The 2024-25 North Carolina Sports Awards
July 16 Broadcast Of “The Pineys” Will Celebrate
Team/Event/Moment Of Year Finalists, Winners
After Vote By NCSN Viewers, Listeners, Readers
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated July 13, 2025)
The North Carolina Sports Network will broadcast the 2025 edition of the North Carolina Sports Awards (aka “The Pineys”), which celebrate the Old North State’s top athletes, coaches, teams, moments and sporting events each year, via a special July 16 program on its rapidly expanding YouTube channel.
Four of this year’s five winners, including two championship-winning coaches and one of the greatest athletes ever produced by the state of North Carolina, have agreed to appear as special guests on the July 16 program. The other honoree, who will be unable to participate personally because of prior commitments, requested that one of his mentors appear on his behalf to accept his award.
In May, June and early July, North Carolina Sports Network viewers, listeners and readers nominated more than 250 candidates in The Pineys’ five award categories: Team of the Year, Event of the Year, Moment of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
A panel of North Carolina Sports Network contributors and advisors then reduced the lengthy lists of nominees to 10 or fewer finalists in each category before inviting a final round of voting by viewers, listeners, readers, staff members and consultants.
Below are this year’s finalists in the Team of the Year, Event of the Year and Moment of the Year categories. The finalists in the other two categories can be found HERE.
All five winners will be revealed during the July 16 show on the North Carolina Sports Network’s quickly growing YouTube channel, which has attracted more than 35,000 subscribers — and millions of total viewers — in just its first two years of operation.
“TEAM OF THE YEAR” FINALISTS
(must be N.C.-based college/pro team)
Carolina Hurricanes
(2025 Stanley Cup semifinalist)
Duke football
(9-4 record in 2024; tied for second-most victories in program history)
Duke men’s basketball
(35-4 record in 2024-25, ACC champion, NCAA Final Four participant)
High Point men’s basketball
(29-6 record, 2025 Big South champion, first NCAA bid as Division One program)
Team Penske, NASCAR
(drivers Joey Logano/Ryan Blaney finished first/second in final 2024 points standings for Charlotte-based team)
UNC women’s lacrosse
(2025 NCAA champion, undefeated 22-0 season, ACC champion)
UNC women’s soccer
(2024 NCAA champion under first-year head coach Damon Nahas)
Wake Forest men’s tennis
(2025 NCAA champion, 40-1 record, 33-0 regular season)
“EVENT OF THE YEAR” FINALISTS
(must be hosted at N.C. venue or involve N.C.-based team)
2025 ACC Tournament in Charlotte
(Duke wins; begins five-year run in Charlotte/Greensboro after long in-state/out-of-state rotation)
2024 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City
(record 302 boats, three record payouts of $1.8 million-plus)
2024 Carolina Panthers international NFL game in Germany
(played against New York Giants before 70,132 spectators in Munich)
2025 NASCAR return to Rockingham
(after 12-year absence from legendary, history-filled N.C. motorsports venue)
2025 NCAA Soccer Final Fours in Cary
(Vermont/UNC win men’s/women’s “College Cup” events at WakeMed Soccer Park)
2025 PGA Championship in Charlotte
(world #1 Scottie Scheffler captures another golf major, held at Quail Hollow Club)
2025 “The Soccer Tournament” in Cary
(included elite/athletes entertainers, $1 million men’s/women’s team prizes at WakeMed Soccer Park)
“MOMENT OF THE YEAR” FINALISTS
(must involve N.C.-affiliated athlete/coach/team)
Carolina Hurricanes star Seth Jarvis
(helped native Canada to title at NHL’s electrifying “4 Nations” all-star event in February 2025)
Former Southern Nash/UNC/Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers
(August 2024 induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame)
Former UNC basketball stars Vince Carter, Walter Davis
(October 2024 induction into Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame)
“GAME TIME” in Morehead City
(winning boat caught title-clinching, 516-pound blue marlin at 2024 Big Rock Tournament)
UNC completes undefeated 2025 women’s lacrosse season
(May 2025 victory secured 22-0 record and fourth NCAA title, all in past 13 years)
Legendary UNC women’s soccer program reclaims NCAA title
(Tar Heels edged Wake Forest in December 2024 to capture first NCAA title in 12 years)
UNC hires six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick
(Legendary leader tapped to lead Carolina football program in December 2024)
