The 2025 ESPY Awards took place on July 16th at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to honor the biggest names in sports, and nominees Simone Biles and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took home the night's biggest prizes.
Simone Biles won Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance for her incredible all-around gold medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. In her speech, Biles paused to dedicate one of her awards to the victims of the recent floods in Texas to demonstrate her support of and compassion for other people in a difficult time.
On the men's side, NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won Best Male Athlete. The best man award is given to one nominated athlete that displayed the most exceptional excellence based on the individual and the context in which they performed or competed.
Gilgeous-Alexander received this award because after the Oklahoma City Thunder won the championship, he led the NBA in scoring and was awarded both the league MVP and NBA Finals MVP. In Gigius-Alexander's speech, he thanked his teammates, coaches, and family while referring to how much they helped him achieve greatness.
The evening was hosted by Shane Gillis, a comedian who I believe opened the show with some jokes that sparked a little buzz, but then the focus was back to honoring the last remarkable year of sport accomplishments by athletes.
.@Simone_Biles is ESPYS 2025 Best Athlete-Women’s Sports & Best Championship Performance. 🎉💫 #ESPYAwards pic.twitter.com/MmworwwaVo
— Octagon Olympics & Action Sports (@OctagonOAS) July 17, 2025
Saquon Barkley Scores Big, Special Awards Highlight Courage and Impact
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had a standout night at the ESPYs, walking away with three major awards. He won Best NFL Player, was recognized for Best Play for his viral hurdle move, and was part of the Best Team award given to the Eagles. Barkley’s strong performance both on and off the field made him one of the evening’s most celebrated athletes.
Several other sports stars were honored for their breakthroughs and inspirational journeys. Ilona Maher, a standout in rugby, became the first player from the sport to win Best Breakthrough Athlete. Meanwhile, gymnast Suni Lee was awarded Best Comeback Athlete after successfully returning to competition following a battle with kidney disease.
The ESPYs also recognized athletes and leaders who made a broader impact beyond sports:
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Oscar Robertson
Jimmy V Perseverance Award: Katie Schumacher-Cawley
Pat Tillman Award for Service: David Walters and Erin Regan
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Sloane Stephens
Icon Awards: Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan
Each award served as a reminder of the dedication, strength, and leadership shown by athletes across different fields, both in competition and in life.
