The 2025 ESPY Awards befell on the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on July 16, 2025, uniting the worlds of sports activities and leisure for an evening full of celebration, recognition, and heartfelt tributes. Hosted by comic Shane Gillis, the occasion honored the athletes and moments that outlined the previous 12 months, showcasing the unbelievable achievements of each established stars and rising abilities.
Main award winners
Among the many standout winners of the night have been Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles, who have been named Finest Athlete in Males’s and Girls’s Sports activities, respectively. Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding NBA season noticed him lead the Thunder to a championship title whereas additionally incomes MVP honors and the league’s scoring title.
Simone Biles, who lately made a triumphant return to the Olympics in Paris, the place she gained three gold medals and one silver, took house two of the evening’s high honors: Finest Championship Efficiency and Finest Athlete, Girls’s Sports activities. This victory marked her seventh ESPY Award, solidifying her legacy as one of many best gymnasts of all time.
Biles’ inspiring speech
Throughout her acceptance speech, Biles expressed gratitude to her assist system, stating, “The popularity means greater than you guys know. I wish to thank the individuals who have stood with me on this journey — my teammates, my rivals, my coaches, household, and followers who’ve lifted me up each step of the best way.” She emphasised the significance of getting a powerful assist system, saying, “Having a powerful assist system that understands your desires, who’re keen to point out up for you — not simply while you’re profitable, however while you’re struggling too — is absolutely vital.” This message resonated deeply with many in attendance, highlighting the importance of neighborhood and resilience in reaching success.
Honoring Black excellence in sports activities
The evening additionally celebrated a number of different Black athletes whose contributions prolong past the scoreboard. Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles gained Finest Play for his jaw-dropping landing run, whereas JuJu Watkins from USC was acknowledged as Finest School Athlete, Girls’s Sports activities for her excellent freshman basketball season. Rising tennis star Coco Gauff earned the title of Finest Tennis Participant after a breakout 12 months on the worldwide stage.
One of the vital highly effective moments of the night got here when NBA Corridor of Famer Oscar Robertson accepted the celebrated Arthur Ashe Award for Braveness. Launched by Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, Robertson was honored for his historic management as the primary Black president of an expert sports activities labor union. His groundbreaking antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the NBA within the Seventies laid the muse for contemporary free company and participant empowerment, making his contributions invaluable to the sports activities neighborhood.
An evening of heartfelt tributes
The emotional tribute to Robertson was simply considered one of many heartfelt moments all through the evening. ESPN’s School GameDay analyst Lee Corso was additionally acknowledged for his decades-long profession in sports activities broadcasting, with former colleagues Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, and Desmond Howard becoming a member of him onstage for a shock send-off.
The varied lineup of winners mirrored a dynamic cross-section of the sports activities world, from veteran legends to rising stars. The 2025 ESPY Awards not solely celebrated athletic excellence but in addition highlighted the significance of illustration and the impression of sports activities on society.
Full checklist of 2025 ESPY winners
- Finest Championship Efficiency: Simone Biles, Workforce USA Gymnastics
- Finest Play: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
- Finest Breakthrough Athlete: Ilona Maher, Rugby
- Finest Athlete, Girls’s Sports activities: Simone Biles, Workforce USA Gymnastics
- Finest Comeback Athlete: Suni Lee, Workforce USA Gymnastics
- Finest Athlete, Males’s Sports activities: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Finest Document-Breaking Efficiency: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- Finest Athlete with a Incapacity: Noah Elliot, Snowboarding
- Finest Workforce: Philadelphia Eagles
- Finest WNBA Participant: Caitlin Clark
- Finest School Athlete, Girls’s Sports activities: JuJu Watkins, USC Basketball
- Finest School Athlete, Males’s Sports activities: Cooper Flagg, Duke Basketball
- Finest MLB Participant: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Finest NHL Participant: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
- Finest NBA Participant: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
- Finest Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
- Finest UFC Fighter: Merab Dvalishvili
- Finest Boxer: Katie Taylor
- Finest Soccer Participant: Christian Pulisic, AC Milan, US
- Finest Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
- Finest Tennis Participant: Coco Gauff
- Gatorade Finest Feminine Participant of the Yr: Jane Hendengren, Cross Nation, Observe and Area
- Gatorade Finest Male Participant of the Yr: Cameron Boozer, Basketball
Particular awards
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Katie Schumacher-Cawley
- Arthur Ashe Award for Braveness: Oscar Robertson
- Pat Tillman Award for Service: David Walters and Erin Regan
The 2025 ESPY Awards served as a robust reminder of the impression of sports activities on tradition and society, celebrating not solely athletic achievements but in addition the tales of perseverance, braveness, and neighborhood that encourage us all.