CONNECTICUT, USA — Connecticut sports had everything from heroes to heartbreak, parades, and pitfalls in 2023.
Local fans experienced a whirlwind of emotions in various sports from basketball, to golf, to hockey, and more.
So as impossible as it is, we had to rank the best of the best in Connecticut sports and some will surprise you.
10. New York Giants standout Jason Pinnock hosts football camp in Windsor
Who would've thought Windsor's own Jason Pinnock would make such a name for himself with the Giants this year?
As a safety, he has two interceptions on the year, which ranks 10th in the entire NFL, and has been an anchor in an ever-improving New York defensive front.
But before his breakout year, he held a football camp in his hometown to help develop local talent to ignite their passion for the game.
The camp was at Jack O'Brien Stadium and kids learned the basics of football, including throwing, catching, and footwork. A portion of the proceeds donated will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.
Pinnock has been killing it on and off the gridiron.
9. Xavier High School alum Will Levis named Tennessee Titans starting QB
From draft day embarrassment to Tennessee stardom, Middletown's own Will Levis was put through the wringer early in his professional career.
Levis played quarterback at Xavier High School and eventually landed at the University of Kentucky after spending time with Penn State. After posting an impressive senior season with the Wildcats, Levis was poised to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
But expectations did not meet reality as rumors of him possibly going first overall to the Carolina Panthers quickly dissipated as he was completely left off the board on day one. Photos of him waiting in the draft room circulated online with many questioning why he fell.
Well, it wasn't long into day two of the draft when the Titans took Levis with their 33rd overall pick.
It wasn't until Starting Quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered an ankle injury in week six that things started to change, as Malik Willis took over but quickly showed he wasn't quite ready to be the starter.
Then the reigns got handed over to Levis where in week eight, he threw for 238 yards and had four touchdown passes in a 28-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Ever since that game, Levis has been the starter with a huge upset win over the Miami Dolphins in week 14 throwing for 327 yards in their comeback.
8. New Haven's Ellis Robinson IV puts himself on the map as highest-rated high school football prospect
Ellis Robinson IV is from New Haven but plays football where the best of the best performance.
The IMG Academy five-star recruit and University of Georgia commit is ranked as the top high school senior in the country on ESPN.
But it isn't just ESPN that says that, he does too.
"I worked hard for this," Robinson said when FOX61 sat down with him. "Just seeing my name and everything I did pay off, it just feels good."
So when you're watching the Bulldogs battle it out in the SEC next season, make sure to keep an eye out for Robinson IV.
7. UConn guard Jordan Hawkins drafted 14th to the New Orleans Pelicans, lights up the NBA
In a long line of former Huskies stars that have gone on to become even greater in the NBA, it seems Jordan Hawkins is following suit.
After helping UConn capture their fifth national championship, he declared for the NBA Draft and was selected 14th overall by the Pelicans.
Hawkins made an immediate impact in his role as a shooter as injuries led to him receiving more and more minutes, eventually putting up a 31-point performance in only his seventh game.
Over his first 11 games, he set the all-time rookie record for three-pointers made with 32.
Success comes easily when you play for the Huskies it seems.
6. Head Coach Stephanie White wins WNBA Coach of the Year with Connecticut Sun
The news of Curt Miller leaving the Connecticut Sun for the Los Angeles Sparks just months after losing in the WNBA finals was shocking, to say the least.
With former MVP Jonquel Jones also leaving for the New York Liberty, two massive holes were left in the organization.
Stephanie White came into her role as head coach with a lot of concern for the organization, but those concerns quickly dissipated after the Sun's hot start in May going 4-1 and ending the season with a 27-13 record. That record was the third-best in the entire league.
The Sun would go on to lose to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Semi-finals, but White's contribution to the team's success was not left unrecognized and she won the WNBA Coach of the Year award in just her first year as head coach.
5. Paige Bueckers returns for UConn women's basketball
Since 2016, the UConn women's basketball team has been stuck in a championship drought. Paige Bueckers was and still is seen as someone who can help the Huskies lift a trophy once again.
But her career has been underwhelming due to her unfortunate injury luck. After winning National Player of the Year her freshman year, a knee injury derailed her sophomore season.
Then over the summer before her junior year, she suffered a torn ACL during a pickup game that would leave her out for that season.
So, it was over an entire year since we last saw Bueckers pick up a basketball, and she didn't even play in UConn's European tour.
When it was finally time and she was cleared to play, she helped lead the Huskies to a victory over Dayton in her first game back.
Despite the team's slow start, Bueckers is back on stride averaging nearly 20 points a game.
4. Hartford Wolf Pack advance to third round of AHL Playoffs
On May 17, 2023, the Hershey Bears defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals. The Bears' victory completed a postseason series sweep of the Wolf Pack and ended their remarkable playoff run.
Wolf Pack fans were treated to more hockey than they've seen in quite some time, with Hartford hosting playoff games for the first time since 2015. Wolf Pack fans packed the XL Center the whole season, making 2022-23 the highest-attended regular season in 16 years.
Getting to the AHL playoffs is no easy feat, and the 8-year Wolf Pack postseason drought was the longest in the league entering last season. Having stars helps to end a drought like that. The Wolf Pack were led by Jonny Brodzinski and Will Cuylle, the latter led Hartford in goals as a rookie before getting called up to the New York Rangers.
3. New England's own Keegan Bradley wins the Travelers Championship
With the 2023 Travelers Championship being classified by the PGA as an elevated tournament, bolstering an enormous $20 million pursel, expectations were higher than ever.
The play did not disappoint either as the tournament recorded low scores across the board from golfers.
But the person who came out on top over everyone was New England's own Keegan Bradley.
Bradley, who went 62-63-64 in the first three rounds, finished at 23-under 257 at TPC River Highlands, a shot better than Kenny Perry's previous record from 2009.
With fans chanting his name, the 37-year-old walked up to his ball on the 18th green, sank a 2-foot par putt, threw his arms into the air, and let out a yell.
“I can't even describe what that felt like,” Bradley said after he finished. “I dreamt my whole life of playing in Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, and to feel pretty close to what that would feel like. I had a bunch of people say they never heard the 18th hole sound like that.”
Travelers in 2023 was a dream come true for not just Bradley but every fan of golf.
2. Quinnipiac men's hockey wins National Championship
Shortly after the UConn Men's Basketball team won the NCAA Tournament, the Quinnipiac Men’s Hockey team did the same thing.
Jacob Quillan netted the game-winning goal 10 seconds into overtime to lift Quinnipiac over Minnesota, 3-2. The national title is the first for Quinnipiac Men's Hockey.
It was a come-from-behind victory. Quinnipiac trailed for more than 50 minutes in the contest. The Bobcats' only lead was Quillan's game-winning goal.
The title game was the first Frozen Four championship game to enter an overtime period since 2011.
1. UConn men's basketball captures their 5th National Championship
Was there any other doubt about what would be number one on this list?
The Huskies showed all year that they were a team to be reckoned with.
They had three leaders Andre Jackson, Adama Sanogo, and Jordan Hawkins who set the tone every game, as well as rising stars Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan to help round out the squad.
During the NCAA Tournament as a four seed, they didn't just win, they dominated every single opponent they played.
First Round:
UConn 87 - Iona 63
Second Round:
UConn 75 - Saint Mary's 50
Sweet Sixteen:
UConn 88 - Arkansas 65
Elite Eight:
UConn 82 - Gonzaga 54
Final Four:
UConn 72 - Miami 59
National Championship:
UConn 76 - San Diego State 59
The Huskies proved they were the best team in the country in convincing fashion, and Head Coach Dan Hurley proved he was one of the best coaches in the country winning his first national championship and earning a massive six-year, $32.1 million contract making him by far, the highest paid coach in state history.
With Hawkins, Sanogo, and Jackson headed to the NBA, a parade in downtown Hartford was a fitting end to the team's magical run.
Daniel Dashefsky is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at ddashefsky@fox61.com.
Jonah Karp is the sports director at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jkarp@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and X.
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