All articles tagged with #espy awards
Jalen Brunson won Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports at the 2026 ESPYs, while the Knicks took Best Team as OG Anunoby earned Best Play; Brunson thanked his family and Knicks leadership after a Finals MVP run that ended the franchise’s 53-year title drought, and revealed he played through a left-hand/wrist injury that required surgery in July.
The ESPY Awards celebrated female athletes despite hosting controversy with Shane Gillis, while Disneyland marked its 70th anniversary with a focus on innovation and creativity, as discussed in the 'Daily Variety' podcast which also covered ESPN's upcoming streaming app launch and behind-the-scenes insights into Disney's theme park technology.
The 2025 ESPY Awards showcased a mostly successful fashion night with standout looks from Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Ilona Maher, and others, while some athletes like Jordan Chiles and Russell Wilson experienced fashion misses, highlighting a mix of glamour and missteps on the red carpet.
The ESPY Awards celebrated women in sports with awards and recognition, while host Shane Gillis delivered edgy, often unsuccessful jokes that received mixed reactions from the audience. Major female athletes like Simone Biles and Alex Morgan were honored for their contributions beyond sports, and Gillis's humor included controversial jokes about political figures and female athletes, which did not land well. The event also recognized perseverance and courage among athletes, highlighting their impact both on and off the field.
Comedian Shane Gillis delivered a controversial and polarizing monologue at the ESPY Awards, touching on various topics and receiving mixed reactions on social media, with some praising his boldness and others criticizing his humor as lazy or offensive.
Comedian Shane Gillis delivered a highly provocative opening monologue at the ESPY Awards, targeting celebrities and political figures including Caitlin Clark, Aaron Rodgers, Donald Trump, and Juan Soto, with jokes that drew mixed reactions from the audience.
Fitness icon Denise Austin, 66, made a statement at the ESPY Awards by flexing her biceps in a strapless white gown while posing with her daughter Katie Austin. The mother-daughter duo, both fitness personalities, showcased their strong bond on the red carpet. Denise, who has sold over 24 million exercise videos and DVDs, continues to inspire with her fitness expertise. Katie, with a larger social media following than her mother, is also making waves in the fitness industry.
Justin Jefferson, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, won the "Best Play" award at the 2023 ESPN ESPY Awards for his incredible 32-yard catch on fourth-and-18 against the Buffalo Bills last season. The gravity-defying catch played a crucial role in the Vikings' come-from-behind victory. Jefferson expressed gratitude to his teammates, family, and supporters while accepting the award and stated that this is just the beginning of his career. This is not the first recognition for Jefferson's catch, as it was previously named "Moment of the Year" at the NFL Honors ceremony.
Megan Rapinoe's partner, Sue Bird, and her U.S. Women's National teammates, Christen Press and Tobin Heath, praised the soccer star at the ESPY Awards following her announcement of retirement. Bird joked about Rapinoe's "retirement F.O.M.O" and highlighted her impact off the field. The couple plans to focus on their production company, A Touch More, and tell untold stories. Press and Heath also expressed admiration for Rapinoe's leadership and her ongoing fight for equal pay. The U.S. Women's National soccer team is being honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards.
During the 2023 ESPY Awards, sports analyst Pat McAfee made a joke about Kendall Jenner's romantic history with NBA players, referring to them as her "starting five." This is not the first time the joke has been made, and even Kendall's own family has joined in on the humor. Kendall is currently romantically linked to musician Bad Bunny, and their relationship is said to be getting more serious.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won two ESPY awards, including Best NFL Player and Best Male Athlete, for his incredible season, which included winning his second NFL MVP award, second Super Bowl MVP award, and second Super Bowl ring. Mahomes expressed gratitude towards his teammates and coaches and vowed to continue their success in the upcoming season.
Caitlin Clark, who won multiple Player of the Year awards during the 2022-2023 season, has been nominated for two ESPY awards - the Breakthrough Athlete award and the Best Athlete in Women's Sports award. Clark led the University of Iowa women's basketball team to their first national championship game appearance in NCAA history.
NCAA swim stars Kate Douglass and Leon Marchand were not nominated for the 2023 "Best College Athlete" ESPY award for women's and men's sports respectively, despite their historic achievements and national-level records. The ESPY nominations are largely based on entertainment and fan vote, and tend to favor more popular college sports like football and basketball. This snub highlights the lack of recognition and understanding of swimming in the mainstream sports world.