Best sports photos of the year

WASHINGTON — We watch sports for the moments that make us collectively cheer, hold our breath, or feel our hearts race.

These are the photos that memorialize those moments.

Check out the gallery below for a look at some of the biggest sports moments from 2017.

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: James White #28 of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammates after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to win Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) — James White of the New England Patriots celebrates with teammates after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to win Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. connects on a punch with Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on Aug. 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather won by TKO in the 10th round. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 10: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates alone on the ice during a stop in play during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) — Alex Ovechkin (#8) of the Washington Capitals skates alone on the ice during a stop in play during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Caps lost 2-0. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 02: A general view of Court 2 during the mens doubles second round match between Sam Groth of Australia and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of The United States on day six of the 2017 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) — A general view of Court 2 during the men’s doubles second round match between Sam Groth of Australia and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of The United States on day six of the 2017 French Open at Roland Garros on June 2, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 9: Lorenzo Cain #6 of the Kansas City Royals watches a kitten run across the outfield in the sixth inning during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 9, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) — Lorenzo Cain (#6) of the Kansas City Royals watches a kitten run across the outfield in the sixth inning during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Aug. 9, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

WACO, TX - FEBRUARY 18: Josh Jackson #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks has the ball deflect off his face as Ishmail Wainright #24 of the Baylor Bears defends in the second half at the Ferrell Center on February 18, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Kansas won 67-65. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) — Josh Jackson (#11) of the Kansas Jayhawks has the ball deflect off his face as Ishmail Wainright (#24) of the Baylor Bears defends in the second half at the Ferrell Center on Feb. 18, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Kansas won 67-65. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Detroit Lions take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) — Members of the Detroit Lions take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on Sept. 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan shortly after President Donald Trump criticized NFL players for kneeling during the anthem. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 06: Patric Hornqvist #72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores on the powerplay at 7:45 of the second period against Cory Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 6, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) — Patric Hornqvist #72 of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores on the power play at 7:45 of the second period against Cory Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 6, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Usain Bolt of Jamaica falls to the track in the Men's 4x100 Relay final during day nine of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 12, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) — Usain Bolt of Jamaica falls to the track in the Men’s 4×100 Relay final during day nine of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on Aug. 12, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 06: The field heads into the first turn during the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) — The field heads into the first turn during the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Corey Oates of the Broncos is tackled by Brenko Lee of the Bulldogs during the round five NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) — Corey Oates of the Broncos is tackled by Brenko Lee of the Bulldogs during the round five NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (#30) blocks a shot by Nashville Predators’ Colton Sissons (#10) during the second period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to their loss to Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) — Christian Pulisic of the United States men’s national team reacts to their loss to Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Oct. 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. The loss eliminated the United States from World Cup qualifying. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, top left, and Golden State Warriors forward David West (#3) are separated by guard J.R. Smith (#5) and referee Dan Crawford (#43) during the first half of Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Monday, June 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Houston Astros celebrate after their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. The Astros won 5-1 to take the series 4-3. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Serena Williams of the United States serves in her third round match against Nicole Gibbs of the Unites States on day six of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) — Serena Williams of the United States serves in her third round match against Nicole Gibbs of the Unites States on day six of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 21, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 09: Sergio Garcia of Spain celebrates after defeating Justin Rose (not pictured) of England on the first playoff hole during the final round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) — Sergio Garcia of Spain celebrates after defeating Justin Rose (not pictured) of England on the first playoff hole during the final round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2017, file photo, Clemson's Deshaun Watson celebrates a last second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama in Tampa, Fla. The Palmetto State is sitting atop the college sports landscape when it comes to yearlong success. Clemson won the national football title in January while Coastal Carolina won the College World Series last summer. Now, both the South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball teams are in the Final Four this weekend looking to bring more championships to the state. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) — In this Jan. 10, 2017, file photo, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson celebrates a last second touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

James Madison running back Taylor Woods (20) gets tackled by the South Dakota State defense during the first half of a FCS semifinal football game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 in Harrisonburg, Va. (Stephen Swofford/Daily News-Record via AP)

Stephen Swofford/Daily News-Record via AP

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 20: Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays fields a fly ball off the center field wall during the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) — Kevin Pillar (#11) of the Toronto Blue Jays fields a fly ball off the center field wall during the eighth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 20, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks places his right hand outside of the line as Meeks and Gonzaga’s Silas Melson (#0) battle for a loose ball during the second half in the finals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 3, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

South Carolina’s Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray celebrate with A’ja Wilson, right, after the team’s 67-55 win over Mississippi State in the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament Final Four championship game in Dallas, Sunday, April 2, 2017. (Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram via AP)

Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram via AP