25 most iconic sports photos from Getty Images this week

The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the most iconic sports photos from Getty Images this week.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning championship point to defeat Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada during the second set of their Women’s Singles final match on Day Thirteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2021, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

I always feel so much pressure at the end of a championship tennis match because there are so many possible outcomes for how and where the winning athlete will celebrate. And since it’s a championship, you obviously want to get it right! I hoped Emma would win on the side of the court where her player’s box was because during most of her previous matches, she had been reacting toward her family and coaches rather than toward any specific areas of the crowd. I didn’t know if she would raise her hands in celebration, if she would fall to the court, or if she would react at all. I chose a spot to photograph that was elevated directly behind her player’s box, and lucky enough for me, she fell to the court, smiling, looking right towards her team. I was just so happy to have captured that smile because it was so brief — she quickly covered her face with her hands.

— Sarah Stier

Sterling Shepard of the New York Giants celebrates after a 37-yard touchdown reception against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 12, 2021, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Sterling Shepard of the New York Giants just scored the opening touchdown and I saw him start celebrating with teammates near the sideline. I caught him while he cheered towards the fans, with this big reaction and followed until he turned towards the bench. The Broncos inevitably won, but in that moment he and the fans were excited to be together again.

— Tim Nwachukwu

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Red White Blue Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders at Richmond Raceway on September 11, 2021, in Richmond, Virginia.

The flagstand has always been one of my favorite locations to document the finish of a race. The Richmond flagstand is uniquely small in size and the cars speed past directly underneath as opposed to down on the apron, which they do at most tracks. This scenario required a “hail mary” attempt as I hung out over the track to avoid the car being hidden under the stand itself. With some help from NASCAR Official Brett Dalton’s checkered flag wave and a little luck on the timing, it all came together to produce this winning moment.

— Jared C. Tilton

Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a touchdown with Van Jefferson following a touchdown during the second half against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium on September 12, 2021, in Inglewood, California.

Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Ram caught a long touchdown pass and ran to the corner of the field for a touchdown where I was positioned. Kupp turned around to celebrate and at first nobody was there until teammate Van Jefferson showed up with a huge jump of excitement. It was awesome to see this moment between them midair.

— Harry How

General view of Michigan Stadium before the game between the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines on September 11, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Local first responders held up a flag during a tribute to the 20th anniversary of September 11th. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs takes a moment prior the game against the Cleveland Browns at Arrowhead Stadium on September 12, 2021, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football Team rushes past Michael Davis and Kyzir White of the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at FedExField on September 12, 2021, in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Quarterback Doug Brumfield of the UNLV Rebels flips into the end-zone to score on a four-yard rushing touchdown ahead of linebacker Kyle Soelle of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 11, 2021, in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win their Men’s Singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2021, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain celebrates winning match point to defeat Leylah Annie Fernandez of Canada during the second set of their Women’s Singles final match on Day Thirteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2021, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reaches to return the ball against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their Men’s Singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2021, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Brandon Marsh of the Los Angeles Angels slides safely into third base in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 15, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Alex Verdugo of the Boston Red Sox can’t catch a ball hit off the wall by Austin Meadows against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 6, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)

Carter Kieboom of the Washington Nationals is doused with Gatorade by Erick Fedde after driving in the game-winning run with a single in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels stands in front of the American flag as it is unveiled from the left-field bleachers as part of a ceremony remembering the victims of 9/11 before playing the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on September 11, 2021, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Guard Erica Wheeler of the Los Angeles Sparks handles the ball defended by guard Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm in the first half at Staples Center on September 12, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Red White Blue Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders at Richmond Raceway on September 11, 2021, in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and McLaren F1 celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 12, 2021, in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Forward Sophia Smith of Team United States battles with midfielder Celsa Sandoval and defender Limpia Fretes of Paraguay during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 16, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. Team United States defeated Paraguay 9-0. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rogelio Funes Mori of Monterrey celebrates after scoring the third goal of his team during a match between Cruz Azul and Monterrey as part of the Concacaf Champions League 2021 at Azteca Stadium on September 16, 2021, in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Forward Carli Lloyd of Team United States celebrates her first goal of the game during the first half against Paraguay at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 16, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City and Tyler Adams of RB Leipzig battle for possession during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester City and RB Leipzig at Etihad Stadium on September 15, 2021, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Fernandinho of Manchester City competes for a header with Youri Tielemans of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on September 11, 2021, in Leicester, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Carissa Moore of the United States and Gabriel Medina of Brazil celebrate after winning the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles on September 14, 2021, in San Clemente, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Tam Nakano and Takumi Iroha compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling “Stardom” at Korakuen Hall on September 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)