Great moments at Desert Financial Arena
Volleyball wins ASU’s first-ever Big-12 championship
One of the most unforgettable moments at Desert Financial Arena came when No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball wrapped up a storybook regular season with a sweep of UCF after already securing the 2024 Big 12 Championship. It marked the first conference title in program history and ASU’s first Big 12 crown in any sport.
The straight-set victory capped a perfect 13-0 home record, extended ASU’s winning streak to 17 matches, marked ASU’s 29th of the year, was their 19th sweep of the season (the first since the program’s debut in 1973) and clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Sun Devil Gymnastics squad upsets No. 4 Utah in 2023
Behind the 11th-best team score in program history, No. 22 Sun Devil Gymnastics narrowly defeated the No. 4 Utah Utes at Desert Financial Arena on February 20, 2023, winning 197.550 to 197.500 for the first victory over that program since 2003.
On her birthday, senior Hannah Scharf set her all-around career high with a 39.675, which ranks as the 10th-best all-around in Gym Devil history. Her best event of the day was a 9.975 on bars, a new career high not only on that event, but in any event.
Sun Devil Wrestling wins 2022 Pac-12 Championships to claim 23rd conference title crown
Backed by a complete team effort, ASU pulled off yet another conference championship title, winning the 2022 Pac-12 Wrestling Championship at Desert Financial Arena, its third in a row, fifth in the last six years, and first at home since 1997.
The Sun Devils won six individual titles via Brandon Courtney (125), Michael McGee (133), Kyle Parco (149), Jacori Teemer (157), Kordell Norfleet (197) and Cohlton Schultz (HWT).
No. 3 UCLA upset in triple OT
On Feb. 5, 2022, Sun Devil Men's Basketball defeated No. 3-ranked UCLA in triple overtime, their second consecutive game of the season.
ASU’s Marreon Jackson led the team with 24 points off the bench, while all five starters finished in double-digit scoring and a team field goal percentage of 40.3%. The loss dropped UCLA to 16-4 for the season, while ASU improved to 7-13. The stadium atmosphere was electric, and as the final buzzer sounded, it was clear that the ASU faithful were celebrating the 87-84 win.
Triple OT gives Charli Turner Thorne her 500th career win
On Jan. 31, 2020, Reili Richardson scored 19 of her 24 points in the second half and overtime, including the game-winning 3-pointer, as the No. 19 Arizona State Women’s Basketball team gave head coach Charli Turner Thorne the 500th win of her career, 76-75 over USC in the first triple overtime game in program history. The win vs. USC was Turner Thorne’s 460th triumph as ASU’s coach (Turner Thorne led NAU to 40 wins in her only other head coaching job). A Sun Devil Athletics’ Hall of Distinction member, Turner Thorne retired after the 2021-22 campaign, her 25th season at ASU. She concluded her career with 528 wins at ASU.
The greatest regular season weekend in Sun Devil Women's Basketball history (arguably)
The Sun Devils captured consecutive wins over the de facto top-ranked teams in the nation, defeating No. 2 Oregon 72-66 on Jan. 10 and No. 3 Oregon State 55-47 on Jan 12, 2020.
Oregon entered the game needing to beat the Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats to earn the top spot after No. 1 UConn lost earlier in the week. Two days after ASU upset Oregon, the unbeaten Oregon State (15-0) would be the nation’s new No. 1 with a win over ASU. Once again, the Sun Devils denied a team the top spot.
With the weekend sweep, the Sun Devils, who started the week receiving votes in both major polls, became the first unranked team to defeat Top 5 teams in consecutive games.
Wrestling snaps No. 1 Penn State's 60-match win streak
On Nov. 22, 2019, in front of a record-breaking crowd of 8,522, the Sun Devils handed Penn State its first loss in a dual since 2015, defeating the Nittany Lions, 19-18.
Redshirt-freshman Jacori Teemer won an 8-4 decision, bringing the score to 10-8 in favor of the Sun Devils. The Nittany Lions went ahead after the break, but a Penn State forfeit saw ASU pull ahead. Junior Kordell Norfleet put on a heroic performance, earning a 10-4 decision, extending the Sun Devils' lead to 19-15, which ultimately gave ASU what it needed to put the Nittany Lions away.
Devils down No. 1 Kansas
On Dec. 22, 2018, the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Jayhawks faced the No. 18 Men’s Basketball team in a closely contested game in Tempe. Kansas led for the first 37 minutes, forcing the Sun Devils to play from behind most of the game. But, with a final score of 80-76 and a record-breaking crowd, the Sun Devils shocked the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in team history since 1981.
Five players scored double figures, including leading scorer Rob Edwards, who finished with 15 points off the bench. Guards Rob Edwards and Remy Martin were instrumental in the win, scoring the last seven points of the game, with Edwards sinking his third three-pointer with 2:23 remaining to give ASU their first lead of the game.
Gardner becomes all-time kills leader as volleyball beats Cal
Macey Gardner broke the all-time kills record as Arizona State moved to 15-0 in 2015 by defeating the California Golden Bears in three sets (25-17, 25-19, 25-19) on Oct. 4, 2015. Gardner led the way for the Sun Devils with 14 kills and nine digs, but her 13th kill of the match drew the loudest cheers from the crowd. That 13th kill gave Gardner 1,872 for her career, a new ASU record, surpassing Christine Gardner’s mark of 1,871, set 20 years ago.
Volleyball gets statement win over No. 6 Illinois in 2015
The No. 10 Arizona State Volleyball team fought back after dropping the opening set to defeat the visiting No. 6 Illinois Illini in five sets (23-25, 25-19, 25-11, 15-25, 15-11) on September 20, 2015. Senior Macey Gardner was absolutely dominant, finishing with 22 kills, 15 digs and five solo blocks. This win started the year’s historic 15-0 season.
Women's Basketball advances to Sweet 16 in 2015
Promise Amukamara and Sophie Brunner each scored 17 points, and the ninth-ranked Arizona State rallied from 16 points down in the second half to defeat UALR 57-54 and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since 2005.
After shooting 21% in the first half, the Sun Devils (29-5) turned things around in the second half as they shot 54% from the floor. Also aiding their comeback was an 87% performance (13-15) from the free-throw line. Down 50-44 with just over two minutes to play and two seconds on the shot clock, ASU had to score.
Enter Elisha Davis, who took a pass from Katie Hempen, and the junior guard launched a shot from long range that would end up banking off the glass and through the hoop, cutting UALR’s lead to 50-47. Davis’ improbable 3-pointer was the start of a 13-4 run to end the game.
Men's Basketball wins thriller Territorial Cup game
On Feb. 7, 2014, ASU faced off against the rival Wildcats in a highly anticipated Territorial Cup home game.
Initially struggling, ASU mounted an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter, attributed to key players’ performances. Tra Holder and Savon Goodman contributed 15 points each, and Gerry Blakes delivered 14 points to the final tally. The final score stood at 81-78 Sun Devils, securing an impressive victory.
Volleyball upsets No. 5 USC
The highest-ranked win in Desert Financial Arena for Sun Devil Volleyball came against No. 5 USC in four sets (29-27, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23) on October 15, 2010.
Three Sun Devils were in double figures for kills in the win: Sarah Reaves (17), Erica Wilson (11) and Danica Mendivil (10). Reaves also had a double-double with 13 digs, while Wilson added a team-high eight blocks.
Senior Night heroics: Gymnastics beats No. 4 Iowa State to cap off 2006 home season
No. 14 Arizona State upset the No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones 197.750 to 197.000 on March 10, 2006, the seventh-best score in the program’s history.
One of ASU’s most decorated gymnasts, senior Ashley Kelly, sparkled in her last meet at home as she won her 20th all-around title, a school record, with a 39.875. Not only does this score tie her career best for a third time, but it is also the best score posted in the nation that season.
Two 10s were scored in the meet by Gym Devils: Kelly with a 10 on beam and April Boone with a 10 on vault.
Sun Devils stun No. 8 UConn in Tempe upset in 2004
Emily Westerberg had a season-high 18 points and Kristen Kovesdy added 14, leading Arizona State to a 61-50 upset of No. 8 Connecticut. It was the first December loss in 11 years for the three-time defending NCAA champions, snapping a streak of 60 straight victories since a defeat at Stanford on Dec. 28, 1993.
Defensively, ASU was outstanding. The last time the Huskies had fewer points was in a 48-34 win at Virginia Tech nine months before their game at ASU. The Huskies had only one player who scored in double figures and turned the ball over 24 times. The Sun Devils started the second half down 31-30, outscored UConn 31-19 over the final 20 minutes. After a UConn basket got it within two points of ASU with 4:46 remaining, the Sun Devils closed the game with an 11-2 run to secure the upset.
Patti Snyder Park's Volleyball squad sweeps No. 12 Arizona in 2002
In an upset over No. 12 Arizona, Patti Snyder Park’s Sun Devils swept the Cats (33-31, 30-26, 42-40), including a marathon third set to clinch the victory. Juliana Escobar had 20 kills and 16 digs to lead the team in front of 3,243 people in Desert Financial Arena.
Gymnastics takes down No. 1 UCLA in 2001
Arizona State's 25th-ranked women’s gymnastics team came from behind in the final rotation and upset No. 1 UCLA 196.350 to 196.000 on January 26, 2001.
The Sun Devils handed the Bruins their first loss of the season while extending ASU’s home winning streak to 22 home meets against 34 opponents, dating back to 1996.
ASU benefited from outstanding performances by junior Laura Moon and Maggie Germaine.
Moon’s 9.875 on the uneven bars led the Sun Devils in that event. Germaine, who competed in the all-around, earned one of the Sun Devils' three 9.875 marks on the floor, which put them on top.
Eddie House drops 46 on San Diego State (Dec. 18, 1999)
Senior Eddie House dropped a school-record 46 points in a 99-85 win over San Diego State on Dec. 18, 1999, in a 99-85 win over the Aztecs. ASU (5-3) led 55-35 at the half, as House had 37 at the half and ended 18-of-29 from the field and 6-of-8 from the three-point stripe.
House, who was 0-for-16 shooting in ASU's previous game at BYU on Dec. 7, broke the school’s single-game scoring record and was 14-of-17 from the floor in the first half. He made a three-point shot with 4:12 left to break the school record of 45 set by Paul Williams against USC on March 10, 1983. House took only one shot in the first 4:17 as San Diego State (2-4) took an 11-6 lead, but scored 20 points in the next nine minutes.
Sun Devil Legend Kym Hampton
Hampton was the first ASU Women’s Basketball player to earn all-America honors (1981-1982). She owns five career and season women’s basketball records at ASU, including:
- Most points in a season (683/1981-82)
- Most points in a career (2361)
- Most rebounds in a season (413/1980-81)
- Most rebounds in a career (1415)
- Most blocks in a career (178)
She led ASU to a four-year record of 76-34 (39-11 at home), two NCAA tournament appearances and a berth in the post-season NIT.
She was selected as the Sun Angel Athlete of the Year in 1984, honoring academic and athletic excellence.
Hampton, who was selected to the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1989, still holds the single-game record for most points in a game (44 vs. Arizona/March 9, 1984).
In 1983, Hampton was a finalist for the Margaret Wade Trophy, awarded annually to the best Division I female basketball player.