2023 brought some great sports moments to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
As the year draws to a close, here is a look back at the notable moments across the DFW sports landscape.
TCU Reaches National Championship
After the most recent college football season, you may have forgotten that TCU began the year playing for a national championship on the football field against Georgia. Max Duggan and an explosive offense led the Horned Frogs to the pinnacle of the sport and were quickly disposed of by the Bulldogs.
Cowboys Make Coaching Changes
After a second consecutive 12-5 season that ended with a playoff loss, the Dallas Cowboys made some internal changes, shaking things up with the coaching staff — most notably removing offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and turning over play-calling duties to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Legendary High School Football Coach Retires
Aledo High School football coach Tim Buchanan retired after an illustrious career that included eight state championships. Offensive coordinator Robby Jones took over and led the Bearcats to an undefeated season and a state-record 12th championship.
Three Former Cowboys Make Pro Football Hall of Fame
DeMarcus Ware, Chuck Howley, and Zach Thomas were all inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and former Cowboy Darren Woodson could join them in 2024.
Mavericks Trade For Irving
The Dallas Mavericks made a big splash as they pushed for a playoff run, acquiring guard Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets. However, the team collapsed after the trade and failed to make the playoffs despite having a 96% chance of making the postseason before the trade.
Rangers Invest in Pitching
The Texas Rangers spent big again in the offseason, adding Jake Odorizzi and aces Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom to the starting pitching staff. After deGrom went down with a season-ending injury, the team doubled down, trading for Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, essential additions to the club’s World Series run.
Jamie Benn Plays 1,000th Game
Benn has been a mainstay as the captain of the Dallas Stars and continued to shine during the team’s run to the Western Conference Finals. The team now has a few players on the roster who have reached the same mark, and they have been vital to the development of its younger players.
UNT Wins Postseason Basketball Title
The North Texas Mean Green had its best men’s basketball season in program history, winning 31 games and bringing home its first postseason championship with a win over UAB in the NIT Championship Game. Head coach Grant McCasland was then named the head coach at Texas Tech.
Iowa Upsets No.1 South Carolina in Women’s Final Four, Mulkey Wins Title in Return to Texas
The American Airlines Center hosted a Women’s Basketball Final Four with plenty of headlines and star power. The premier matchup ended up being phenom Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes upsetting No.1 South Carolina and ending its 42-game winning streak and undefeated season in the semifinals, although they lost to ex-Baylor coach Kim Mulkey and LSU in the national championship.
Cowboys Release Zeke
Ezekiel Elliott’s seven-year run with the Dallas Cowboys ended after a sub-par season and the emergence of Tony Pollard, and he signed with the New England Patriots.
Arlington Renegades Win XFL
The new-look XFL returned to Arlington, and the Renegades, coached by former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops, took home the title after sneaking into the playoffs with a 4-6 record. The Renegades will return in 2024 as part of a merged league between the XFL and the USFL.
Stars Reach Western Conference Finals
The Dallas Stars came up just shy of the Stanley Cup Finals with their longest playoff run since 2020 but were eliminated in six games by eventual champion Vegas in the Western Conference Finals.
Stars’ Nill Named GM of the Year
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill was named the NHL’s General Manager of the Year after his team overachieved and made a long playoff run. He quickly doubled down, saying the team is ready to take the next steps toward winning a championship.
Rangers Put Five Starters in All-Star Game
The Texas Rangers became the first team in 47 years to put five players into the starting lineup of an MLB All-Star game. Catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Josh Jung, shortstop Corey Seager, and outfielder Adolis Garcia started the game, while pitcher Nathan Eovaldi played as a reserve.
Messi Comes to DFW
Lionel Messi, the world’s most famous current soccer player, signed with Inter Milan C.F. of the MLS and helped the team eliminate FC Dallas during the Round of 16 in the League’s Cup in Frisco.
Nowitzki Makes Hall of Fame
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, the leader of the franchise’s only championship team, became one of 12 new inductees to the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.
Legendary Cowboys Executive Dies
Gil Brandt, the former Cowboys executive who built many of the franchise’s championship teams and was known for impacting modern scouting processes, passed away at age 91.
SMU and TCU Pause Rivalry
SMU and TCU decided to pause the annual “Battle for the Iron Skillet” football game after 2025.
SMU Joins ACC
After reports of consideration from the PAC-12, SMU announced it will be moving to a power conference, becoming one of three new members of the ACC in 2024.
Local Golfers Play in Ryder Cup
Dallas natives Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth were among those representing the U.S. on its 12-man Ryder Cup team in Rome.
Rangers Win World Series
This was probably the highlight for many local sports fans as an unforgettable season led to the team’s first World Series championship, and the team is well-positioned for a continued run in future seasons.
SMU Wins AAC, Texas Takes Big 12
SMU’s football team won its first conference championship since 1984 and finished with an 11-win season, and on the same day in Arlington, Texas clinched a college football playoff berth and its first conference title since 2009 with a dominant win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championships.
Local High Schools Win Football Championships
Five local high schools reached the UIL State Football Championships, and four brought home titles, including repeats from Aledo, Duncanville, and DeSoto, and a first-time winner from Anna.
Cowboys Have a Kicker
Brett Maher’s performance in last season’s Super Wildcard playoff game against Tampa Bay was a nightmare, but the game was never close. Still, the team made a change at the position in the offseason, signing former USFL and MLS soccer player Brandon Aubrey, who is on the cusp of history.
Cuban Sells Mavericks
In a surprise move, Mark Cuban sold his majority ownership stake in the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family, which owns the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The NBA’s board of governors approved the sale earlier this week, and Cuban will remain a minority owner and have a hand in basketball operations.
