Interestingly enough, while the term “Hail Mary pass” is most commonly associated with American football, similar desperation plays exist across other sports including basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, and tennis.
In basketball, a “Hail Mary” often manifests as a “buzzer-beater” or “half-court shot,” a long, low-probability attempt taken as the clock expires. In soccer, it might be a “last-ditch effort” or “long ball”—a hopeful pass or shot in the dying moments of a match. Rugby features its version as well, with a long kick or pass made in desperation to score a try. Even in ice hockey, a “Hail Mary” could be a long shot from the defensive zone, hoping for a lucky deflection or bounce to find the back of the net.
Here are notable “Hail Mary” moments in sports where a team or player resorts to a high- risk, high-reward strategy in a last-ditch effort to win:
In the 1995 NBA Playoffs, Indiana Pacers’ guard, Reggie Miller, famously scored eight points in nine seconds against the New York Knicks, which included an extremely long three-pointer. Although not quite a Hail Mary, it exemplified the desperation and skill involved in long, high-stakes shots to secure an unexpected win when the Pacers were behind in the closing seconds.
In the Premier Soccer League in 2021, Liverpool goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, scored a last- minute header against West Bromwich Albion, becoming the first Liverpool goalkeeper to score in their history. This dramatic move secured Liverpool’s win and their place in the Champions League.
In the 1988 World Series, Kirk Gibson, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a dramatic walk-off home run off pitcher, Dennis Eckersley, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Battling injuries, Gibson’s unlikely home run is often cited as one of the most legendary “Hail Mary” moments in baseball history.
A decade ago, during the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, the New York Rangers pulled their goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, in the final minutes of Game 5, trailing the Los Angeles Kings by one goal. While they didn’t manage to score, the high-stakes gamble exemplifies a classic hockey “Hail Mary” play.
The great Serena Williams has been known to use this tactic in high-stakes moments, like during her 2012 Wimbledon final against Agnieszka Radwańska, where she opted for aggressive serves under pressure. The risk paid off as she regained control and ultimately won her fifth Wimbledon championship and her 14th career Grand Slam singles title.
A few lesser known sports gaining widespread popularity in the US in the midst of the Paris Olympics, Cricket, Rugby, and Water Polo, have also utilized “Hail Mary” tactics.
In Cricket, a team needs an unusually high number of runs in the last over (six balls) to win or tie the game. The batsman may go for high-risk shots, aiming for sixes (the maximum score per ball) instead of safer shots that yield fewer runs. This tactic carries a high risk of getting caught out or bowled. In the 2019 IPL Final, Mumbai Indians’ bowler, Lasith Malinga, delivered a successful final over to deny the Chennai Super Kings a last-minute victory. The batsman’s attempted sixes in the last few balls exemplify this “Hail Mary” approach, though it ultimately did not pay off.
In Rugby, when a rugby team is trailing in the final minutes and near the opponent’s goal line, the fly-half might attempt a cross-field kick, sending the ball high across the field to a winger in hopes of scoring a try. This risky maneuver often catches defenders off guard but can easily result in a turnover if it fails. During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand’s Dan Carter used a surprise cross-field kick to set up a try against Australia, securing their lead. While not in the final seconds, it highlighted the high-reward nature of the risky play under pressure.
In Water Polo, if a water polo team is down in the final seconds, a player might attempt a full-court lob shot, launching the ball from their end of the pool toward the opposing team’s goal. The distance, combined with defenders and the goalie’s positioning, makes it a low-percentage play, but it can lead to a buzzer-beater goal if successful. UCLA’s Maddie Musselman scored a full-court shot just before the buzzer against USC in a 2019 NCAA match . This rare, but thrilling move, is a classic example of a “Hail Mary” in water polo.
All of these plays share a common theme: high-risk, high-reward attempts made when conventional strategies are unlikely to succeed. As long as there’s a ball in play and a clock ticking down, the spirit of the “Hail Mary” will continue to thrive.
Do you have a favorite sport where you’ve seen a dramatic last-second play? I have a couple from Women’s NCAA Basketball and the WNBA Final’s most recently, but we’d love to hear about it from you. Send an email to CoachLeah@InsightNews.com to let us know. Your email automatically enters you for a chance to win in our “Cheers to the New Year!” giveaway on New Year’s Day2025.
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