LOS ANGELES — Host led Serena WilliamsThe ESPYS is Women’s Sportsand Simone BilesAja Wilson, Caitlin ClarkDawn Staley and JuJu Watkins were among the recipients at Thursday night’s awards ceremony.
Staley, national champion coach South Carolina Women’s Basketball TeamStaley was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Her friend, Tennessee standout player Nikki McCray-Penson, died of breast cancer and Staley’s sister was diagnosed with leukemia.
“To be honest, I feel a little undeserving of this award. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible odds and proven themselves to be true warriors,” Staley said. “I can only stand by and watch such tremendous courage and tenacity.”
Staley’s Gamecocks won the Best Team award.
Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won the Female Athlete of the Year award and the WNBA Player of the Year award.
“I can’t believe that I went from being a girl who never even wanted to play basketball to now being nominated for an ESPY award,” she said in the video.
The best male athlete was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was also named best NFL player.
“Having been around this kid for the last few years, it’s been awesome to watch him grow as a football player, as a teammate and as a leader,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in accepting the award on Mahomes’ behalf, “but even more than that, it’s been awesome to watch him grow as a father and as a husband.”
Biles Just weeks before competing in the Paris Olympics, where she was awarded the best comeback athlete award, the most decorated gymnast in history has withdrawn from the team competition at the Tokyo Olympics to prioritise her mental health.
Clark of the Indiana Fever also won two trophies with a record-breaking performance. NCAA all-time leading scorerand was named the University of Iowa basketball player of the year.
“It’s been a little busy in Indianapolis,” Clark said in the video. “It’s been a special year for women’s track and field.”
Watkins He won the award for Best Breakthrough Athlete, his first award after the show started with a 30-minute delay. President Joe Biden’s press conference.
The Southern California basketball star had a standout freshman season, leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decades.
“This is amazing,” Watkins said, “and I want to thank all the great, powerful women who came before me who made this possible.”
Williams made the joke during a monologue at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, and later performed after Ciara opened the show with a musical number. Williams’ sister, Venus, then came on stage and joked that she’d actually been asked to host, leading to a mock argument between the siblings.
“You might wonder why I do this,” says Serena, a known fashionista, “but if there’s an opportunity to make 16 outfits in three hours, I’d take it.”
ABC’s broadcast returned from a commercial break in the final minutes and began repeating the previous two awards ceremonies. Williams’ parting words were cut, as were the closing credits. ABC did not immediately explain what caused the problem. The show was broadcast live in the Eastern and Central time zones, and on a delayed, pre-recorded broadcast on the West Coast.
Prince Harry accepted the Pat Tillman Lifetime Achievement Award and spoke about his mother, a fallen Army Ranger. He criticized ESPN. To respect the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex accepted the trophy from three veterans who were injured in the line of duty, as his wife Meghan Markle joined in a standing ovation. Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years, deploying twice to Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.
In 2014, he founded the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style multi-sport event for injured military personnel and veterans.
“This award belongs to them, not to me,” Harry said.
Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, had criticized ESPN for choosing Harry, saying a more deserving recipient would be someone who works in the veterans community. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Mary, for attending and also expressed his gratitude to Mary Tillman.
“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and something I respect,” he said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest loss.”
Retired NFL safety Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for courageous acts. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2011. His nonprofit organization, Team Gleason, provides programs and support services to help people with ALS live meaningful lives.
Gleason rode onto the stage in a motorized chair, was kissed by former New Orleans Saints teammate Drew Brees and given a standing ovation. Gleason’s voice was heard through special technology. His young son, Rivers, stood next to his father and held the trophy.
“To me, this honor means some kind of encouragement and victory for all the families who are currently battling ALS, and for all those who are living with disabilities or other illnesses,” he said. “If you’ve never experienced fear, loneliness and suffering, then I think you can get your holy ass rolled out of here.”
Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers’ Connor McDavid was named MLB Most Valuable Player. Stanley Cup Runners-Up Edmonton Oilers was named the NHL Most Valuable Player, while Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was named the NBA Most Valuable Player.
Cooper Flaggand Sadie Engelhardt, a senior guard-forward from Montverde Academy in Florida and track and field athlete at Ventura High School in California, were named Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Aja Wilson Las Vegas Aces The best female athletes.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark also won two trophies with a record-breaking performance. NCAA all-time leading scorerand was named the University of Iowa basketball player of the year.
JuJu Watkins won the award for Best Breakthrough Athlete, the first to receive an award after the show started with a 30-minute delay. President Joe Biden’s press conference.
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named Best Male Athlete and Best NFL Player.
