Games that shaped the decade in local sports

By Noah Frank
December 30, 2019 | 5:47 AM

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive back Dalton Baker #33 of the UNLV Rebels tackles running back Anthony Philyaw #7 of the Howard Bison from behind during their game at Sam Boyd Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Howard won 43-40. — <strong>20. Howard over UNLV</strong> In head coach Mike London's and freshman QB Caylin Newton’s first game together, the Howard Bison traveled 2,500 miles west with a new offense that caught everyone in Vegas off guard, including the casinos. As a 45-point underdog, not only did Howard compete, the Bison shocked the world with a 43-40 win, the largest upset against the spread in college football history. A $100 bet on the Bison <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Edholm/status/904203132045053952" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would have paid a stunning $71,500</a>. Only a little more than two years later, though, the excitement of that game has fully worn off, with London and Newton both off to greener pastures.

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 05: Morgan Tuck #3 of the Connecticut Huskies shoots against Shatori Walker-Kimbrough #32 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena on April 5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. — <strong>11. Maryland vs. UConn, 2015 NCAA Tournament</strong> Few programs have enjoyed as much success as Maryland has under Brenda Frese. But the Terrapins have never toppled UConn, even in their 2006 national title run. That year started a decade of dominance by the Terps team, which made five Elite Eights and three Final Fours. But the 2014-15 squad, sitting on a school record-tying 34 wins and a perfect 18-0 conference record, had to face UConn to reach the national title game. With a chance to finally beat Geno Auriemma, they were walloped, 81-58. While they’ve returned to the NCAA Tournament and won a game every year since, they’ve reached the Sweet Sixteen just once in the last four years, and never advanced beyond that.

FILE - This April 28, 2010 file photo shows Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak, of Slovakia, celebrating the team's 2-1 win as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates off after Game 7 of the NHL hockey playoff series in Washington. — <strong>9. Caps collapse against Canadiens in 2010</strong> The Washington Capitals have never had a better regular season than in 2009-10, collecting 121 points, the seventh-highest total in NHL history at the time. They had advanced to the conference semis the prior season and seemed to be building into a powerhouse as they entered their now-defunct 1-8 conference quarterfinal matchup with the Montreal Canadiens who, at 39-33-10, seemed to have little business in the postseason. After an overtime loss at home in Game 1, the Caps reeled off three straight wins, including 5-1 and 6-3 road victories in Montreal. Then, they outshot Montreal 134-64 over the final three games of the series, but managed just a single goal in each, losing all three. Later eliminations at the hands of the Penguins may have stung more, but this one cast the spell of playoff defeat that wouldn’t be broken until 2018.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: Katie Ledecky of the United States reacts after winning the Women's 800m Freestyle Final on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre on August 3, 2012 in London, England. — <strong>6. Katie Ledecky 800m in London</strong> It can be hard to remember now, but Ledecky was just 15 when she stunned home favorite and world record-holder Rebecca Adlington — in front of god, and country, and the Royal Family, no less — in a race that’s supposed to be for the veterans of the sport. She had a shot at a medal, sure, but nothing like this, nothing like the announcement that this wasn’t anyone else’s pool but hers. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHbNKX3VkIM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just listen to the announcers</a> — at no point are they framing it as Ledecky’s race until 600 meters in. The only thing that would elude Ledecky that day was the world record — just — but not for long. While the 2012 result didn’t produce the kind of stunning visuals of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAGXNs0MXzI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">her dominant 2016 swim</a>, it reset the pecking order in the pool, so long as Ledecky’s on the blocks. Ledecky will never sneak up on anyone again … but good luck catching her.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: The St. Louis Cardinals run on the field to celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals 9-7 in Game Five of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 12, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Cardinals advance to take on the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series. — <strong>5. Game 5, 2012</strong> If the Caps had primed the pump to fuel the narrative of D.C. as a long-suffering sports town, the District’s baseball team cranked open the valve on Oct. 12, 2012. Not 24 hours after the greatest moment in franchise history to date — Jayson Werth’s epic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YifK0wy7QIc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">walk-off, game-winning, season-saving home run</a> — the Nats rocketed out to a 6-0 lead against Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals, only to watch the life drip out of the game and the innocence of the first winning season in Washington. It was all capped by a nightmarish ninth inning that seemed to inform <a href="https://wtop.com/sports-columns/2017/10/incredible-impossible-inevitable-yes-the-nats-lost-in-game-5-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">every future Game 5 and playoff elimination to follow</a>. It was the game that had to be overcome, but never was, for seven more years.

Washington Mystics guard Elena Delle Donne (11) is helped up by fellow players and taken out of Game 2 of a WNBA semifinals basketball playoff after going down against the Atlanta Dream during the second half, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, in Atlanta. The Dream won 78-75. — <strong>4. Elena Delle Donne’s knee injury, 2018 WNBA Semifinals</strong> The Washington Mystics looked to finally have all the pieces in place to win a title in 2018 until suddenly, it all flashed before their eyes. After a monster 27-point, 14-rebound Game 1, driving the lane in the Eastern Conference Finals against Atlanta, Elena Delle Donne’s left leg planted and skidded, her knee bending the wrong way. A season full of promise that looked like it might actually deliver the franchise’s first title was dashed. But the resiliency the Mystics showed, fighting through injuries just to make the WNBA Finals, became the foundation for their rallying cry, to “run it back” the following year. There were plenty of bumps and bruises in 2019 as well, but nothing that could stop Washington’s title run, Delle Donne celebrating under the mask, and the confetti, on her new home floor.

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This decade of local sports has been defined by some of the highest highs, lowest lows and the dramatic swings between them. Heartbreak, redemption and a championship would make for a full decade for any team, never mind that several around these parts can lay claim to all of the above.

But which games will we remember, that shaped the arcs our teams traveled? Here are 20 that defined the 2010s.

An inside look at final preparations for Freedom 250 Grand Prix in DC

By Luke Lukert
August 20, 2026 | 2:35 PM

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix in D.C. is just days away. It is causing traffic headaches for drivers as dozens of roads are closed near the track that circles part of the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue. More roads are closing as the big race approaches. It is the first time an IndyCar race has been held on the streets of the nation’s capital. With this “once in a lifetime race nearing,” WTOP’s Luke Lukert was on Pennsylvania Avenue learning about last-minute preparations for the 250-mile race.

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