Top 10 biggest “what ifs” in Arizona sports history

What if? It’s a question that plagues Arizona sports fans because there are oh so many “what if” scenarios in our teams’ history.

This is not a market that’s ever had stretches of overall success. The state’s championships are few and far between, and many postseason runs have either ended in heartbreak or not happened at all. Draft decisions, bad lottery luck, trades, bad owners, bad stadiums and more have all unfortunately played a significant role in the sports landscape here. Many might say Arizona sports are unlucky or even cursed. 

When ALLCITY decided on “Biggest What Ifs” as the theme of this year’s Rank Week, dozens of moments came to mind. Every team in the state, from professional to college, have had their fair share of head-scratching or infuriating moments.

It was hard to narrow down 10 moments in a sports market with a history ridden with what if scenarios. In debating our list, we prioritized moments that had the biggest implications on championships or in one case, a team’s existence.

The truth is, this easily could have been a list of 25 or more. The good news is that every beat at PHNX this week will dedicate an entire show to their own team’s biggest what ifs for a deeper dive. 

We’ll unveil two moments a day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and three moments on Thursday before revealing the top moment on Friday. Check back here daily for an updated list. Plus, each of our top 10 moments will include a deeper dive article that will be linked below.

Agree or disagree with our rankings? Feel like we left something off the list? We want to hear from you! Let us know on X and Instagram what you think of our Top 10 What Ifs in Arizona sports history!

10. What if the Suns drafted Luka? 

The Suns waited half a century to get the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft…and they blew it. But what if they hadn’t? What if they had taken the superior option in Luka Dončić, instead to the local product in Deandre Ayton? It’s time to take a look back on the gravest draft mistake in Suns franchise history and imagine what it might have been like to pair Luka with Devin Booker.

READ MORE: Gerald dives into what might have happened if Luka Dončić ended up a Sun.

9. What if Paul Sewald got Corey Seager to fly out to right field in game one of the 2023 World Series?

Game 1 of the 2023 World Series was an instant classic. With the Rangers down by two in the bottom of the ninth, Corey Seager came up with a clutch home run for Texas to tie the game against Arizona, and eventually go on to win it in extras. But what if Seager doesn’t quite get enough behind the ball, with pitcher Paul Sewald forcing a fly out to grab the second out of the inning? What if he gets the game-winning out next?

READ MORE: David unravels how one moment in game 1 could have changed the trajectory of the World Series.

8. What if the Mercury never drafted Diana Taurasi?

A three time national champion at UConn, was there any doubt Diana Taurasi was going to be the number one pick in the 2004 WNBA draft? As we all know, she went on to become the greatest player of all time and put the Mercury on the map. But what if, for some reason, the Mercury went in a different direction? How does selecting another player not only impact the Mercury, but the WNBA as a whole?

READ MORE: David imagines a timeline without Diana Taurasi on the Mercury.

7. What if Robert Horry hadn’t hip-checked Steve Nash in the 2007 NBA Playoffs?

In Game 4 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, renowned Phoenix Suns villain Robert Horry committed the infamous hip check on Steve Nash that may have cost the Valley one of its best shots at an NBA title. But what if “Big Shot Bob” had never executed such a blatant cheap shot? What if Nash never went flying into the scorer’s table? And what if commissioner David Stern hadn’t doubled down on the injustice by suspending Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for a pivotal Game 5?

READ MORE: Gerald explores what might have happened if the hip check never happened.

6. What if Lute Olson never came to Arizona?

Lute Olson is the greatest basketball coach in the University of Arizona’s history. Olson put the Wildcats on the map as an international basketball brand. But what if Olson did not choose Tucson as his next step after Iowa? Arizona and head coach Tommy Lloyd stand on Olson’s shoulders, but would the program even be notable without Olson’s contribution? The powerhouse of western recruiting, would Arizona have gotten the big name recruits it has to its name today?

READ MORE: Kevin takes a look at Olson’s impact and how Arizona may have fared without him.

5. What if targeting was called against Texas in the Peach Bowl?

The Arizona State Sun Devils rose to stardom during the 2024 college football season, yet the miraculous run was cut short by a no-call in the Peach Bowl. What if Texas had been called for targeting during ASU’s final fourth-quarter drive? The Big 12 Champion Sun Devils likely would’ve been playing Ohio State for a trip to the National Championship on the line. It’s time to revisit one of the most dramatic moments in ASU history.

READ MORE: Totri reflects on a game-changing missed call.

4. What if the Coyotes never moved to Glendale?

The road to relocation was paved with good intentions, but none were as colossal of a failure as the Coyotes’ move to Glendale. The intent was for the arena to be in an up-and-coming area with state-of-the-art retail and residences, but a recession in 2008 and 2009 derailed those plans and an NHL lockout in 2004-05 stalled any momentum of the Coyotes’ move. But what if the team never moved to Glendale? What if they stayed in the East Valley near the season ticket holder and corporate sponsor base? Would the Coyotes still be in Arizona today?

READ MORE: Leah imagines a world in which the Coyotes stayed in the East Valley.

3. What if the D-backs never signed Randy Johnson?

What if the Big Unit never came to the Valley? Randy Johnson’s legacy in Arizona is undeniable. But just imagine an alternate reality where he never signed with the Diamondbacks. No four straight Cy Young Awards in purple and teal. No Koufax-and-Drysdale pairing with Curt Schilling. No 2001 World Series trophy. We explore how one signing shaped the identity of a franchise, fast-tracked a fanbase, and altered the trajectory of baseball in the Valley forever.

READ MORE: Derek envisions what it would look like if Randy Johnson never came to Arizona.

2. What if Santonio Holmes didn’t get his feet inbounds in Super Bowl XLIII?

The Arizona Cardinals had seemingly shocked the football world in the final minutes of Super Bowl 43, but the miraculous comeback was short-lived. Following Larry Fitzgerald’s herculean touchdown efforts to score what many believe should have been the final score of the game, Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers had other plans. With under three minutes remaining, Roethlisberger’s offense sliced through the Cards winded defense en route to a go ahead six-yard touchdown to wide receiver Santonio Holmes. But what if the former first-round receiver didn’t stay in bounds? Could the defense hold for two more plays? Would Fitz and company end up hoisting the Valley’s first Lombardi trophy?

READ MORE: Espo paints the picture while Johnny and Bo offer conflicting views on what would have happened IF…

1.What if the Suns won the Kareem coin toss?

Back in 1969, the Phoenix Suns were a coin flip away from landing one of the greatest NBA players of all time with the No. 1 pick in the draft. But they lost that fateful coin toss, and they wouldn’t see a single championship or No. 1 overall pick until 50 years later. But what if the rising Suns had added Lew Alcindor and been able to watch him blossom into the legend known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

READ MORE: Gerald unpacks the ripple effect of the fateful coin toss for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.