Now that ASU's 2024-2025 academic year has come to an end, we'd like to take a look back on some of the biggest sports moments caught on camera from these past two semesters. From flying out to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta to covering games on the ASU campus, The State Press has captured numerous exciting moments in stadiums and arenas.
Football
After going 3-9 last year in the Pac-12, things were looking rough for the Sun Devils. This year, to the surprise of many, ASU football – lead by Head Coach Kenny Dillingham – went 11-3 in their overall season. After winning big against UA, BYU and Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship, fans were hungry for more. Despite a disappointing loss to Texas in the Peach Bowl, ASU football saw highs that haven't been seen in years. Sam Leavitt and Cam Skattebo became stand out players this season, with the latter graduating from ASU as the Peach Bowl's Offensive MVP.
Baseball
The Sun Devils had a strong season under the guidance of head coach Willie Bloomquist, ending with a 36-24 record, going 18-12 in conference play and making it into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. While they were pushed out by UC Irvine in their third day of regional ball, the team had strong batters and pitchers throughout the season. Senior infielder Matt King ended with a .403 batting average and 7 home runs; along with that, a constant rotation of pitchers contributed from the mound.
READ MORE: ASU pitching staff showing signs of improvement despite inconsistency
Softball
A combined effort from a large freshman class and veteran players resulted in a big season for the Sun Devils under head coach Megan Bartlett. The team went 35-21 overall and saw a run for the Big 12 Championship, which included pulling an upset over No. 23 Oklahoma State. ASU fell in the semifinals, but their season wasn't over just yet. The team then received a bid in the NCAA Tournament, although they only lived to play two games, which both resulted in losses.
Basketball
It was a tumultuous season for men's basketball, which finished 13-20 overall and suffered a bleak 4-16 record in conference play. Freshman players Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon, both big catalysts in the team's offense this season, hit the transfer portal for the next year. Because of this, incoming transfers and freshman are going to play a crucial role in reshaping the team. Along with the influx of losses, a key player was dismissed from the team for conduct issues. Additionally, there are mixed emotions in the Sun Devil community about head coach Bobby Hurley remaining at the helm.
READ MORE: Opinion: Bobby Hurley has done great work for ASU, but it's time to look for another coach
The women's basketball team faced similar challenges, going 10-22 overall and 3-15 in conference play. Along with their record, the team faced issues with head coach Natasha Adair, as she was fired this year after three seasons of work. She will be replaced this upcoming season by GCU's former head coach, Molly Miller .
READ MORE: 'Is it season yet?' ASU introduces women's basketball head coach Molly Miller
Hockey
Men's hockey had a solid season this past year, ending 21-14-2 and going 16-10-1 their first year in the NCHC conference. The team also saw success on the defensive end, boasting strong penalty kills and goalies in the net. The Sun Devils fought all the way to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinals – ultimately losing to Denver – but they couldn't secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament between their ranking and selection committee methods.
Volleyball
The Sun Devils had a dominating 2024 season, accumulating an astounding 30-3 overall record and 17-1 Big 12 record. Head coach JJ Van Niel has cultivated a team with a strong dedication and work ethic over his past two years at the helm, using his experience as a consultant coach for the U.S. Women's National team and as a scouting coach for an Olympic squad. The team became the Big 12 champions of this season, securing their first conference title in team history and the first Big 12 title for all Sun Devil Athletics. ASU saw some action in the NCAA Tournament, but fell to No. 6 seed Texas A&M.
READ MORE: ASU volleyball's success on the court reflects life off it
Edited by Neha Ponnapalli and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporters at mamareng@asu.edu and katrinamic03@gmail.com and follow @matthewmarengo and @katrinamichalak on X.
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Matthew is a junior studying journalism and mass communications with a minor in political science. He has previously worked for The Cut Network and has interned with the Student Television Network. He is in his 4th Semester with The State Press working previously as Multimedia Managing Editor and a Full Time Videographer.
Katrina is a junior studying journalism. This is her fifth semester with The State Press. She has interned with The Arizona Republic and is currently a digital reporter with Cronkite News.
