Pitt's Top Moments of 2025
From record-breaking performances to last-second heroics, revisit Pitt's most memorable moments of 2025.
JAN. 12 | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pitt Completes Largest Regulation Comeback in NCAA History in 72-59 Win Over SMU
The Pitt women's basketball team completed the largest comeback in regulation in NCAA history, defeating SMU 72-59 after overcoming a 32-point deficit by outscoring the Mustangs 54-10 in the second half, including a dominant 28-0 third quarter run.
JAN. 18 | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Sam Clancy Jersey Retirement at Petersen Events Center
On Jan. 18, Pitt Athletics raised Sam Clancy’s No. 15 to the rafters inside the Petersen Events Center. Considered one of the greatest athletes the city of Pittsburgh has ever produced, Clancy was a four-year starter for the Panthers from 1977-81, averaging 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He earned a gold medal playing for Bobby Knight as a member of the U.S. team at the 1979 Pan American Games.
Clancy went on to be drafted in two professional sports leagues: the NBA and the NFL, the latter occurring even though he never played collegiate football. He played on season of professional basketball in the Continental Basketball Association before playing 12 seasons of professional football.
MARCH 9 | GYMNASTICS
Panthers Record Second-Highest Score in Program History in Win Over West Virginia
Pitt recorded the second highest team score in program history in a win over West Virginia, 196.575-196.275. Six Panthers recorded personal bests, and Pitt notched season highs in vault, beam and floor. Pitt closed the meet with a 49.350 on floor and scored at least 49.050 in all four rotations. Darbi Simcox had a 9.925 on balance beam and Jaime Pratt and Meika Lee each scored 9.900 on floor.
MARCH 10 | WRESTLING
Pitzer Named Most Outstanding Wrestler; Pitt Crowns Three ACC Champs
The Pitt wrestling team finished second overall in the team standings with 63.5 total points as the Panthers crowned three individual champions at the 2025 ACC Championships. The Panthers sent four wrestlers to the finals with Reece Heller (184), Mac Stout (197), and Dayton Pitzer (285) each claiming ACC titles in their respective weight classes. Luca Augustine finished as the runner-up in the 174-pound match.
Pitzer was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Championship after defeating both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds en route to his first title.
The Panthers matched their best team finish since joining the ACC, also finishing second at the 2015 and 2020 ACC Championships. The three individual champions also match a program best, with the Panthers having three wrestlers claim titles in 2022, 2017, and 2015.
MARCH 19 | WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Panthers Record Highest NCAA Relay Finish in 38 Years
Pitt's women's 800 free relay team set a new school record and recorded the program's highest NCAA relay finish in 38 years on the first night of the NCAA Women's Championships. The relay team of Avery Kudlac (1:44.85), Sydney Gring (1:45.55), Mary Clarke (1:46.93) and Kimmy Shannon (1:46.05) finished 18th overall with a school record time of 7:03.38.
MARCH 21 | WRESTLING
Mac Stout Earns All-American Honors
Mac Stout finished in seventh place at 197 pounds to earn All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. Stout recorded a 4-2 record in the tournament, including a 4-2 victory over Wyatt Voelker of Northern Iowa to become the 85th All-American in program history. The Mt. Lebanon product secured seventh place with a 12-3 major decision over Camden McDanel of Nebraska. Stout finished the season with a 27-4 record, including 16 bonus-point victories.
MARCH 23 | WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING
Pitt Women Finish Historic Season With Highest NCAA Finish in 29 Years
The Pitt women capped off their historic season by setting seven program records at the NCAAs and having their highest NCAA finish in 29 years, finishing tied for 27th. The Panthers claimed their first female All-American swimmer since 1986, when Sophie Yendell finished sixth in the 50 free. It was also the first time since 1985 that two swimmers have scored in the NCAA Championships individually, with Yendell taking points in the 50 free and Claire Jansen scoring in the 100 back.
APRIL 12 | LACROSSE
Panthers Close Home Schedule With First Ranked Win in Program History
Pitt Lacrosse’s 2025 Senior Day was one to remember, as the Panthers recorded their first ranked win in program history defeating No. 25 Notre Dame 13-12. Paige Telatovich put together a career day, scoring a career-best five goals and adding an assist for a career-best six points. Jenna Hendrickson netted two goals, setting the single-season program record in the process (44). In goal, Molly Cain made seven saves to assist the Panther defense and hold off the Fighting Irish attack.
APRIL 17 | SOFTBALL
Griggs Walks It Off as Pitt Earns Series Victory Over No. 11 Virginia Tech
The Pitt softball team secured its first-ever series win over a ranked opponent, stunning No. 11 Virginia Tech at Vartabedian Field. The Panthers claimed the series opener with a dramatic walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth inning, snapping the Hokies' Division I-leading 17-game winning streak. Pitt responded to a second-game loss with a 6-3 victory in the series finale, clinching the series and making the program’s first series win over a ranked opponent.
MAY 7 | BASEBALL
Panthers Walk-Off No. 12 Mountaineers
With their backs against the wall, and down to their final three outs, Pitt scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk-off No. 12 ranked West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. After the Panthers’ first two batters reached base safely, Jayden Melendez blasted a towering three-run home run that cut the lead to just one. After Pitt loaded the bases, Keeton Burroughs knotted the game at nine on an RBI fielder’s choice. With runners now at the corners, Gavin Miller bounced a ball up the middle that scored Anthony LaSala from third and walked off the Mountaineers. It was Pitt’s first win over West Virginia since 2022.
MAY 14 | BASEBALL
Pitt Thumps Penn State at PNC Park, 15-1
Pitt earned a season sweep of Penn State with their 15-1 victory over the Nittany Lions at PNC Park. Pittsburgh native Drew Lafferty threw a complete game for the Panthers, striking out six and allowing just one run over seven innings. Sebastian Pisacreta (3-4, 3 RBI) and Caden Dulin (3-4, 2 RBI) each notched three-hit games while Lorenzo Career launched a three-run home run. Pitt outscored Penn State 24-3 in their two wins over the Nittany Lions in 2025.
MAY 18 | MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Devin Nugent, 1600 Relay Bring Home ACC Gold
The Pitt men’s track and field team crowned an outdoor conference champion for the first time since 2022 as Devin Nugent won the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Nugent’s 49.52 was a personal best and Kentner Stadium facility record. The men’s 4x400 relay team won gold in the final event of the conference meet, marking the first relay victory at the ACC Outdoor Championships in program history. Malik Ricketts, Nigel Hussey, Thomas McDonough and Nugent combined to go 3:03.96, the third best time in program history and another Kentner Stadium record.
JUNE 15 | MEN'S & WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Five Panthers Earn All-American Honors at NCAA Championships
Eva Baldursdottir (High Jump), Malik Ricketts (400m, 4x400 Relay), Darren McQueen Jr., Nigel Hussey and Stephon Brown (4x400 Relay team) competed in the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Baldursdottir earned Second-Team All-America honors as she finished 12th in the country in the high jump. The four representatives from the men’s track and field team earned Honorable Mention All-America status as the men’s relay team placed 17th in the highly competitive race. Ricketts earned a second Honorable Mention All-America nod as he finished 20th in the 400-meter event.
OCT. 11 | FOOTBALL
Panthers Upset No. 25 Florida State in Tallahassee
The Panthers earned their first ranked win on the road since 2018 with their 34-31 victory at No. 25 Florida State. Despite trailing at halftime, the Panthers stormed back and outscored the Seminoles 20-10 in the second half to secure their first come-from-behind win of the season. In his return to the lineup, RB Desmond Reid accumulated 200 all-purpose yards (155 receiving, 45 rushing) with two touchdown receptions. Reid’s 155 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns each tied career highs. Pitt’s true freshman tandem of QB Mason Heintschel and RB Ja’Kyrian Turner helped Reid lead the way offensively. Heintschel passed for 321 yards and two touchdowns while Turner rushed for 44 yards and notched the first multiple-touchdown game of his career. Turner's three-yard score with under three minutes remaining in the game proved to be the game-winner.
Tied up??
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 11, 2025
Heintschel extends the play and hits Reid for his second receiving TD of the day.
?? ESPN
Pitt 21, Florida State 21 pic.twitter.com/P3AlB1Bz2K
TRAP WALKERS ?? HAIL TO PITT ???? pic.twitter.com/R78nNf5QEm
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 11, 2025
OCT. 18 | MEN'S SOCCER
Vilamitjana Hat Trick Lifts Pitt Past Syracuse
Pitt knocked off Syracuse 4-2 as Arnau Vilamitjana became the first Panther to record a hat trick since Luis Sahmkow on Sept. 18, 2023. Vilamitjana scored on a penalty kick in the eighth minute to put the Panthers ahead 1-0. He then scored twice in the second half putting Pitt ahead 3-1 and then 4-2.
OCT. 19 | VOLLEYBALL
Olivia Babcock Sets Individual Match Kill Record in Five-Set Victory Over No. 4 Louisville
2025 AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock set a program record with 41 kills in a five-set victory over Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena. The opposite hit an impressive .423 while adding eight digs, five blocks and two aces. Her performance marked the most kills in a match by a Panther since Ann Marie Lucanie tallied 37 against Auburn on Sept. 13, 1991.
OCT. 30 | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Panthers Make History, Stun No. 1 Notre Dame
For the first time in program history, the Pitt women's soccer team defeated the nation's top-ranked opponent, earning a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Notre Dame at Ambrose Urbanic Field. After 85 minutes of scoreless action, the Panthers broke through when a corner kick from Margaret Wilde connected with Mya Archibald, who flicked a header inside the left post to give Pitt the late lead. The Panthers' back line held firm over the final minutes to secure the historic upset.
NOV. 2 | VOLLEYBALL
No. 4 Pitt Outlasts No. 21 UNC in Five; Babcock Shatters Kills School Record
Olivia Babcock broke her own single-match kills record with 45 in a victory over North Carolina on Nov. 2 while hitting .357. She added eight digs and six blocks to her stat line. Babcock finished the season as the only player in the country to reach the 45-kill mark, the most in NCAA Division I volleyball since Cincinnati’s Jordan Thompson recorded 50 against UConn on Nov. 3, 2019.
NOV. 15 | FOOTBALL
ESPN College Gameday Returns to Pittsburgh; Aaron Donald Jersey Retired
For the fourth time in the show's history, Pittsburgh was the host for ESPN’s iconic college football pregame show, College GameDay Built by The Home Depot. It marked the first time that Pittsburgh hosted the show on a Saturday since 2005.
In addition to the pregame festivities on the North Shore, the University of Pittsburgh retired Aaron Donald’s No. 97 jersey during a halftime celebration. As a senior in 2013, Donald was named a unanimous first-team All-American and the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, and Rotary Lombardi Award, making him one of the most decorated players in Pitt history.
it's beautiful ?? pic.twitter.com/fMA3peNTvC
— Pitt Panthers (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) November 15, 2025
NOV. 19 | ATHLETICS
Pitt Athletics Reaches Historic 94 Percent Graduation Success Rate
In November, the NCAA announced that Pitt student-athletes reached a 94 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR), the highest recorded in department history. The 94 percent GSR measures the proportion of student-athletes who earn a degree within six years of initial enrollment. Pitt is well above the national average of 90 percent.
NOV. 22 | MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
McMahon Posts Program’s Best NCAA Finish Since 1990
Sophomore Thomas McMahon finished 93rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a personal best time of 29:33.0 in the 10K race, capping off a campaign in which he was the Panthers’ top finisher in all six meets. The Columbus, Ohio native recorded Pitt men’s cross country’s highest individual finish at the national championship meet since 1990.
NOV. 28 | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Minor Hits 30-Foot Buzzer Beater to Lift Pitt Over Ohio State
Senior point guard Damarco Minor drilled a 30-foot runner at the horn to give Pitt a dramatic 67-66 win over previously unbeaten Ohio State at the Petersen Events Center. Minor’s heroics came moments after Ohio State took a 66-64 lead on a putback with 3.9 seconds remaining. Following a timeout, Pitt inbounded to Minor, who pushed the ball up the floor, slipped through defenders and pulled up from deep for the game-winner as time expired.
NOV. 29 | VOLLEYBALL
Pitt Sweeps Georgia Tech to Earn Share of ACC Crown
The Panthers earned a share of the 2025 ACC Championship with a sweep of Georgia Tech on Nov. 29, marking their fourth consecutive title and seventh in program history. Pitt controlled the net with 18 team blocks, the third-most in a three-set NCAA Division I match this season. Blaire Bayless and Olivia Babcock combined for 23 of the team’s 37 kills, while Brooke Mosher guided the offense to a .301 team hitting percentage with 26 assists.
DEC. 18 | VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Makes Fifth Consecutive Trip to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals
With the win over Purdue on Dec. 13, Pitt advanced to its fifth consecutive National Semifinal, becoming just the fourth program in history to achieve the feat and the first since Texas (2012-2016). The Panthers earned their ticket to Kansas City with wins over UMBC, Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue at the Petersen Events Center, sweeping the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament.