The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the best Getty Images sports photos from this week.
Rougned Odor of the New York Yankees collides with Martin Maldonado of the Houston Astros and home plate umpire Jose Navas during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 4, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won 7-3.
I almost missed this moment — DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees had hit a soft ground single, and I really didn’t expect three players to be able to score off of it. I was focused on the player’s reactions just behind home plate as they came in to score, when I realized the final runner Rougned Odor was going to be close. Odor caught his cleat on Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, and then tripped and fell into the umpire as he scored the run. It was quite a series of events that happened so quickly and the sequence I got from this captures how it all unfolded, on top of the players and umpire’s reactions. Odor and Maldonado both laid on the ground for a while after this play. The stadium grew really quiet as other players and trainers gathered around. It was really a relief to see both players eventually get up and get assisted back to their dugouts, but a really intense moment to witness.
— Sarah Stier
Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby ahead of Mandaloun, ridden by Florent Geroux, and Hot Rod Charlie ridden by Flavien Prat, and Essential Quality, ridden by Luis Saez, at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky.
This image was from one of our five finish line remote cameras – four buried into the dirt track along the railing and one elevated on a bar filled with other photographer’s remotes. Setting up remotes at races like the Kentucky Derby is tricky because it forces everyone to work with each other so that everyone has an opportunity to make a nice picture. It takes a lot of digging, refocusing, communication and cooperation throughout the day to position these cameras a few inches apart. All of the remote cameras were tethered to fire via ethernet and I triggered them using a foot pedal while covering the race on a ladder with my handheld camera. As soon the jockeys hit the final stretch, it felt like I stomped on that pedal for dear life! It’s a lot of work for only a few seconds of action, but it’s a relief when it works.
— Tim Nwachukwu
Rinus VeeKay of Netherlands, driver of the Sonax/Autogeek Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, prepares to drive prior to the NTT IndyCar Series XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Covering the NTT IndyCar Series is always fun with how close photographers can get to the drivers. In this photo, I was able to be right up close with a wide-angle lens as Rinus VeeKay hopped into his car just before the practice session started. There was bad weather the day before, so it was nice to see the pretty blue sky and clouds pop out to really give a nice background.
— Chris Graythen
Juan Dinenno of Pumas UNAM controls the ball during the 17th round match between Pumas UNAM and America as part of the Torneo Guard1anes 2021 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on May 2, 2021, in Mexico City, Mexico.
It was a decisive game for the Pumas UNAM, if they won, they entered the playoffs, if they lost, they were out of the 2021 Liga MX Guard1anes Tournament. Club America was already classified and had no pressure whatsoever to win. I took this photo in the first half, where the Pumas fought for absolutely every ball played. Juan Dinenno stretched to control the ball at center field with the chance of scoring. Unfortunately, the goal didn’t happen on this play and the Pumas were left out of the playoffs losing 1-0.
— Hector Vivas
Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs celebrates his walk-off single with Javier Baez and teammates of the Chicago Cubs in the 11th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on May 5, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a solo homer in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on April 27, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets defends a pass by Josh Jackson of the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter of their game at Spectrum Center on May 1, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Jaxson Hayes of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball during the first quarter of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Smoothie King Center on May 4, 2021, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Josh Richardson of the Dallas Mavericks battle for a rebound during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on May 4, 2021, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Craig Smith of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Taylor Hall after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at TD Garden on May 1, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pavel Buchnevich of the New York Rangers takes a high-sticking penalty on Anthony Mantha of the Washington Capitals during the second period at Madison Square Garden on May 5, 2021, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Robby Ashford of the Oregon Ducks dives to score a touchdown against Bryan Addison of the Oregon Ducks on the play of the game in the fourth quarter during the Oregon spring game at Autzen Stadium on May 1, 2021, in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Defensive back Elijah Jackson and running back Capassio Cherry of the Washington Huskies take the field before the spring game at Husky Stadium on May 1, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field around the first during the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates with sparkling wine on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional Do Algarve on May 2, 2021, in Portimao, Portugal. (Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
I59 Conor Daly of United States, driver of the Carlin Chevrolet, flips over during the NTT IndyCar Series XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Jimmy Walker of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 6, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark plays her shot from the 13th tee during the second round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on April 30, 2021, in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Connor McGrandles of Lincoln City collides in the air with of Shrewsbury Town during the Sky Bet League One match between Shrewsbury Town and Lincoln City at Montgomery Waters Meadow on April 27, 2021, in Shrewsbury, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Players of Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United compete for the ball from a corner during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 2, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Jenni Hermoso of FC Barcelona and Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona celebrates the pass to the Final UEFA Women’s Champions League after the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-Final match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Johan Cruyff on May 2, 2021, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images )
Andy Ruiz takes a punch from Chris Arreola, Ruiz would win in a 12-round unanimous decision, during a heavyweight bout at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 1, 2021, in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain serves in his men’s singles match against Marco Cecchinato of Italy during day six of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 4, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Jun Hoong Cheong of Malaysia competes in the Women’s 10m Platform semifinal on day five of the FINA Diving World Cup at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on May 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)