideration the fact that Ogunbowale did it in back-to-back games. No one expected her to hit the shot against UConn and sink the best team in the country. She followed that up by hitting an even crazier shot in the title game against Mississippi State. It wasn't as if she was wide-open, Ogunbowale was well defended and her three-point shot attempt was wobbly at best. How she hit that shot is beyond anyone, I suppose that's just what elite athletes do.
2017 Winner: Julian Edelman's Super Bowl Catch
2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title
Franchise of the Year: Vegas Golden Knights
They may have not won a championship in 2018, but the Golden Knights were definitely the top team of 2018. Throughout the history of the four U.S. major sports leagues (NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB), expansion teams have usually been dreadful for their first few years of existence. For example, let's consider the NFL's Houston Texans, who had their first season in 2002. They did not make the playoffs until their tenth season and finished dead last in their division five of their first six seasons. Based on history alone, no one expected much of the Knights in their inaugural season.
The Golden Knights began their first season in 2017 with three straight wins (an NHL record for expansion teams) while also trying to heal the community after the tragic October 1st shooting. They ended up winning their division and became the first Big 4 expansion team to win their division in their inaugural season. Their success didn't stop there, as they overcame the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets to advance to the Stanley Cup. Yes, they did fall in five games to the Capitals, but they were never supposed to be there in the first place. This is a team that overcame every single obstacle to nearly win a championship in their first real year of existence.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors
Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
This was an incredibly tough decision, as there were so many worthy contenders. I puzzled over this award for days and considered giving it to worthy athletes such as Justify, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes. It wasn't until I stumbled upon an article by FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine that I finally decided on Betts. Using their Elo metric (which can be used across all sports), they found that the Boston Red Sox were the best team of 2018. The best athlete: Betts, Boston's biggest star. Thus, let's all congratulate the Sports Examiner's 2018 Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.
2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: US Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh
Thanks for reading everyone.
NBA
Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey, Toronto Raptors & Detroit Pistons
By the time Casey won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2018, he had already been fired by the Toronto Raptors and hired by the Detroit Pistons. That may seem like Casey had a disappointing season with the Raptors, but that's not true at all. The Raptors won the Atlantic Division, easily the best division in the Eastern Conference, and earned the best record in the conference. Yes, they did get swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs but hey, no one's perfect. Meanwhile, his tenure in Detroit has gotten off to a promising start. He has the Pistons, who have only made the playoffs once in the last 9 seasons, in the thick of the playoff hunt and has helped revitalize the career of Blake Griffin.
2017 Winner: Mike D'Antoni
2016 Winner: Steve Kerr
Most Improved Player of the Year: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic wins MIP in the same vein that Giannis won the official NBA award in 2017: he went from being a very good player to an elite star. At the time of writing in early January of 2019, Jokic is playing like a true MVP candidate. He's averaging 18.2 points, 10 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.4 steals while Denver boasts the best record in the Western Conference. Our runner-ups here are a pair of teammates: Brooklyn' Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie. Both men played extremely well in 2018 and have Brooklyn surprisingly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
2017 Winner: Victor Oladipo
Breakout Star of the Year: Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
No one in the NBA saw as dramatic an increase of buzz from one year to the next as Clint Capela did. The 2017-2018 season was easily the best of his career, until the 2018-2019 one. Capela was a valuable piece of the Houston Rocket team that had the league's best record in the 2017-2018 season and took the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference finals. The big man dazzled in that series as he put up 12.7 ppg while pulling down 11.6 rebounds per game. As Houston looks to contend for a title for the next few years, Capela will play an important part in helping them achieve that goal.
2017 Winner: Kyle Kuzma
2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis
Player of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers & Los Angeles Lakers
James becomes the first two-time winner of this award as well as the first player to win it without winning Finals MVP in the same year. In fact, James didn't even win a title, as the Cavaliers were blown out by the dominant Warriors. Still, it says a lot that they even got there, and James was the reason why. He had another sublime season and finished second in the regular season MVP voting to Houston's James Harden. It was exceptionally easy to make the case for LeBron as he was named to the All-NBA first team, was named MVP of the All-Star game, won Player of the Month in both February and March 2018, led the league in minutes played, and was second in assists.
Following the conclusion of the 2017-2018 season, James took his talents to Los Angeles and gave the Lakers their first true superstar since Kobe Bryant retired. Last year, the Lakers were a downtrodden lottery team. This year, they're almost certain to make the playoffs and are set to be a dominant force in the Western Conference for years to come.
2017 Winner: Kevin Durant
2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
This was the easiest individual award to give out, as no one even comes close. The youngest Euro League MVP has been phenomenal this year (and was nearly named an All-Star). He seemingly produces highlights on a nightly basis and has the Dallas Mavericks in the playoff conversation. The Mavs have not been relevant in years and Doncic has them on pace for a 47.6 win percentage, their best since the 2015-2016 season.
2017 Winner: Ben Simmons
2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns
Comeback Player of the Year: Kwahi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs/ Toronto Raptors
Look, we have to talk about Leonard's 2017-2018 season here. Leonard essentially refused to play and demanded a trade. This shocking development essentially torpedoed the Spurs' immediate future. Still, the fact remains that between his groin injury and self-imposed exodus, Leonard only played nine games last season.
Because of his off-the-court issues, Leonard's basketball skills were seemingly forgotten about. That's all changed during his time with the Toronto Raptors. Leonard has been one of the best two-way players in the NBA and is looking like an early front-runner for the MVP award. The Raptors also have the best record in the league and have a great shot at making it to the Finals.
2017 Winner: Joel Embiid
2016 Winner: Paul George
Rising Star of the Year: Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
Middleton really broke out in the first round of the playoff as the Bucks pushed the #2 seed Boston Celtics to seven games. Though his teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo got most of the spotlight, and deservedly so, Middleton deserves some praise for his work. He scored 24.7 ppg while shooting 61% from behind the arc. That stellar play has continued thus far into the 2018-2019 season. His 5.6 rebounds per game are a career high as is his 52.7% effective FG percentage. More importantly, the Bucks have the second best record in the league and look like a genuine threat to make it to the Finals.
2017 Winner: Jayson Tatum
2016 Winner: Andre Drummond
Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors
Who else would it be? The Warriors won their third NBA Championship in four years by dismantling the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals. SI's 2018 Sportsperson of the Year has been one of the most dominant franchises in all of sports. The Dubs have been so dominant that we've stopped looking for worthy contemporary rivals and have started comparing them to the best squads in NBA history.
2017 Winner: Golden State Warriors
2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
NFL
Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
This was an incredibly easy award to hand out. No player was as dominant as Mahomes was in the 2018 regular season. He became the youngest player to throw for 5,000 yards in a season (and one of only seven to ever do it), was named to the First Team All-Pro, threw for 50 touchdowns, led the Chiefs to the #1 seed in the AFC, posted a QBR of 82, and nearly took the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. There's a very good chance Mahomes wins this award every year for the next five years.
2017 Winner: Tom Brady
2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady
Rookie of the Year: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Leonard got absolutely zero media love when the season started. That all changed just a few weeks in when everyone realized that the Colts' second-round rookie was looking like a defensive stud. Not only was Leonard named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, but he led the NFL in tackles. On top of that, the Colts took a massive leap up the standings from last year and made it to the AFC Divisional Round.
2017 Winner: Alvin Kamara
2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot
Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon may have lost out to Leonard in our last category, but the #2 overall pick in the 2018 draft picks up the nod here over more established names such as Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, and last year's winner Todd Gurley. Barkley trailed only Elliot in rushing yards (1,307), was fifth in rushing touchdowns, and possibly most importantly for this award, led the league in yards from scrimmage. The most impressive part of all this is that Barkley didn't get much help. QB Eli Manning looked like he was on his last legs and the Giants' offensive lines had more holes than a moth-eaten sweater. Imagine how good he'll be when he gets some help.
2017 Winner: Todd Gurley
2016 Winner: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
I really, really wanted to gives this award to Khalil Mack, but I couldn't stiff Donald two years in a row. Donald was unquestionably the league's best defensive player last year and is a big reason why the Rams played in the Super Bowl this month. His 20.5 sacks led the league (J.J. Watt finished second with 16) and did his 41 QB hits. On top of that, he forced four fumbles and notched 59 tackles.
2017 Winner: Calais Campbell
2016 Winner: Von Miller
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Looking back at the 2018 regular season, it's clear that one thing is true: offense is king. With all the new rules protecting the QB and promoting offense, it's clear that a team needs an explosive offense to win in the NFL. Andy Reid understands this very well. His Chiefs had the most dangerous offense in the league and put up points like no one's business. In this offensive revolution, Reid stands out as a true genius.
2017 Winner: Sean McVay
2016 Winner: Bill Belichick
Most Improved Player of the Year: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Last year, Kittle was barely on anyone's radar. Fantasy players might have heard of him when scouring the waiver wire, but otherwise he was relatively unknown. That all changed this year when he solidified himself as a tier-1 tight end. Even with franchise QB Jimmy Garoppolo sidelined for most of the year, Kittle caught 88 passes for five touchdowns and 1,377 yards. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl.
2017 Winner: Jared Goff
Breakout Star of the Year: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
Jackson was part of a dominant Chicago Bears defense that included studs such as Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. The Bears fielded the best defense in the league and won the NFC North for the first time since 2010. Only three players bested his six interceptions, including teammate Kyle Fuller, and was fifth in pass deflections.
2017 Winner: Kareem Hunt
2016 Winner: Dak Prescott
Comeback Star of the Year: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
There are a number of contenders for this award, such as Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt, but Luck is the clear choice. He missed all of last season and even went to Europe for rehab. Just weeks before the season started, Luck couldn't even throw a regulation football. No one was expecting much from both Luck and the Colts, but apparently, someone forgot to tell them. The Colts won six more regular season games than they did in 2017, nabbed a wild card spot, and made it to the AFC Divisional round. Luck meanwhile, started all 16 games, completed a career-high 67.3% of his passes, threw 39 touchdowns, and was named the November AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
2017 Winner: Rob Gronkowski
Rising Star of the Year: Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions
The Lions fielded an abysmal run game in 2017 and sought out to change that in the 2018 draft. In the first round, they drafted offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. In the second round, they drafted Johnson, the reigning SEC Player of the Year. Though his season was shortened due to injury, Johnson showed plenty of potential and became the first Lion to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Reggie Bush did so in 2013. The former Auburn Tiger finished the season with 5.4 yards per attempt, third in the league, and 32 receptions. If the Lions can turn things around next year, Johnson will be a name to keep an eye on.
2017 Winner: Deshaun Watson
2016 Winner: Carson Wentz
Team of the Year: Philadelphia Eagles
At one point in the 2017-2018 season, the Eagles looked like the best team in the NFL. Then, starting QB Carson Wentz tore his ACL in a game against the LA Rams. Most assumed the Eagles' chances of winning the Super Bowl had gone up in smokes with the loss of Wentz, who almost certainly would have been named regular season MVP had he not gone down with an injury.
Fortunately for Eagles fans, journeyman QB, and former Eagles star, Nick Foles stepped in. He led the Eagles to a dominating victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game and then captured MVP honors as the Eagles defeated the reigning champions, the New England Patriots. And though the Eagles got off to a rough start in the 2018-2019 season (in large part thanks to injuries), they still managed to make it to the NFC Divisional Round.
2017 Winner: New England Patriots
2016 Winner: Denver Broncos
NHL
Coach of the Year: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
Gallant becomes our second ever NHL Coach of the Year and does so after leading the Knights to a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. He also won the 2018 Jack Adams award for best coach.
2017 Winner: John Tortorella
Goalie of the Year: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
In his fourth year as a finalist, Rinne finally won the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper. He finished the 2017-2018 regular season tied for first in shutouts, second in overall saver percentage, and third in goals-against average. Rinne has also been a standout in the 2018-2019 season so far. He was named to the All-Star team yet again and at time of writing, is second in shutouts and eighth in games played.
2017 Winner: Sergei Bobrovsky
2016 Winner: Braden Holtby
Player of the Year: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Ovechkin was drafted #1 overall by the Capitals in 2004. Since then, he has been waiting for a Stanley Cup. He finally achieved that goal in 2018 as his Capitals bested the Golden Knights for their second ever title. Ovechkin scored 15 goals in the playoffs, a feat that has been matched only once in the last nine year. For his efforts, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy.
2017 Winner: Sidney Crosby
2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby
Team of the Year: Washington Capitals
As written earlier, the Capitals bested the Knights to win their second ever Stanley Cup. It was an extremely cathartic win for a team long labelled as a playoff choker. They are hoping to repeat in 2019 and it looks extremely possible. At the time of writing, they have the fifth best record in the Eastern Conference.
2017 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
MLB
Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin, Oakland A's
Expectations for the A's going into this season were not high. No one expected them to hang with American League powerhouses such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros, especially as they had the league's lowest Opening Day payroll. Still, the A's overcame all that, and a host of injuries, to win 22 more games than they did in 2017 and earn a playoff spot. They were truly one of the feel-good sports stories of 2018.
2017 Winner: Paul Molitor
2016 Winner: Terry Francona
Pitcher of the Year: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
deGrom played so well this year and many wondered if he should be considered for the NL MVP award, not just the Cy Young. The only issue: the Mets absolutely stunk. Still, we can't deny deGrom's individual brilliance; his 1.70 ERA was the sixth lowest since MLB lowered the mound to its current height in 1969.
2017 Winner: Corey Kluber
2016 Winner: Max Scherzer
Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani came into the 2018 season with a ton of hype. The man known as the Japanese Babe Ruth was expected to be a total phenom. And while he didn't meet those lofty standards, and even spent time on the shelf, he was still great. Ohtani became the first player since Ruth to hit 20 homers and have 10 pitching appearances in the same season while also logging a 3.31 ERA.
2017 Winner: Aaron Judge
2016 Winner: Corey Seager
Hitter of the Year: J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox
In this year of home runs and strikeouts, Martinez was undoubtedly MLB's best hitter in 2018. He led the league in RBIs and total bases while finishing second in home runs. On top of that, the Sox won the World Series.
2017 Winner: Giancarlo Stanton
2016 Winner: David Ortiz
Player of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
Boston's right fielder won the AL batting title, the AL MVP award, won his third straight Gold Glove award, and helped the Sox win the World Series. Our runner-up for this award is Betts's teammate, J.D. Martinez (see the previous award for details).
2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: Kris Bryant
Team of the Year: Boston Red Sox
Who else could it be? The Sox were easily baseball's best team this year. They were absolutely dominant during the regular season and carried that momentum into the playoffs. There, they defeated their hated rival the New York Yankees in four games, defeated the defending champions Houston Astros in five games, and defeated the NL champions LA Dodgers in five games.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
NCAAF:
Player of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
We can talk about Tua being robbed of the Heisman, but if we look at 2018 as a whole, Tua was definitely the best player in the country. He stepped off the sidelines to help Alabama rally and defeated Georgia to win the national championship. Because of that win, Tua was named the starter for the 2018-2019 season. The Crimson Tide went undefeated, Tua was the Heisman runner-up, and the Tide advanced to their fourth straight national title game.
2017 Winner: Baker Mayfield
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey
Rising Star of the Year: Travis Etienne, Clemson
Though most of the hype surrounding Clemson's offense belongs to freshman QB Trevor Lawrence, Etienne deserves some love. His 24 rushing touchdowns led FBS, he finished fifth in rushing yards per attempt, and he was fourth in yards. If you're looking for dark horses for the 2019 Heisman race, look no further.
2017 Winner: Trace McSorley
2016 Winner: Derrius Guice
Breakout Star of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
As I wrote before, Tua literally came off the sidelines for Alabama in the national championship game. It was an incredibly risky move for head coach Nick Saban. Tua had never played any meaningful games and was a freshman while starting QB Jalen Hurts was the 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year and had only lost one start in two seasons as Alabama's starter. Ultimately, the gamble paid off as Tua threw for three scores as the Tide came back from a 13-0 deficit at the half to win their second CFP title.
2017 Winner: Bryce Love
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Of the four teams that made the 2018 College Football Playoffs, Notre Dame was the biggest surprise. The Irish had won nine games in 2017, but no one thought they were on the level with the likes of Clemson and Alabama. Nonetheless, Kelly and the Fighting Irish won all 12 of their regular seasons and finished the season #3. They even endured a QB change from Brandon Wimbush to Ian Book. For his efforts, Kelly was named the AP Coach of the Year and the Home Depot Coach of the Year.
2017 Winner: Scott Frost
2016 Winner: Nick Saban
Team of the Year: Alabama
Alabama ended the 2017-2018 season as the national champions and the early favorites for the 2018-2019 season. They made good on that promise as they posted an undefeated regular season record and never were ranked lower than #1. In the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, they knocked off Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray and #4 Oklahoma to setup a meeting with #2 Clemson in the title game.
2017 Winner: Clemson
2016 Winner: Alabama
NCAAB
Men's Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson, Villanova
If we look at all of Brunson's accomplishments from last year, it's clear why he's the winner. The Villanova star was National Player of the Year, a First-Team All-American, the Big East Player of the Year, and won the Bob Cousy Award, which is awarded to the best collegiate point guard. Oh, and Villanova won their second national championship in two years.
Women's Player of the Year: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
While Wilson deserves love for her work in the WNBA, that's not what we're looking at here. Wilson left South Carolina with a top-notch resume. She was the National Player of the Year in 2018, was a First-Team All-American three years in a row, and a three-time SEC Player of the Year. The only blemish on her 2018: being knocked out in the Elite Eight by Connecticut.
Men's Coach of the Year: John Beilein, Michigan
Michigan fans have long praised John Beilein, but 2018 was the year where everyone else realized he was one of the best coaches in the nation. The CBS Sports 2018 Coach of the Year made his presence known during March Madness when Michigan made it to the national championship game before falling to 'Nova.
Women's Coach of the Year: Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame
Unlike Beilein, college basketball fans were well aware of the brilliance of Muffet McGraw. After all, she's coached in eight Final Fours and has been named Coach of the Year four times. Still, 2018 may have been one of her best years yet. The Fighting Irish overcame every single obstacle to win the 2018 national championship and McGraw won her fourth Coach of the Year award.
Men's Team of the Year: Villanova
Villanova was easily the best team of the 2017-2018 season. They finished the regular season sixth in the polls, won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, won the Big East tournament, and survived March Madness to win their second national championship in three years.
Women's Team of the Year: Notre Dame
Notre Dame entered March Madness as a #1 seed and won all of their regional games by at least two possessions. In the Final Four, they met the dominant UConn Huskies. While the Huskies were heavily favored, someone forgot to tell ND. Arike Ogunbowale made one of the year's best plays when she hit a buzzer beater to sink UConn and then did it all over again in the finals against Mississippi State.
Individual Sports
Female Golfer of the Year: Ariya Jutanugarn
Jutanugarn becomes the first golfer, male or female, to win Golfer of the Year twice. She does so after a phenomenal 2018 LPGA Tour that saw her be named Rolex Player of the Year, lead the money list, and win three events (which was tied for first with our 2017 Female Golfer of the Year, Sung Hyun Park).
2017 Winner: Sung Hyun Park
2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn
Male Golfer of the Year: Brooks Koepka
In terms of media coverage, few athletes (let alone golfers) got more press coverage than Tiger Woods. Regardless, Koepka is more than deserving of this award. He won the Jack Nicklaus Award for PGA Tour Player of the Year, was fifth in prize money, was named PGA Player of the Year, won the PGA Championship, and won his second-straight U.S. Open.
2017 Winner: Justin Thomas
2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth
Female Tennis Player of the Year: Simona Halep
If you didn't believe Halep was one of the top female players in the world going into 2018, you definitely believe it now. The prize money leader of the 2018 WTA Tour spent the entire year ranked at either #1 or #2 and reached six tournament finals.
2017 Winner: Caroline Wozniacki
2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams
Male Tennis Player of the Year: Novak Djokovic
The Serbian tennis ace had a bit of a resurgence in 2018, as he finished the year ranked #1, the first time he had done so since 2015. He achieved that ranking by reaching seven tournament finals (tied for Roger Federer for first), led the ATP in points and money, and was named player of the year.
2017 Winner: Rafael Nadal
2016 Winner: Andy Murray
Female Swimmer of the Year: Katie Ledecky
Ledecky reclaims her throne after a fantastic 2018 that saw her covered in awards. She was named Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year for the fifth time in six years, was named the Swimming World American Swimmer of the Year for the sixth year in a row, and won three individual titles in the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. On top of that, 2018 was her first year as a professional swimmer.
2017 Winner: Sarah Sjostrom
2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky
Male Swimmer of the Year: Adam Peaty
The British Peaty is the first non-American to win this award, but fans of swimming will know his name. He put in notable performances at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships, all which helped him win his fifth straight Swimming World European Swimmer of the Year.
2017 Winner: Caeleb Dressel
2016 Winner: Michael Phelps
Soccer
Premier League Team of the Year: Manchester City
Manchester City wins this award after winning their third Premier League title with five games to spare. They've carried that momentum over into the 2018-2019 season. At the time of writing, they sit second behind Liverpool. Manchester City also experienced success in the Champions League. They will play FC Shalke 04 in the Round of 16 next month.
2017 Winner: Chelsea
2016 Winner: Leicester City
Male Player of the Year: Luka Modric
If there was one athlete who had a breakout year in 2018, it was Modric. The midfield captained Croatia all the way to the World Cup finals while capturing the hearts of fans all over the world. His success didn't stop there, as he won the 2018 Ballon d'Or (thus becoming the first person not named Ronald or Messi to win the award since 2007), won the World Cup Golden Ball, and won the Champions League with club Real Madrid.
2017 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi
Premier League Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Mo Salah solidified his spot as one of the best footballers in the world with a phenomenal 2017-2018 Premier League season. He was the leading goal scorer, fifth in assists, and was named Premier League Player of the Season. While Liverpool did not win the title in 2018, they are currently the favorites to do so in 2019.
2017 Winner: Harry Kane
Female Player of the Year: Wang Shuang
Shuang is the first Asian player to win this award and does so after being named AFC Women's Football of the Year, becoming the first Chinese player to win the award since 2006. She also helped China win the 2018 Four Nations Tournament.
2017 Winner: Lieke Martens
2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd
MLS Player of the Year: Josef Martinez, Atlanta United FC
Anyone who followed MLS this year will not be surprised with this pick. Not only did he set the single-season record for most goals scored in a season, he won the 2018 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. Martinez also experienced success in the postseason as Atlanta United FC won the 2018 MLS Cup. No points for guessing who the MVP was.
2017 Winner: Diego Valeri
2016 Winner: David Villa
MLS Team of the Year: Atlanta United FC
As I wrote above, Atlanta United FC won the 2019 MLS Cup. They did so after defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0. During the regular season, they finished second in the Eastern Conference behind only New York Red Bulls.
2017 Winner: Toronto FC
2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders
Men's National Team of the Year: France
France is the easy choice after hoisting the World Cup trophy during the summer of 2018. They emerged from the Group Stage unbeaten (although they did draw with Denmark) and in the knockout stage, they defeated Argentina, Uruguay, Belgium, and Croatia.
2017 Winner: Germany
2016 Winner: Argentina
Women's National Team of the Year: United States
The American women spent all of 2018 ranked #1 in the FIFA world rankings. In fact, they've been ranked #1 since 2015. The fact that they went undefeated in 2018 might have helped keep that top spot. They are also the current favorites to win the FIFA Women's World Cup this year.
General Awards:
Legend of the Year: Sir Roger Bannister
This year we lost one of the all-time great runners. The Englishman was the first person to ever run a mile in less than four minutes, doing so when he was just 25 years old in 1954. That year, Sports Illustrated named him their first-ever Sportsman of the Year, creating a tradition that endures to this day. He passed away last March at the age of 2018.
2017 Winner: Ara Parseghian
2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant
Moment of the Year: Tua Tagovailoa Arrives
They say that an overnight sensation takes ten years in the making. And while Tua Tagovailoa did put in years of hard work, he was made in just half of a football game. Before a national audience, Tua stepped off the sidelines and helped engineer a comeback for Alabama in the national championship game. There were fans in Tuscaloosa who weren't even aware of Tua, and now the entire world knew his name. If that's not a star-making moment, I don't know what is.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros win the World Series
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series
Upset of the Year: #16 UMBC beats #1 Virginia
March Madness is a cultural institution. Every year, fans around the globe tune in for weeks of mayhem and great basketball. While there are huge upsets every year, one thing has remained constant: a #16 seed has never beaten a #1 seed. That makes perfect sense, a #1 seed is one of the best teams in the country while a #16 seed is happy to just be there.
Going into this game, no one gave UMBC a chance. Most basketball fans had never even heard of them while Virginia was picked by many (including myself unfortunately) to win the national championship. Instead, UMBC beat Virginia 74-54 and shocked the world. Nothing is a guarantee anymore.
2017 Winner: Mississippi beats UConn in the Final Four
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers come back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey
Play of the Year: Arike Ogunbowale's Back-to-Back Game Winners
This was a tough call between this and the Minneapolis Miracle, but context proved a decisive tie-breaker. Ogunbowale hit game winners in both the Final Four and title game to lift Notre Dame to a national championship. And while the Minneapolis Miracle did allow the Minnesota Vikings to beat the New Orleans Saints, they ended up getting manhandled by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game.
We also have to take into consideration the fact that Ogunbowale did it in back-to-back games. No one expected her to hit the shot against UConn and sink the best team in the country. She followed that up by hitting an even crazier shot in the title game against Mississippi State. It wasn't as if she was wide-open, Ogunbowale was well defended and her three-point shot attempt was wobbly at best. How she hit that shot is beyond anyone, I suppose that's just what elite athletes do.
2017 Winner: Julian Edelman's Super Bowl Catch
2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title
Franchise of the Year: Vegas Golden Knights
They may have not won a championship in 2018, but the Golden Knights were definitely the top team of 2018. Throughout the history of the four U.S. major sports leagues (NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB), expansion teams have usually been dreadful for their first few years of existence. For example, let's consider the NFL's Houston Texans, who had their first season in 2002. They did not make the playoffs until their tenth season and finished dead last in their division five of their first six seasons. Based on history alone, no one expected much of the Knights in their inaugural season.
The Golden Knights began their first season in 2017 with three straight wins (an NHL record for expansion teams) while also trying to heal the community after the tragic October 1st shooting. They ended up winning their division and became the first Big 4 expansion team to win their division in their inaugural season. Their success didn't stop there, as they overcame the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets to advance to the Stanley Cup. Yes, they did fall in five games to the Capitals, but they were never supposed to be there in the first place. This is a team that overcame every single obstacle to nearly win a championship in their first real year of existence.
2017 Winner: Houston Astros
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors
Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
This was an incredibly tough decision, as there were so many worthy contenders. I puzzled over this award for days and considered giving it to worthy athletes such as Justify, Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes. It wasn't until I stumbled upon an article by FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine that I finally decided on Betts. Using their Elo metric (which can be used across all sports), they found that the Boston Red Sox were the best team of 2018. The best athlete: Betts, Boston's biggest star. Thus, let's all congratulate the Sports Examiner's 2018 Sports Star of the Year: Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.
2017 Winner: Jose Altuve
2016 Winner: US Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh
Thanks for reading everyone.
