Well January 2021 didn’t exactly go as swimmingly as we had all hoped for did it? 🤦🏼♂ But at least the world of sports never disappoints us! In fact there was so much awesome action to get through that narrowing it down to just 11 sports highlights was REALLY tough. Let’s see who and what made the cut…
1) New Year’s Day Heroics 🏈
Right on January first we saw Alabama Crimson Tide’s running back Najee Harris hurdle his way into the New Year with an audacious leap against Notre Dame. Brilliant!
THIS NAJEE HARRIS HURDLE 😱 #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/3qiYJq9wPi
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2021
2) Sixty Two! 🤯🏀
Steph Curry started the new NBA season in sensational form following his injury hit 2020. This was demonstrated best by his performance vs the Blazers where must have activated ‘God Mode’ as he scored 62 points!!
All of Steph Curry’s 62 points vs. the Blazers.
A new career high in an unbelievable performance 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sWZID5RNbc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2021
It marked a new career high for Curry as he joined Klay Thompson as the only Warriors to score 55+ points in a game over the last 30 seasons.
3) Dancing Doncic 🕺🏀
Another NBA star who’s just a joy to watch is Luka Doncic. Here he is in early January just having a whole lot of fun…
That’s TUFF 😱#MFFL | @luka7doncic pic.twitter.com/U9r6IO6EsI
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 2, 2021
4) ̶E̶n̶g̶l̶i̶s̶h̶ Emotional Premier League 😢⚽
You may be forgiven for thinking Southampton’s manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl had just won a cup final with his team. Well in a way a victory over Liverpool in recent times has indeed felt like that for many managers I’m sure.
When your players give everything for you on the pitch, sometimes the emotion takes over. Amazing scenes!
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝟭 – 0 Liverpool #SOULIV #SaintsFC #Hasenhuettl pic.twitter.com/6LeqQ3zHI8
— WSC Sports (@WSC_Sports) January 5, 2021
Former Reds striker Danny Ings was the man to score the only goal of the game, in the second minute, and after going in front the Southampton players put in an epic performance to keep out Liverpool for the rest of the game, something that clearly meant a great deal to their manager.
5) Trophy Time 🎾🏆
Next up we take a look at one of the first trophies to be won in 2021 that more than deserves a mention. Powerful Belarusian star, Aryna Sabalenka, secured her third title in a row at the WTA Women’s Tennis Open in Abu Dhabi with some stunning performances. Here’s the moment she beat Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the final…
15th consecutive win
3rd title in a row
9th title overall 🏆@SabalenkaA defeats Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2 for the title!#AbuDhabiWTA pic.twitter.com/MX6Od7P3xZ— wta (@WTA) January 13, 2021
6) India’s Stunning Test Series Win 🏏
Despite notable key player absentees for selection, tourists India inflicted Australia’s first defeat at Brisbane’s ‘Gabba’ Cricket Ground since 1988, winning a truly remarkable test series in the process and keeping hold of the Border-Gavaskar trophy…
#India end #Australia‘s 32-year unbeaten streak at the #Gabba to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 🏆🇮🇳#AUSvIND #AUSvsINDpic.twitter.com/LgptI6U94c
— WSC Sports (@WSC_Sports) January 19, 2021
Test cricket at its best.
Our camera was there to capture all the emotion as India pulled off a victory for the ages at the Gabba #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/V3QchmOklA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
7) FA Cup Magic 🧙♂️⚽
Games don’t get much bigger than Manchester United vs Liverpool and that exact fixture was drawn in the FA Cup 4th round. Following an uninspiring EPL clash a week earlier the FA Cup tie was a totally different affair. When there can only be one winner we expect to see goals, and some great football, and that what we got. At 2–2 it was always going to take something special to win the game for either side and that’s when Bruno Fernandes stepped up to show he’s a big game player and extremely talented footballer…
No stopping Bruno Fernandes 🔥#EmiratesFACup @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/gOCxdmJbOi
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 24, 2021
8) Spinning Tampa Touchdown 💫🏈
This stunning solo play that ended in a touchdown by Tampa’s Leonard Fournette in the NFL playoffs was a thing of beauty…
A spin move and broken tackle by Leonard Fournette puts Tampa back on top! #NFLPlayoffs #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsGB on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/wPo4V0UJ6C— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021
9) UFC 257 🥊
Dustin Poirier stunned fans around the world with his second round TKO victory over Conor McGregor. How did he manage to do it? A lot of powerful lower leg kicks took their toll on the Irishman opening him up for the final blow…
Stunner on Fight Island! Dustin Poirier scores a TKO over Conor McGregor. #UFC257 pic.twitter.com/gqxGIYw0Pa
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 24, 2021
DUSTIN POIRIER! 🗣
🎥 We slow down the epic rematch from #UFC257.
[ FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/ChGYK1khjW ] pic.twitter.com/XFua5Rthvi
— UFC (@ufc) January 26, 2021
10) NHL 🏒
When there’s nobody to pass to and there’s a bunch of players in your way then sometimes you just have to do it all by yourself. That was no problem for San Jose Sharks’ Brent Burns. Brilliant goal!
Brent Burns (@Burnzie88) comin’ in hot! pic.twitter.com/pVF88lyWTp
— NHL (@NHL) January 25, 2021
11) Basketball Bonus 🏀
Honestly there were so many basketball plays in January worthy of an entry above — it could have in fact just been a basketball article! So to honour those that didn’t quite make it, and to finish up, check out all these badboys… 🔥
DON’T JUMP WITH JOHN COLLINS 😤 pic.twitter.com/XwRKlXLSKR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 2, 2021
This Bradley Beal up-and-under 😯 pic.twitter.com/COEnfMltjg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2021
AARON GORDON POSTER ON GIANNIS pic.twitter.com/WBCESMj7Ns
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2021
ANTHONY EDWARDS FLOATED 😱 pic.twitter.com/4pav4HHooI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2021
OH MY KYRIE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jPQAiG13lp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 28, 2021
DAMIAN LILLARD WINS IT AT THE BUZZER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QmkwTgIByU
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 31, 2021
3⃣6⃣0⃣ pic.twitter.com/NNhF0DMNWM
— MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) January 31, 2021
Looking Ahead
If you enjoyed this sports highlights roundup be sure to check out the Best Plays of 2020 . You may not actually want to relive 2020, but at least there was some stunning sporting action!
There’s a 𝙃𝙐𝙂𝙀 month ahead for sports fans this February…
✅ #SixNations 🏉
✅ #SuperBowlLV 🏈
✅ #AustralianOpen 🎾
✅ #FIFAClubWorldCup ⚽
✅ #Daytona500 🏎️
✅ #ChampionsLeague ⚽#February | #SportsEvents | #SportsFans | #WSCSports— WSC Sports (@WSC_Sports) February 1, 2021
About WSC Sports
WSC Sports’ proprietary AI technology platform automates the creation of highlights for over 100 leagues and broadcast partners across the globe, which include the NHL, NBA, ESPN, YouTubeTV, FIBA, Eleven Sports, Nascar and Bleacher Report. WSC Sports enables partners to create a mass of highlights in real-time that can be distributed directly over social media and other digital channels, in addition to a wide range of innovative solutions to increase brand awareness, disrupt fan engagement & personalization and maximize monetization opportunities.
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