A list of the best athletes you need to see while you can

If you’ve been fortunate enough to have seen some of the world’s greatest athletes perform in person, and in their prime, you should be thankful for the memories.

Personally, there have been almost too many to count on this end, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Nolan Ryan, Wayne Gretzky to Joe Montana, Michael Jordan to Lawrence Taylor, Mario Lemieux to Rickey Henderson, Chris Evert to Julius Erving, and so, so many more.

Hopefully, Phoenix Suns’ stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were prophetic during the team’s 2024-25 Media Day when they each suggested that Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi might consider playing another year or two after 20 record-setting seasons in this town.

If you haven’t watched her play in person yet, we both may have lost a golden opportunity to witness greatness. If Taurasi, 42, decides to return, we must promise ourselves to go watch this incredible talent play at least one time in our lives.

There are no excuses here for not having done it yet, but if the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer indeed comes back, we’ll happily cross that off the bucket list of “The Best Athletes You Need to See While You Can.”

With that in mind, here is a list of some of the best in their sport — from the veterans to the young, rising stars across this country — that you need to go see before it’s too late. Some of them will be coming to town at some point. Others, you might have to travel to see. But it will be worth it, and if you have children, make sure you bring them along to pass down the experience and the memories:

In no particular order, here’s the list:

Shohei Ohtani, designated hitter and pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

You can catch this phenomenal athlete multiple times at Chase Field when the Dodgers visit the Diamondbacks, but you can also watch him for free during early spring training workouts here in the Valley at Camelback Ranch in northwest Phoenix. Watching him swat home runs during batting practice alone should feed your soul.

Steph Curry, point guard, Golden State Warriors

Curry, 36, is the best 3-point shooter in NBA history with a record 3,747 threes made in his career, almost a thousand more than his next closest competitor, Ray Allen. You can catch Curry on Nov. 30 at Footprint Center, and again on April 8. Don’t miss him while you still can.

Caitlin Clark, point guard, Indiana Fever

Speaking of 3-pointers, you owe it to yourself to watch the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year this season and the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history, including both men’s and women’s basketball. Clark and the Fever will make at least two visits to Phoenix to play the Mercury next season. See you there.

Tiger Woods, professional golfer

Woods turns 49 in late December and it’s unclear when he might play a tournament in Arizona again, but you should visit a place where you know he’s going to play. He’s tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men’s major championships, and has set multiple records as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

He won the second of his three Super Bowl titles here on Feb.11, 2024, and he and the Chiefs are trying to become the first team in NFL history to threepeat as champions in the Super Bowl era. If you haven’t seen him play in person yet, you better.

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, New York Jets

The 40-year-old Rodgers is a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, and a Super Bowl champion, and he and the Jets visit the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 10. Get your tickets now and don’t miss your possible last chance to see one of the NFL’s true remaining gunslinging QBs.

Sidney Crosby, center, Pittsburgh Penguins, Connor McDavid, center, Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews, center, Toronto Maple Leafs

Now that the Arizona Coyotes are gone, you’re going to have to make a road trip to catch any one of this trio of superstar NHL players. But you really should, if you haven’t seen them already. Don’t forget about Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, either. Ovechkin, 39, is just 42 goals shy of surpassing the Gretzky (894) for the most goals scored in league history.

Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand, Olympic gold-medal-winning swimmers

Arizona State used to host some amazing swimming competitions at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center and if these two happen to be on the schedule at some point, it will be worth your time to go and watch. Ledecky has won nine Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, the most by a woman in history. Marchand, who swam for ASU, won four gold medals for France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Paul Skenes, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

The rookie right-hander has some of the nastiest movements you’ve ever seen on his vast array of pitches, and he makes the baseball do crazy, strange things. Catch him at Chase Field next season against the Diamondbacks and hopefully, he’ll be in the rotation when the Pirates visit between May 26-28. You might also run into his famous gal pal, LSU gymnast and social media influencer Livvy Dunne.

Lionel Messi, forward, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer

The 37-year-old Argentinian is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time in his sport, has set numerous records, and has won 45 team trophies. If you follow this sport, then you’ll find a way to go watch him play if you haven’t.

Scottie Scheffler, professional golfer

Scheffler, 28, has won 13 PGA tour events, including two Masters’ titles, and he won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. He is expected to be in the field when the Open returns to Phoenix on Feb. 6-9 at TPC Scottsdale.

LeBron James, forward, Los Angeles Lakers

“King James” turns 40 on Dec. 30 and as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 40,474 points, you might be able to catch him as soon as Oct. 17 when he and the Lakers visit the Suns in Phoenix for the final preseason game. If not, you’ll have plenty of more opportunities throughout the upcoming season.

Simone Biles, Olympic gymnast

One of the most decorated gymnasts in history with 11 Olympic medals and 40 world championship medals overall, the 27-year-old Biles has been a must-see athlete for quite some time. She’s still performing with other U.S. Olympic gymnast during their 30-city Gold Over America Tour, which previously included a stop in the Valley. It runs through Nov. 3 if you want to schedule a trip out of town.

Aaron Judge, outfielder, New York Yankees

The 6-foot-7 slugger is a joy to watch, even if you just catch him slugging home runs during batting practice. A six-time All-Star and three-time American League home leader, he can send the ball a mile. Judge and the Yankees don’t visit Chase Field next season, however, so you’re going to have to hit the road if you want to see him in 2025.

And finally, go see Booker and Durant of the Suns if you haven’t yet

They are the two best players on the Valley’s NBA team, which hopes to rebound with a drive to its first championship title, and they are certainly each worth the price of admission. But while you’re at it, make sure you pop in on the Mercury now and then, especially if Taurasi decides to return for a 21 ^st WNBA season.

Clearly, there are many, many more superstars out there that are not on this list that you probably really want to see. Let us know who they are, in your opinion, and we can add them to this story for everyone to read.

Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch on Fox Sports 910-AM.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A list of the best athletes you need to see while you can