In honor of ASU’s standout season and berth in the 12-team CFP, here is a look back on 12 other remarkable sports moments or achievements from Arizona’s public universities. Men’s basketball’s first NCAA national title: The Wildcats won their first NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1997, defeating Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to solidify the program as […]
In honor of ASU’s standout season and berth in the 12-team CFP, here is a look back on 12 other remarkable sports moments or achievements from Arizona’s public universities.
Men’s basketball’s first NCAA national title: The Wildcats won their first NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1997, defeating Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to solidify the program as one of the nation’s elite. Arizona has 34 tournament appearances in the last 39 years, with four runs to the Final Four.Women’s All-Sports Trophy: NAU won the Big Sky Women’s All-Sports Trophy for the 11th time in 2023 and for the third year in a row. The Lumberjacks won seven conference championships across the eight women’s varsity sports during the 2023 campaign. They were runner-up for the Women’s All-Sports honor in 2024.We know there are many other great moments in the history of athletics at Arizona’s public universities. If we missed your favorite, please share with us on social media. Women’s golf on top of the leaderboard: The ASU women’s golf team won its eighth national championship in 2017, more than any other program, adding to its dominance in the sport and reaffirming its status as the nation’s best. Northern Arizona University Men’s basketball’s first dance: The Lumberjacks men’s basketball team made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 1998. NAU nearly upset No. 2 seed Cincinnati in the first round, losing 65-62.
Men’s cross country’s half a dozen national titles: NAU has won six NCAA Division I team national championships, all in men’s cross country. The program won the six titles in seven years with a pair of three-peats from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2022. The six national championships are tied for the fourth-most of any men’s Division I cross country program in the nation. Football’s 10-win season: The Wildcats football program put together a standout campaign in 2023, winning 10 games for the fourth time in school history. The season concluded with a 38-24 victory over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, earning U of A the No. 11 national ranking in the season’s final poll.
Women’s tennis perfect score: ASU women’s tennis has earned a perfect 1,000 score all 15 years of the NCAA Academic Progress Rate program – a term-by-term measure of how student-athletes are performing academically – the only team in the sport to achieve this feat among Division I power conferences.
Men’s swimming and diving reigning national champions: The Sun Devils men’s swimming and diving team won the 2024 NCAA championship in March, the first in program history after finishing runner-up in 2023. The team broke nine school records and three NCAA records enroute to the title. “I am thrilled to see the Sun Devils make history as one of the inaugural College Football Playoff qualifiers. Coach Dillingham’s leadership and his talented program have brought immense pride to ASU and our state,” said Regent Gregg Brewster, who is an ASU alum and Trustee Board member. “This achievement also spotlights the incredible accomplishments of all our student-athletes across Arizona’s public universities. I look forward to celebrating many more.” Head coach Kenny Dillingham was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year, and 11 ASU players received All-Conference honors. The decorated Sun Devils (11-2) will face Texas in the CFP quarterfinals on New Year’s Day in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. While ASU celebrates this milestone moment, it is one of many standout athletics achievements across Arizona’s public universities. From the University of Arizona’s softball dominance to Northern Arizona University’s cross country dynasty, each institution has its own unique story of success.
By JASON GONZALEZ Baseball team’s first College World Series title: ASU won the 1969 College World Series, it’s third national title in five years, marking the rise of a dominant program that has gone on to earn 21 College World Series appearances. “The achievements of Arizona’s public universities, including Arizona State University’s historic football season, demonstrate the incredible talent, dedication and perseverance of our student-athletes, coaches and staff,” Arizona Board of Regents Chair Cecilia Mata said. “We’re proud to celebrate ASU’s success and the remarkable athletic achievements at Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona, showcasing the excellence of our state.” Women’s triathlon racing to the top: One year after debuting its program, the women’s triathlon team won the 2024 USA national championship. U of A racers claimed two of the three podium spots, finishing second and third in individual competition. This is the first national title for the university since women’s golf won in 2018. Twelve remarkable athletics achievements from Arizona’s public universities Softball dominance: The Wildcats won their first of eight national championships in 1991, one of five titles celebrated during the 1990s. They have since established a premiere program, tied for the second-most softball NCAA national championships. The Wildcats have 25 Women’s College World Series appearances and carried a 35-year streak of consecutive NCAA tournament bids from 1987 to 2022. University of Arizona Arizona State University’s football team made history in 2024 as one of 12 teams to qualify for the inaugural College Football Playoff. The Sun Devils won the Big 12 championship in their first year in the conference, earning a first-round bye and the No. 4 seed in the long-desired tournament-like college football postseason. Women’s swimming and diving making a big splash: NAU women’s swimming and diving team won the 2024 Western Athletic Conference championship, extending its conference winning streak to 11 seasons, from 2014 to 2024. Arizona State University
