Award-Winning Sports Coverage

There is never a dull moment in a market with three major professional sports teams. The Lightning contained most of their drama to the ice, making their usual Stanley Cup run but falling just short of a third straight crown. While the Bucs and Rays also were in playoff contention, the news they made away from the playing field may have been more noteworthy. After teasing fans for a few years with the possibility of a shared team between the Rays and Montreal, Major League Baseball suddenly and swiftly killed the sister-city idea. Perhaps the biggest sports celebrity in the United States, Tom Brady, had a much-hyped retirement, only to change his mind 40 days later and return to Tampa Bay. And our reporters were on top of all the big story lines, often leading the way locally and nationally.