The 2025 edition of the ESPY Awards was held on July 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where sports figures gathered to learn about the best of the last year in competitions, iconic moments, outstanding performances and unforgettable comebacks. The gala was hosted by comedian Shane Gillis.
Since its inception in 1993, the ESPY Awards have been hosted by ESPN to honor the year’s most outstanding athletes and teams, as well as to recognize inspiring moments on and off the field. Beginning in 2004, journalists, sports executives and ESPN figures joined the public vote in selecting the winners.
In this edition, the spotlight was on athletes such as Shohei Ohtani, who could not attend due to his participation in the MLB All-Star Game, Simone Biles, who shone again at the Paris Olympics, Caitlin Clark, the WNBA sensation, Saquon Barkley with multiple nominations and breakout pitcher Paul Skenes
List of 2025 ESPY Awards winners
Below are all the categories, nominees and winners of these awards:
Best Male Athlete
- Josh Allen (NFL – Buffalo Bills)
- Saquon Barkley (NFL – New York Giants)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA – OKC Thunder)
- Shohei Ohtani (MLB – LA Dodgers)
Best Female Athlete
- Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Athletics)
- Gabby Thomas (Athletics)
- A’ja Wilson (WNBA – Las Vegas Aces)
Team of the Year
- Florida Panthers (NHL)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)
- New York Liberty (WNBA)
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- UConn Huskies (NCAA Women)
- USWNT (United States women’s national soccer team)
- North Carolina Tar Heels (Women’s Lacrosse)
Best Revelation
- Paul Skenes (MLB – Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Cooper Flagg (NCAA – Basketball)
- Chloe Humphrey (Lacrosse)
- Ilona Maher (Rugby)
Best Record Performance
- Geno Auriemma (UConn)
- Caitlin Clark (WNBA)
- Kevin Durant (Olympics)
- Alexander Ovechkin (NHL)
Best Championship Performance
- Simone Biles (Olympic Games Paris 2024 – 3 golds, 1 silver)
- Stephen Curry (Team USA)
- Freddie Freeman (World Series – MVP)
- Rory McIlroy (Career Grand Slam)
Comeback of the Year
- Gabe Landeskog (NHL)
- Suni Lee (Gymnastics)
- Mallory Swanson (USWNT)
- Lindsey Vonn (Skiing)
Play of the Year
- Barkley’s hurdle
- Haliburton three-pointer (NBA Finals)
- Ionescu’s logo three-pointer (WNBA Finals)
- Trinity Rodman’s goal in extra time (Olympics)
Voting was available weeks before the event and the public was able to choose their favorite in each category, in addition to the opinion of sports experts and ESPN figures
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