24 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.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks of the Houston Texans flips as he makes a catch over outside linebacker Malcolm Smith of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 19, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks got to the end zone and I almost stopped shooting. All of a sudden, the Cleveland Browns defender picked him up and flipped him over. I thought a flag was going to get thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct, but it didn’t. It looks like in the image Cooks is flipping over to get into the end zone, but in real-time he was already two steps in and then got picked up and flipped over, sort of like a rag doll. Either way, it made for a good photo and dramatic moment.

— Gregory Shamus

Betnijah Laney of the New York Liberty attempts a shot against Kia Nurse of the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of the first-round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona.

This image taken during the WNBA first-round playoffs is a typical basketball action shot with the help of a fast lens. In this photo, Betnijah Laney of the New York Liberty attempts a shot and because of the defender’s long reach, she is forced into an off-shoot angle. I captured this image with a 35mm F 1.4 lens. I knew backgrounds at this off-site location would be a little bit tricky, so I shot it wide open. This gives the background more fall off and blurred appearance. I think the combination of action and shallow depth of field makes this a strong image.

— Christian Petersen

Athletes ride through Snow Canyon State Park during the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on September 18, 2021, in St George, Utah.

I had driven the entire route of the course the day before the race, so I knew exactly where I wanted to be on race day. However, when I arrived in Snow Canyon, where this picture was taken, it was raining so hard that I could not fly my drone — I actually huddled under a tree for a little bit to try to stay out of the rain. When the rain finally let up, I did get my drone out and was able to fly. This picture was taken when the sun peaked out from the clouds for a few seconds and after that, it was gone. I waited almost another hour for the sun to come out even more, but unfortunately, it didn’t. 

— Ezra Shaw

Rose Lavelle of the United States celebrates her goal in the first half with teammates Alex Morgan and Casey Krueger during a Women’s International Friendly against Paraguay at TQL Stadium on September 21, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rose Lavelle is from Cincinnati, so before the game I expected a lot of fans to be there in support of her especially. Four minutes into the game, she scored the first goal of the total eight for the United States. Of all eight goal celebrations, this one was definitely the most electric because Lavelle’s teammates knew how much this meant for her and her hometown fans.

— Emilee Chinn

Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks and his teammates celebrate their turnover against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Lumen Field on September 19, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Defensive back Nasir Adderley of the Los Angeles Chargers breaks up a pass intended for tight end Blake Jarwin of the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 19, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A general view of fireworks as the Penn State Nittany Lions take the field before the whiteout game against the Auburn Tigers at Beaver Stadium on September 18, 2021, in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens flips into the end zone for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on September 19, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres exchange words in the dugout during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on September 18, 2021, in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

Taijuan Walker of the New York Mets pitches in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 22, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays jogs to the dugout before playing the Minnesota Twins in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 18, 2021, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

Adam Ottavino of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park on September 15, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Sami Whitcomb of the New York Liberty attempts to steal the ball from Shey Peddy of the Phoenix Mercury during the second half of the first-round WNBA playoffs at Grand Canyon University Arena on September 23, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 83-82. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Xander Schauffele of team United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during Friday Morning Foursome Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 24, 2021, in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Riko Inoue of Japan plays her tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Sanyo Shimbun Ladies Cup at the Tojigaoka Marine Hills Golf Club on September 18, 2021, in Tamano, Okayama, Japan. The tournament has been shortened to 36 holes due to bad weather. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images)

Junior Hoilett of Reading is tackled by Tim Ream of Fulham during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Reading at Craven Cottage on September 18, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Andi Sullivan of the United States heads the ball during a Women’s International Friendly between the United States and Paraguay at TQL Stadium on September 21, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Players of Union Berlin gather as flares are seen being set off by fans prior to the UEFA Europa Conference League group E match between Slavia Praha and 1. FC Union Berlin at Eden Arena on September 16, 2021, in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the La Liga Santander match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Mestalla on September 19, 2021, in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Quin Houff, driver of the No. 00 Boss Hoss Cycles Chevrolet, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021, in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Barger Precast Chevrolet, spins across the finish line after an incident with Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Menards/Richmond Ford, to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17, 2021, in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays a game of tennis with US Open Champion Emma Raducanu at the LTA Centre in Roehampton on September 24, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Jeremy Selwyn – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Athletes compete in the swim portion of the IRONMAN Maryland on September 18, 2021, in Cambridge, Maryland. The IRONMAN Maryland triathlon returned to the colonial town of Cambridge and Dorchester County where participants from around the globe converge for the scenic race in eastern Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Gabriel Medina of Brazil competes during the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles on September 14, 2021, in San Clemente, California. Medina finished first place and was named World Champion. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)