Creating magic: The greatest moments in US sports in 2015
Many highlights from US sports in 2015 will live long in the memory. Jose Bautista's 3-run homer and bat toss for the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami's insane 8-lateral kick-off return against Duke are just two stand-outs from a superb year.
Serena Williams sparked Grand Slam talk after winning Wimbledon and the French and Australian Opens. A US Open semi-final against Italy's Roberta Vinci should have been a walk in the park, but Williams blew a one-set lead to send New York and the rest of the world into a state of shock.
READ MORE: Djokovic and Williams reign supreme in 2015 despite shock defeats
Steph Curry's emergence as a superstar to rival LeBron James was cemented as he led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Championship title. Curry has continued to hog the headlines this season as the Warriors have lost just once in 30 games in pursuit of the 72-10 regular season record held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
US golf fans mourning Tiger Woods' demise have been cheered by Jordan Spieth's arrival on the world stage. His audacious flop shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters set the foundations for Spieth to claim the famous Green Jacket. His subsequent US Open victory and near miss at the British Open mark Spieth down as one to watch in 2016.
READ MORE: Youngsters Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko take golfing world by storm
MLB saw the Kansas City Royals return from years in the wilderness to claim the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets. Backed by a rowdy fanbase, this was a victory that gave hope to all the franchises across the leagues currently starved of success.
READ MORE: 2015 World Series: Kansas City Royals beat New York Mets 4-1
Whether you love them or hate them, the NFL's New England Patriots just can't be ignored. From winning the Super Bowl title after the Seattle Seahawks' odd playcall to the Deflategate scandal surrounding Tom Brady, the Patriots continue to be the benchmark in the NFL.
Women's soccer still struggles for recognition, but the US women's national team did their best to break down barriers with a stirring Wold Cup win. Carli Lloyd's 57-yard goal against Japan in the final was the icing on the cake, and was followed by a triumphant homecoming and a trip to the White House to meet President Obama.
While humans provided the majority of 2015's best moments, it was a horse which truly united a nation. America's Triple Crown is an elusive prize which hadn't been completed since Affirmed in 1978. American Pharoah's march to glory in the Belmont is spine-tingling, goosebumps sport at its best.
The stars of the NHL also gave us a 2015 to remember, with Washington Capitals' forward Alexander Ovechkin's super snipe on his knees against the New York Rangers defying belief.
The Chicago Blackhawks claimed the Stanley Cup for the third time in six years, but nothing they did on the ice matches what they did off it with one fan. A truly magical moment from a magical year.
