A coach wept. A tennis star hawked cognac and beer. Nobody tried to sell you cryptocurrency. Rihanna dropped in to sing and lived to tell about it. And Kansas City won a football game.
Pickleball had no problem attracting millions of amateur players. Now, as the sport looks to grow at the professional level, it must convince spectators that the game is as fun to watch as it is to play.
From behind-the-back improvisation on a tennis court to dazzling performances at the Olympics, the year offered plenty of highlights — and some lowlights, too.
Serena and Venus Williams and Ava DuVernay, and the artists who portrayed them, talk about their choices, which will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery.