Who Won Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars
Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars was won by Iman Shumpert, partnered with professional dancer Daniella Karagach. The season aired in 2018 and featured 13 celebrity contestants competing in ballroom and Latin dances across 10 main weeks plus finals. Iman Shumpert, a professional NBA guard at the time, and Daniella Karagach earned the highest cumulative scores across the season to claim the mirrorball trophy. This verified explainer outlines the winner, the professional partner, season context, and the decisive finale format for long-term reference.
Season 27 Basic Facts and Timeline
Below are verified attributes of Season 27 relevant to identifying the winner and understanding the competition structure. These details anchor long-term clarity and reduce confusion with similarly numbered cycles in other regions or formats.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Season Number | 27 | Network Season ID |
| Year Aired | 2018 | Broadcast Calendar |
| Winner | Iman Shumpert | ABC Official Results |
| Professional Partner | Daniella Karagach | Show Credits and Announcements |
| Finale Format | Two-night finale with judges’ scores and viewer votes | Episode Summaries |
| Average Viewers (Season 27) | Approximately 8 million across key demographics | Network Ratings Reports |
Profile of Winner Iman Shumpert
Iman Shumpert, known at the time as a professional basketball guard for the New York Knicks, entered Season 27 seeking a new challenge and a chance to perform on national television. Throughout the season, he and Daniella Karagach demonstrated consistent improvement in technique, musicality, and stage presence. They advanced to the finals and were crowned champions based on combined judges’ scores and viewer vote totals. The win contributed to subsequent interest in competitive appearances and brand partnerships for Shumpert.
Key Competitive Highlights
- Consistent top placements in early weeks established momentum.
- Strong freestyle and paso doble performances resonated with judges.
- Maintained high viewer vote totals through social engagement and national visibility.
- Secured the mirrorball trophy in the season finale against strong finalists.
The Professional Partnership: Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach
The pairing of Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach exemplified a strong leader–follower dynamic in which clear communication, disciplined practice, and artistic risk-taking played decisive roles in victory. Daniella Karagach, an experienced professional dancer, choreographed routines that highlighted Shumpert’s athleticism while ensuring technical precision in timing, footwork, and frame. This combination of showmanship and exacting technique is widely recognized as a best practice template for competitive celebrity pairings seeking long-form improvement across a season.
Finale and Championship Determination in Season 27
The Season 27 finale followed the established DWTS two-night format, with Saturday night featuring extended routines and Sunday night culminating in the reveal. Judges evaluated artistic elements, execution, and complexity, while viewers voted via phone, app, and online platforms. Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach accumulated sufficient combined points to secure the title. Understanding this dual-scoring mechanism clarifies how champions are decided beyond simple popularity contests.
Comparative Table Notable Finalists and Scores Context
While the focus here is on the verified winner, contextual placement among other finalists underscores the competitive landscape of Season 27. Exact numeric scores can vary by rounding and official revisions; the table below uses widely reported placements for reference.
| Celebrity | Professional Partner | Final Placement | Key Performance Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iman Shumpert | Daniella Karagach | 1st (Champion) | Consistent improvement and strong freestyle nights |
| Second Place | Professional Partner | 2nd | High-energy stage presence, solid technical scores |
| Third Place | Professional Partner | 3rd | Strong cha-cha and emotional storytelling |
Evergreen Reference Notes and Legacy
Season 27 remains a useful reference point for DWTS history because it reflects the show’s standard competition architecture: progressive skill building, recurring themes, and a finale driven by dual voting systems. Iman Shumpert’s win is often cited in discussions of athletes transitioning to dance competition, demonstrating how cross-domain training can translate to ballroom success. For long-term utility, this explainer emphasizes format familiarity, verified outcomes, and partnership dynamics that recur across seasons.
Common Questions About Season 27
- Who won season 27 of Dancing with the Stars? Iman Shumpert, with professional partner Daniella Karagach.
- When did season 27 air? The season aired in 2018.
- How were the winners determined? Winners were decided by combining judges’ scores and viewer votes during a two-night finale.
- Has the winner participated in later seasons? Iman Shumpert appeared in subsequent all-star and special events, consistent with many champions.
- Where can I verify the official results? ABC network archives and DWTS official press releases are recommended primary sources.
Tags
Tags: DWTS Season 27 winner, Dancing with the Stars season 27, Iman Shumpert winner, 2018 DWTS champion