2016 in sports describes the year's events in world sport. The main highlight for this year is the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The year is considered by many to be the greatest year in sports history, featuring many underdog stories, huge comebacks, broken curses and exciting and historic moments.
Calendar by month January February March April May June July August September October November December
Air sports
Alpine skiing
Amateur boxing
American football
Super Bowl 50 – the Denver Broncos (AFC) won 24–10 over the Carolina Panthers (NFC) Location: Levi's Stadium Attendance: 71,088 MVP: Von Miller, LB (Denver)
Aquatics
Archery November 21, 2015 – September 17, 2016: 2015–16 World Archery Federation Events Page
2016 Summer Olympics (WA) August 5 – 12: 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro at the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí Men's individual: Ku Bon-chan; Jean-Charles Valladont; Brady Ellison Men's team: ; ; Women's individual: Chang Hye-jin; Lisa Unruh; Ki Bo-bae Women's team: ; ;
Indoor archery November 21 & 22, 2015: IA World Cup #1 in Marrakesh (junior & senior individual events) and won 2 gold medals each. won the overall medal tally. December 9 & 10, 2015: IA World Cup #2 in Bangkok (senior individual events only) Men's recurve winner: Brady Ellison Women's recurve winner: Aída Román Men's compound winner: Reo Wilde Women's compound winner: Toja Cerne January 15 – 17: IA World Cup #3 in Nîmes (junior & senior individual events) Men's recurve winner: Luca Melotto Women's recurve winner: Guendalina Sartori Men's compound winner: Braden Gellenthien Women's compound winner: Linda Ochoa-Anderson and won 2 gold medals each. Italy won the overall medal tally. January 29 – 31: IA World Cup #4 (final) in Las Vegas Men's recurve winner: Brady Ellison Women's recurve winner: Khatuna Lorig Men's compound winner: Jesse Broadwater Women's compound winner: Sarah Holst Sonnichsen March 1 – 6: 2016 World Indoor Archery Championships in Ankara won both the gold and overall medal tallies.
Outdoor archery January 28 – 31: 2016 African Archery Championships in Windhoek won both the gold and overall medal tallies. April 26 – May 1: WA World Cup #1 in Shanghai Men's recurve winner: Sjef van den Berg Women's recurve winner: JU Hye-bhin Men's compound winner: Mike Schloesser Women's compound winner: Sara López May 9 – 15: WA World Cup #2 in Medellín Men's recurve winner: Brady Ellison Women's recurve winner: Choi Mi-sun Men's compound winner: Sergio Pagni Women's compound winner: Sara López May 23 – 29: 2016 European Archery Championships in Nottingham Men's recurve winner: Jean-Charles Valladont Women's recurve winner: Veronika Marchenko Men's compound winner: Stephan Hansen Women's compound winner: Sarah Prieels June 1 – 5: World University Archery Championship in Ulaanbaatar Men's recurve winner: Galsan Bazarzhapov Women's recurve winner: Kang Chae-young Men's compound winner: Kim Jong-ho Women's compound winner: Ko Soyoung June 13 – 19: WA World Cup #3 in Antalya Men's recurve winner: Lee Seung-yun Women's recurve winner: Choi Mi-sun Men's compound winner: Evren Çağıran Women's compound winner: Sara López September 24 & 25: WA World Cup #4 (final) in Odense Men's recurve winner: Brady Ellison Women's recurve winner: Ki Bo-bae Men's compound winner: Mike Schloesser Women's compound winner: Marcella Tonioli Mixed team recurve winners: Mixed team compound winners: September 27 – October 2: 2016 World Archery Field Championships in Dublin and the won 5 gold medals each. Italy won the overall medal tally.
Association football
Athletics (track and field)
Badminton
Bandy
Baseball
Major League Baseball April 3 – October 2: 2016 Major League Baseball season American League winner: Cleveland Indians National League winner: Chicago Cubs June 9 – 11: 2016 Major League Baseball draft in Secaucus, New Jersey #1 pick: Mickey Moniak to the Philadelphia Phillies from La Costa Canyon High School July 12: 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego at Petco Park Winners: American League MVP: Eric Hosmer ( Kansas City Royals) Home Run Derby: Giancarlo Stanton ( Miami Marlins) October 25 – November 2: 2016 World Series The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians, 4–3 in games played, to win their third World Series title. Notably, this ended the longest championship drought in the history of North American sports at 108 years.
WBSC July 29 – August 7: 2016 WBSC 15U Baseball World Cup in Iwaki, Fukushima defeated , 9–4, to win their second consecutive and sixth overall WBSC 15U Baseball World Cup title. The took the bronze medal. September 3 – 11: 2016 Women's Baseball World Cup in Gijang County (Busan) defeated , 10–0, to win their fifth consecutive Women's Baseball World Cup title. took the bronze medal. October 28 – November 6: 2016 23U Baseball World Cup in Monterrey (replaces the 21U Baseball World Cup) defeated , 10–3, to win their first 23U Baseball World Cup title. took the bronze medal.
Little League Baseball July 26 – August 2: 2016 Big League World Series in Easley, South Carolina Tao-Yuan County Big LL (Team Asia-Pacific) defeated Kihei LL (Team West), 6–2, in the final. July 31 – August 6: 2016 Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine Clear Ridge LL (Team Central) defeated Southern Mariners LL (Team Asia-Pacific), 7–2, in the final. July 31 – August 7: 2016 Little League Intermediate (50/70) World Series in Livermore, California Central East Maui LL (Team West) defeated West Seoul LL (Team Asia-Pacific), 5–1, in the final. August 14 – 21: 2016 Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan Shing-Ming Junior LL (Team Asia-Pacific) defeated Kawaihau Community LL (Team West), 9–1, in the final. August 18 – 28: 2016 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania Maine-Endwell Little League (Team Mid-Atlantic) defeated East Seoul Little League (Team Asia-Pacific and Middle East), 2–1, in the final.
Basketball
2016 Summer Olympics (FIBA) January 15 – 17: Aquece Rio International Women's Basketball Tournament in Rio de Janeiro (Olympic Test Event) Overall, defeated in the final standings. took the bronze medal. August 6 – 21: 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro at the Olympic Training Center Men: United States; ; Women: ; ;
International FIBA championships June 1 – 5: 2016 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championships in Astana Men: defeated , 20–12, in the final. took the bronze medal. Women: defeated the , 21–12, in the final. took the bronze medal. June 13 – 19: 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in Nantes , , , , and all qualified to compete at Rio 2016. June 22 – July 3: 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Men and Women in Zaragoza Men: The defeated , 96–56, to win their fourth consecutive FIBA Under-17 World Championship title. took third place. Women: defeated , 62–38, to win their first FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women title. The took third place. July 4 – 9: FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament #1 in Turin has qualified to compete at Rio 2016. July 4 – 9: FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament #2 in Belgrade has qualified to compete at Rio 2016. July 5 – 10: FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament #3 in Manila has qualified to compete at Rio 2016. August 6 & 7: 2016 FIBA 3x3 Open Pacific Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland defeated NSW, 11–9, in the final. October 11 – 15: 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Guangzhou Men: defeated the , 21–16, in the final. took third place. Women: The defeated , 21–11, in the final. The took third place.
NBA October 27, 2015 – April 13, 2016: 2015–16 NBA season Top regular season team: Golden State Warriors MVP: Stephen Curry ( Golden State Warriors) February 14: 2016 NBA All-Star Game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto Note: This NBA All-Star Game was held outside the United States for the first time. The Western Conference (NBA) defeat the Eastern Conference (NBA) 196–173. MVP: Russell Westbrook ( Oklahoma City Thunder) NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: Team defeated Team 74–64. Rising Stars Challenge: Team USA defeated Team World 157–154. NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge winner: Karl-Anthony Towns ( Minnesota Timberwolves) Three-Point Contest winner: Klay Thompson ( Golden State Warriors) Slam Dunk Contest winner: Zach LaVine ( Minnesota Timberwolves) April 16 – June 19: 2016 NBA Playoffs The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors, 4–3 in games played, to win their first NBA title. MVP: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) June 23: 2016 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn (New York City) #1 pick: Ben Simmons to the Philadelphia 76ers from LSU
WNBA April 14: 2016 WNBA draft at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut #1: Breanna Stewart, from the Connecticut Huskies, to the Seattle Storm May 14 – September 18: 2016 WNBA season Eastern Conference Winners: New York Liberty Western Conference Winners: Minnesota Lynx September 21 – October 20: 2016 WNBA Playoffs The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Minnesota Lynx, 3–2 in games played, to win their third WNBA championship title.
NCAA March 15 – April 4: 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament (Final four at NRG Stadium in Houston) The Villanova Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels, 77–74, to win their second NCAA Men's Division I Basketball title. Most Outstanding Player: Ryan Arcidiacono (Villanova) March 19 – April 5: 2016 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament (Final four at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis) The Connecticut Huskies defeated the Syracuse Orange, 82–51, to win their fourth consecutive and 11th overall NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament title. The title was also the 11th for Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma, putting him ahead of John Wooden for the most Division I national titles for a head coach in either men's or women's basketball. Most Outstanding Player: Breanna Stewart (Connecticut)
FIBA Americas January 15 – March 12: 2016 FIBA Americas League Guaros de Lara defeated Bauru, 84–79, to win their first FIBA Americas League title. Mogi das Cruzes took third place. May 20 – 26: 2016 South American Basketball Championship for Women in Barquisimeto defeated , 94–75, to win their 16th consecutive and 26th overall South American Basketball Championship for Women title. took the bronze medal. June 19 – 25: 2016 Centrobasket in Panama City defeated , 84–83, to win their 11th Centrobasket title. took third place. June 26 – July 2: 2016 South American Basketball Championship for Men in Caracas defeated , 64–58, to win their second consecutive and third overall South American Basketball Championship title. took third place. July 3 – 16: 2016 CBC U16 Championship in Georgetown, Guyana Men: The defeated , 84–57, to win the inaugural FIBA CBC U16 Championship title. took third place. Women: The defeated , 55–50, to win the inaugural Women's FIBA CBC U16 Championship title. took third place. July 13 – 23: 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship for Men and Women in Valdivia Men: The defeated , 99–84, to win their fourth consecutive and eighth overall FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship title. took third place. Women: The defeated , 109–62, to win their eighth consecutive and ninth overall FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship title. took third place. August 24 – 28: 2016 Centrobasket U15 Championship in Patillas, Puerto Rico defeated the , 74–67, in the final. took third place. August 29 – September 2: 2016 COCABA U16 Championship for Men and Women in San José, Costa Rica Men: 1. ; 2. ; 3. Women: 1. ; 2. ; 3. September 20 – December 7: 2016 South American League for Men's Clubs in Comodoro Rivadavia and La Banda, Valdivia, and Barquisimeto Mogi das Cruzes defeated Weber Bahía, 3–0 in games played, in the final.