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.

Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota, celebrates in the Ruoff Mortgage victory lane after winning the rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 4, 2021, in Talladega, Alabama.

Bubba Wallace, the second-ever African American driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race, and the first in 50+ years, is seen here celebrating his win with his team. It was an emotional and historic day for Bubba and NASCAR. I had been following along with him since the moment he got out of his car, both of us drenched from the rain, and now covered in champagne and beer. We’ve worked closely with Bubba and the Michael Jordan-owned 23XI team all season, but this was a really special moment. You can see the joy in his face, even though this photo was shot hours after the race. The whole team and car were not able to get to the modified indoor victory lane because of the rain and lightning, so we waited for about three hours just to photograph this moment. The car may have just one driver, but the whole team, 25-plus people on site plus a hundred more in the shop, is what creates wins, and to see him celebrate with his team was amazing.

— Chris Graythen

Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers smiles before the game between the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium on October 3, 2021, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

I made this image during Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium for the first time since leaving the New England Patriots. He is a very focused player, but during warmups, he was saying some hellos to familiar faces. I was happy to make some clean images of him smiling before dialing into his usual serious game face. Tom Brady went on to get another win at Gillette Stadium, but for the first time as a member of the visiting team.

— Maddie Meyer

James Reimer of the San Jose Sharks skates onto the ice for their game against the Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center on October 4, 2021, in San Jose, California.

This picture was taken during the first preseason hockey game that I covered this season. The San Jose Sharks always have a cool entry where the players skate out onto the ice through a giant shark head. I am usually positioned on the other side of the ice for the game, but for this game, I was assigned a spot right across from the shark head. The goalie is always the first player to skate out, and the Sharks have a new goalie this season, so it worked out well that I was able to get his skating out onto the ice through all the smoke.

— Ezra Shaw

Enrique Hernandez and Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox react after beating the New York Yankees 6-2 of the American League Wild Card game at Fenway Park on October 5, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Here, Kiké Hernandez celebrates after the Red Sox defeat the Yankees in the American League Wildcard game. Baseball playoff series are out of five or seven games, but the Wildcard is a one-game chance to advance to the Divisional Series. With so much on the line there is plenty of emotion throughout the game, and certainly following it. Fenway Park was packed with fans and the roar of the crowd helped cheer on the Red Sox as they hugged and made their way to the clubhouse following their win over their long-time rivals.

— Maddie Meyer

Gonzalo Higuain of Inter Miami controls the ball against Jose van Rankin of Portland Timbers in the second half at Providence Park on October 3, 2021, in Portland, Oregon.

Day games are my favorite games to cover because you have the opportunity to capture unique lighting and shadows. Shooting the light up high from the top is always risky because there is always a chance of missing an important goal or moment from down low, but I love taking these risks when there is a chance to capture a photo that stands out from others. I was happy to have the opportunity to chase the light and shadows at this game and be able to try and create something that is different and unique.

— Photo by Abbie Parr

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers takes the field during player introductions against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2021, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys loses the ball trying to reach for the end zone during a first-half run in front of Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Elijah Higgins of the Stanford Cardinal makes the tying touchdown catch at the end of the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Stadium on October 2, 2021, in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

J.D. McKissic of the Washington Football Team dives for a touchdown while defended by A.J. Terrell of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 3, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Mercury, including Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brianna Turner, Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi celebrate after defeating the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game 5 of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball against Maurice Harkless of the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter of the preseason game at Staples Center on October 6, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays steals home against Christian Vazquez of the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 7, 2021, in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

J.P. Crawford of the Seattle Mariners reacts after scoring on a single by Mitch Haniger during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on October 2, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Chris Taylor of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-to-1 during the National League Wild Card Game at Dodger Stadium on October 6, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves celebrate in the center field waterfall after winning the NL Eastern Division against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 30, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)

Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 4, 2021, in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

The New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils salute players following a third-period fight during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2021, in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Devils 6-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz of the Anaheim Ducks sprays water in his face during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on October 2, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 4-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Players stop the game for a huddle in the sixth minute during a game between Racing Louisville FC and North Carolina Courage at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on October 6, 2021, in Cary, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen battles for the ball Tuta of Eintracht Frankfurt during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena on October 3, 2021, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Carli Lloyd of NJ/NY Gotham FC has a sports drink poured on her after the match against the Washington Spirit at Subaru Park on October 6, 2021, in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Lauren Hemp of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Manchester United Women and Manchester City Women at Leigh Sports Village on October 9, 2021, in Leigh, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Amari Nicole Avery of the United States warms up on the putting green during a fog delay prior to the second round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge Country Club on October 8, 2021, in West Caldwell, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Bradley Neil of Scotland plays a shot during Day Two of the Swiss Challenge at Golf Saint Apollinaire on October 1, 2021, in Michelbach-Le-Haut, France. (Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)

Runners cross Tower Bridge during the London Marathon as a boat passes underneath on October 3, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)