The 2025 ESPYs have wrapped up after beginning with a bang due to comic Shane Gillis taking part in host.
Whereas hosts like Serena Williams, Stephen Curry, and different entertainers like Drake are nice, Gillis is a recurring line stepper and instantly began with the uncomfortable jokes in his monologue.
Some had been lighthearted, comparable to Sugar Ray Leonard combating Jake Paul in 10 years for a money seize, or Shedeur Sanders’ nepotism, calling NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a free-throw service provider, and Karl Anthony Cities’ zestiness, however then he went additional.
“When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle Home so she will be able to proceed doing what she loves most: fist-fighting black girls,” he stated to the shocked crowd.
Gillis roasted Deshaun Watson’s dozens of sexual assault claims from message therapists, saying, “Please hold your arms the place my eyes can see — is what they are saying when DeShawn Watson will get a therapeutic massage.”
He additionally dipped into politics and Donald Trump’s immigration takeover.
“Joe Rogan wished me to be right here to host this award present in order that I may seize Adam Silver as a result of Joe thinks he’s an alien,” he joked. “Donald Trump wished me to be right here to seize Juan Soto for a similar motive.”
Gillis even made a January 6 joke about Mike Pence nearly dying and took a dig on the Epstein recordsdata, sarcastically saying he’s positive they received deleted— or by no means actually existed.
Loads of the evening’s winners had been anticipated, just like the Tremendous Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, who took dwelling the award for greatest workforce of the yr, beating out UConn’s girls’s basketball workforce, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, and the World Collection-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
As for one of the best male athlete on the planet, it went to the NBA Finals MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On the flip facet, Simone Biles received for the ladies, marking her second win of the evening after first being introduced the 2025 ESPY for Finest Championship Efficiency.
It comes after a break from gymnastics as a result of “twisties” and a triumphant return that led to her successful 4 medals on the Paris Olympics, throughout which she spoke about how she overcame these struggles.
“Having a powerful assist system that understands your desires, who’re prepared to indicate up for you, not simply if you’re successful, however if you’re struggling, too, is basically essential,” Biles stated onstage. “My honest gratitude, appreciation and like to all of you who’ve stood with me on this magical journey, all of the highs, lows, twists and turns alongside the best way.”
Different anticipated winners of the evening included Saquon Barkley, who received two ESPYs for high NFL Participant and Finest Play, Cooper Flagg and Juju Watkins for greatest school athletes, Coco Gauff for greatest tennis participant, and Caitlin Clark for one of the best WNBA participant.
The ESPYs all the time honor the constructive influence sports activities have had on athletes, so this yr’s Jimmy V Award for perseverance was given to Penn State girls’s volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, as she battled most cancers whereas main her workforce to a championship-winning season.
The Icon Award went to 2 pioneering girls in sports activities of their respective fields: Diana Taurasi, who devoted greater than 20 years of her life to the WNBA, and World Cup-winning soccer participant Alex Morgan.
Tennis participant Sloane Stephens was honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for her work together with her namesake basis that teaches at-risk youth in Compton instruments for achievement on and off the tennis court docket.
One other vital honor of the evening is the Pat Tillman Award for Service, introduced to those that comply with within the footsteps of the previous NFL participant and Military Ranger. The award went to swimmer-turned-firefighter David Walters, who received a gold medal on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and former Wake Forest Faculty star Erin Regan, who’s additionally a firefighter and fought the Pacific Palisades firefighters earlier this yr.
NBA legend Oscar Robertson was additionally available after being introduced the Arthur Ashe Award for Braveness by Russell Westbrook. Not solely is Robertson a pioneering Black NBA participant, however he additionally based the gamers’ affiliation and ushered within the free company period.
“It was a determined want for gamers to have extra safety,” the 86-year-old stated throughout his acceptance speech. “It’s essential to be persistent, or as I’ve been known as, cussed,” Robertson stated. “It’s essential to do the appropriate factor even when it comes at private sacrifice.”
Gillis’ jokes apart, leisure additionally included a Druski look, and Clipse additionally continued their whirlwind press run for Let God Kind Em Out by performing “Grindin’” and “Ace Trumpets.”
See social media’s response to the 2025 ESPYs under.
Shane Gillis Kicks Off ESPYs With Deshaun Watson & Trump-Epstein Jokes, Simone Biles Wins Huge & Extra Reactions
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