With the holiday season upon us and the new year right around the corner, now is the time to reflect on the year we have had in Pittsburgh sports. From volleyball to basketball to soccer, there is a lot to unpack. It was a year full of ups and downs, but things are looking up heading into the new year.

Baseball

Possibly the brightest spot of the year was the Pirates’ rookie phenom Paul Skenes. Skenes was the number one pick in the 2023 MLB draft. After spending a short time in the minor leagues, he was called up to the Pirates, where he started lighting up the league. Skenes picked up a 1.96 ERA on his way to being named the National League Rookie of the Year. Every Pirates fan hopes Skenes will stay here for a long time, and the whole league knows he will continue to be a dominant force.
Sadly, the rest of the Pirates are looking subpar as usual. The Pirates went 76-86 en route to another season without making the playoffs. The Pirates scored an abysmal 665 runs, the sixth-lowest total in the league. The Pirates' struggles over the past few years lead many to wonder if some changes are needed up the ladder, maybe even at the top.

Football

It has been a strange year for Pittsburgh football. The Steelers ended the ‘23-‘24 season with another playoff loss, extending their playoff losing streak. With Kenny Pickett sadly being a bust, the Steelers were on a hunt for a new quarterback during the offseason; they found two. They acquired Justin Fields from the Bears and Russel Wilson from the Broncos. Fields started the ‘24-‘25 season as their quarterback while Wilson was sidelined with an injury. The season started a bit rocky, and Fields did not look too hot, but then Wilson became healthy. The nine-time Pro Bowler stepped into his new role and has been leading the charge ever since. With a great defense, Wilson, and George Pickens, the Steelers have looked good so far this season.

On the college side, it has been even stranger. The University of Pittsburgh Panthers started their season by winning seven straight, an incredible achievement, due in no small part to first-year Panther running back Desmond Reid. However, things then took a sharp turn. To finish the season, the Panthers lost their last five. The end of the season was ugly and concerning, begging the question, what does next year hold?

Hockey

On the ice, Pittsburgh hockey has been relatively forgettable over this past year. The Penguins are continuing their streak of mediocrity, and it does not look like it’s stopping any time soon. However, there were some bright spots – most notably Sidney Crosby notching his 600th career goal.

Basketball

While there still is no professional basketball in the city, collegiate basketball has had a stellar year. The Pitt Panthers looked good all year and are looking even stronger heading into the new season. In the ‘23-’24 season, the Panthers were led by eventual first-round draft pick Bub Carrington. This season, they are led by stellar sophomore guard Jaland Lowe. While there still is a while to go before the Panthers are championship contenders, the program looks strong and healthy. It was not just the Panthers that made an impact in the ‘23-’24 season, but also the Duquesne Dukes, who notched an NCAA tournament bid. After winning the Atlantic 10 championship, the Dukes made some noise in the tournament by upsetting sixth-seeded BYU in the first round before losing to three-seed Illinois. The past year has been great for Pittsburgh collegiate basketball, and we can look forward to more in the years to come.

The Dukes after their A-10 championship. Photo courtesy of https://goduquesne.com/news/2024/6/19/mens-basketball-vote-for-the-dukes-for-the-2024-nil-store-awards.aspx

Volleyball

The big four sports were not the only source of noise in Pittsburgh sports this year. The University of Pittsburgh Women's Volleyball team may have been the biggest source of pride in the ‘burgh this year. After notching an NCAA tournament bid last season, they returned even stronger this season. They went 29-1 on their path to clinching the ACC championship. The team is led by ACC Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, but they are incredibly well-rounded, with all seven starters being named all-conference. The Panthers were slotted as the first seed in this season’s NCAA tournament, and although they lost to Louisville in the final four, the Panthers had an incredible season.

Pitt Volleyball awards courtesy of: https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2024/12/2/womens-volleyball-babcock-and-fisher-earn-major-acc-awards-seven-panthers-named-to-all-acc-teams.aspx

Soccer

The soccer scene in Pittsburgh is also blossoming. A new team is coming to the pitch in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Riveters SC will be coming in 2025. The Riveters will represent Pittsburgh in the USL W League. On the collegiate side, it was a phenomenal year for Pitt men’s soccer. The Panthers made the National tournament in the ‘24 season and had a great run before losing to Vermont In the quarterfinals.

Despite a roller coaster of a year, the future of Pittsburgh sports is looking bright. It appears that many of the teams are returning to their former glory, and the city of champions is looking to claim some more gold. 2024 could have been better, but all of Pittsburgh is hoping for a phenomenal year in 2025.