The 2025 ESPY Awards are here!
Top athletes from all over will be honored on one of sports’ biggest nights. Here are the nominees, the presenters, and the performers, and here’s how to watch.
Follow along for live updates throughout the night as awards are handed out!
Best Championship Performance
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesBusta Rhymes and Flau’jae Johnson announced the first award for the best championship performance.
Simone Biles (2024 Olympics Women’s All-Around), Stephen Curry (US Men’s Olympic BB team), Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers – World Series MVP), and Rory McIlroy (Wins first Masters title, completing career Grand Slam) were nominated.
Winner: Simone Biles – 2024 Olympics Women’s All-Around
Performance By Clipse
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images‘Tush Push’ Movie Trailer
Shane Gillis jokingly made a fake movie trailer to highlight the tush push, which is a play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles. He even poked fun at other NFL teams voting against it, trying to ban it for “working too well.”
Best Play
Lindsey Vonn and Lamar Jackson present the award for best play.
Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle, Tyrese Haliburton final shot in NBA Finals Game 1 ,Sabrina Ionescu Logo 3 Game Winner, and Trinity Rodman with the OT Goal to send USWNT to the semi-finals were all nominated
Winner: Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle
*Eagles OT Jordan Mailata accepted the award on Barkley’s behalf.
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCiara presented the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award to professional tennis player Sloane Stephens, who had a career-best ranking of world No. 3 and won the 2017 US Open.
However, it’s her Sloane Stephens Foundation that earned her this award. Her mission is to “empower children around the world to dream big and achieve on and off the court,” as stated on her website. Since 2013, her foundation has impacted over 10,000 students across the country, and as she says, “we’re just getting started.”
GELO Performs
Best Breakthrough Athlete
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesAnthony Ramos and Gabby Thomas present the award for breakthrough athlete.
Cooper Flagg (Duke Men’s Basketball), Chloe Humphrey (North Carolina Women’s Lacrosse), lona Maher (Rugby), and Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) were nominated.
Winner: Ilona Maher – Rugby
A Tribute to Lee Corso
Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit, and Desmond Howard led a tribute to Lee Corso, whose final ESPN College GameDay will be opening weekend for the Ohio State-Texas game. They spoke about their experiences with him before an incredible video played, showing his most memorable moments over the years.
Corso is famous for his headgear picks, making his first in Columbus in 1996. And now he will end his legendary career in the same place where it started.
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson presented the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance to Penn State women’s volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer four games into her third season as head coach. While going through this, she led Penn State women’s volleyball to a National Championship.
Capital One Cup For Athletic Excellence
Elle Duncan presented the Capital One Cup, given to a school for athletic excellence. Along with a trophy, they receive $250,000 to their school’s student athlete scholarship fund courtesy of Capital One.
Winners: University of North Carolina & Ohio State
Icon Award
Ilona Maher presents the Icon Award to Alex Morgan and Diana Taurasi, who both retired this past year.
Busta Rhymes Performs
Best Athlete – Women’s Sports
Alison Brie presents the award for best athlete – women’s sports.
Simone Biles (Gymnast), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Track & Field), Gabby Thomas (Track & Field), and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) were nominated.
Winner: Simone Biles
Pat Tillman Award For Service
The Pat Tillman Award For Service was presented to the Greater Los Angeles first responders and former athletes David Walters and Erin Regan.
Gatorade Player of the Year
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Matthew Stafford highlighted the accomplishments of the Gatorade Player of the Year award nominees.
Winners: Jane Hedengren & Cameron Boozer
Comeback Athlete of the Year
Naomi Girma and Jon Jones present comeback athlete of the year.
Gabe Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche), Suni Lee (Gymnast), Mallory Swanson (USWNT/Chicago Red Stars), and Lindsey Vonn (Skiing) were nominated.
Winner: Suni Lee
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award
Damar Hamlin and Billie Jean King present the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award.
In Memoriam
Chris Berman introduced Tobe Nwigwe featuring David Michael Wyatt, who performed during the In Memoriam part of the show.
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage
Oscar Robertson, nicknamed “the Big O,” received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, with his efforts in the Robertson v. National Basketball Association of 1970 helping reform the league’s free agency and draft rules.
Best Athlete – Men’s Sports
Leslie Jones announces the award for Best Athlete – Men’s Sports.
Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) were nominated.
Winner: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Best NFL Player
Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), and Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos) were nominated.
Winner: Saquon Barkley
Best College Athlete – Women’s Sports
Olivia Babcock (University of Pittsburgh Volleyball), Kate Faasse (North Carolina Soccer), Gretchen Walsh (Virginia Swimming), and JuJu Watkins (USC Basketball) were nominated.
Winner: JuJu Watkins
Best Athlete With A Disability
Noah Elliott (Snowboard), Ezra Frech (Track & Field), Tatyana McFadden (Track & Field), and Grace Norman (Paratriathlete) were nominated.
Winner: Noah Elliott
Best UFC Fighter
Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Kayla Harrison, and Islam Makhachev were nominated.
Winner: Kayla Harrison
Best Record Breaking Performance
Geno Auriemma (UConn Huskies), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Kevin Durant (Olympic Basketball), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Winner: Alexander Ovechkin
Best Team
Druski presents the award for Best Team.
Florida Panthers (NHL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), New York Liberty (WNBA), Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA Football), Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), North Carolina Tar Heels (NCAA Women’s Lacrosse), United States Women’s National Team (Soccer), University of Connecticut Huskies (Women’s Basketball)
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
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ESPYS 2025 Live Recap & Highlights