Ranking 25 storylines we're most excited about in 2025 (Part 2)

To ring in the new year, theScore is looking ahead. While 2024 provided a number of indelible sports moments, 2025 promises to deliver its own share of memorable events and historic achievements. Below, we're counting down the 2025 storylines that have us most intrigued. Our five-part series continues with items 20-16.

Follow the entire series this week:

20. Who's next for Jake Paul?

Love him or hate him, Jake Paul has become one of the biggest draws in boxing. The YouTuber turned fighter recently got 65 million worldwide viewers to tune in on Netflix for an eight-round exhibition against 58-year-old Mike Tyson. While the outcome - a unanimous decision win for Paul, who barely broke a sweat against the former undisputed champion - drew criticism, with some suggesting it was fixed, "El Gallo" has unquestionably become a sensation. Since becoming a boxer, he's graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and pushed his net worth to nearly $80 million. Not bad for a guy who has mostly fought celebrities, washed-up MMA fighters, and low-rent boxers.

Paul's become so popular that fighters like Ryan Garcia, champions Daniel Dubois and Artur Beterbiev, and former titleholder Andre Ward have challenged him to fights on social media. Paul, meanwhile, appears to be focused on fighting either Conor McGregor in an MMA-style clash or Canelo Álvarez in a boxing ring.

Whoever Paul does decide to fight in 2025 will be a big draw as the 27-year-old continues to build a legacy that no one anticipated. - Bryan Mcwilliam

19. USMNT, Canada prep for 2026 World Cup

The United States' and Canada's men's national teams enter the new year with positive momentum. Both have new head coaches and promise to build on the ambitious play that has so far delivered success in the CONCACAF Nations League. The U.S. and Canada could even meet in the final in March.

Mauricio Pochettino seems to have reinvigorated the U.S. since starting work in October. His high-intensity game plan smothered Jamaica in the Nations League in November. Pochettino has coached a lot of top players before and knows what they want, helping him to satisfy a squad that includes Europe-based players Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Timothy Weah, Weston McKennie, and Antonee Robinson.

Although Canada's federation has been engulfed in negative press from the drone-spying scandal that erupted at the Paris Olympics, the men's team is in good shape. Jesse Marsch refreshed the roster and restored confidence following its timid group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup. Canada beat the U.S. in September, held Mexico to a goalless draw, and achieved an all-time high of 31st in the FIFA rankings in November. It's imperative to keep the good times rolling in 2025. Beyond the Gold Cup, Canada won't have many competitive games to play before the World Cup on home soil in 2026. Scheduling high-profile friendlies will help fill the void. - Anthony Lopopolo

18. Paige Bueckers' time to shine

Paige Bueckers isn't living in Caitlin Clark's shadow - the UConn star made sure the spotlight was big enough for both of them. "Paige Buckets" has already won three gold medals at the youth international level and earned the respect of basketball's elite, many of whom have labeled her a generational player. She's even drawn comparisons to Diana Taurasi, who called her "basketball's next big thing."

The Minnesota native is expected to be the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Watching her take the court in the pros alongside former college opponents Clark and Angel Reese should be nothing short of a treat.

The Dallas Wings won the draft lottery, and many expect Bueckers to head to Texas. Expect the buzz around the WNBA to be even louder in 2025 - especially if Bueckers arrives on the heels of leading UConn to its first national title since 2016. - Erica Commisso

17. Should Bucks, 76ers blow it up?

Two dreadful starts left fans of would-be NBA contenders in Philadelphia and Milwaukee wondering if it was time to panic. The 76ers' slow start can be attributed to injuries: Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have all missed time this campaign, and the team's Big Three played together just once through the first 20 contests. When healthy, this team has unlimited potential, but is health a realistic expectation? On the positive side, Embiid holds career averages of 27.8 points and 11.1 rebounds on 50.2% shooting, and Philly has set the former MVP up for the future by surrounding him with young talents like Maxey and Jared McCain (though the latter is now sidelined with a serious knee injury).

The Bucks, on the other hand, seem to lack direction despite their NBA Cup triumph, and many of their stars are on the wrong side of 30. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still in his prime, but Damian Lillard is 34, Khris Middleton is 33, and Brook Lopez is 36. Lillard is still producing, but Middleton can't stay healthy, and Lopez is averaging 12.3 points, nearly matching his career low. Milwaukee also lacks eye-catching young players. Andre Jackson Jr. struggles to score and AJ Green is one-dimensional. Giannis is averaging a career-high 32.7 points on 61.3% shooting and could force his way onto a team with more long-term potential if the Bucks don't show signs of being legitimately competitive in the new year.

These perennial Eastern Conference contenders could decide it's time for a strategic shift. Trading Embiid or Antetokounmpo - or both - could totally alter the NBA landscape. - Joseph Luca Casciaro

16. Can Scheffler replicate dominant 2024?

Scottie Scheffler's 2024 season was the most dominant performance the sport of golf has seen since prime Tiger Woods. In a remarkable stretch of eight tournaments, Scheffler won five times and finished as the runner-up twice. The other result was a still impressive tie for eighth at the PGA Championship, where he was bizarrely arrested (charges were later dropped) before Round 2 of the tournament.

In total, Scheffler won nine times in 2024, highlighted by an Olympic gold medal and his second Masters title in three years. He joined Woods as the only players in PGA TOUR history to be named player of the year in three straight seasons.

The scariest part for the rest of the field? Scheffler might be getting better. If there's one knock on his game, it's his inconsistent putting. But he tried out a new "claw" putting grip at December's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and won the tournament by six strokes. If Scheffler can transform his putting from a weakness to a strength, there's no telling how high his ceiling is. - Josh Wegman

The rollout continues Wednesday with Nos. 15-11.