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ESPYS 2025: A Look at the Winners from the Biggest Night in Sports

Posted on by Lemonteeca
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17
Jul
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ESPYS 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Simone Biles, and the Philadelphia Eagles Shine Bright on the Biggest Night in Sports

LOS ANGELES — The stars of the sports world came together for an unforgettable night at the 2025 ESPYS, held Wednesday evening at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, this year’s ceremony honored the most outstanding athletes, teams, performances, and human stories that captivated fans around the globe over the past year.

Leading the night were NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who claimed the top honors as Best Male Athlete and Best Female Athlete, respectively.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: From MVP to ESPY Champion
After delivering a historic season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, culminating in the team’s first-ever NBA Championship, Gilgeous-Alexander earned multiple accolades, including league MVP, scoring champion, and now two ESPYS — Best Male Athlete and Best NBA Player.

In his heartfelt acceptance speech, he acknowledged the support system that helped make his rise possible:

“It’s a dream come true, and for dreams to come true it takes a village,” he said, thanking his wife, parents, brother, and those closest to him. “These names might not mean much to others, but to me, they mean everything.”

Simone Biles Reigns Again with Gold and Glory
Simone Biles, already one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, added to her accolades with two ESPY wins — Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance — following her dominant showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won three gold medals and one silver, and helped Team USA reclaim its first women’s gymnastics team title since 2016.

Biles, visibly moved, expressed surprise at winning in a category traditionally dominated by male athletes:

“This was very unexpected — especially in a category of all men,” she said, moments after embracing her husband, Jonathan Owens, a safety for the Chicago Bears.

Philadelphia Eagles Named Best Team After Super Bowl Triumph
The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, took home the award for Best Team, beating out formidable nominees including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Panthers, Ohio State football, and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

Honoring Service and Courage: The Pat Tillman Award
Former elite athletes David Walters and Erin Regan, now Los Angeles County firefighters, were honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Walters, a 2008 Olympic swimming gold medalist, and Regan, a former Wake Forest soccer star, were celebrated for their bravery during the January wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

Their story underscored the ESPYS’ tradition of highlighting courage, resilience, and service beyond the field of play.

Complete List of Major ESPYS 2025 Winners
Best Male Athlete: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Best Female Athlete: Simone Biles (USA Gymnastics)

Best Championship Performance: Simone Biles, 2024 Olympics

Best Play: Saquon Barkley’s backward hurdle

Best Breakthrough Athlete: Ilona Maher (USA Rugby)

Best Comeback Athlete: Suni Lee (USA Gymnastics)

Best Record-Breaking Performance: Alexander Ovechkin (NHL all-time goals leader)

Best Team: Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

Best NBA Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Best WNBA Player: Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)

Best College Athlete – Men’s Sports: Cooper Flagg (Duke Basketball)

Best College Athlete – Women’s Sports: JuJu Watkins (USC Basketball)

Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Best NFL Player: Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)

Best NHL Player: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)

Best Tennis Player: Coco Gauff

Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler

Best Driver: Max Verstappen (F1)

Best Boxer: Katie Taylor

Best UFC Fighter: Merab Dvalishvili

Best Soccer Player: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan / USMNT)

Best Athlete with a Disability: Noah Elliott (Para Snowboarding)

Pat Tillman Award for Service: David Walters & Erin Regan (L.A. County Firefighters)

Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Oscar Robertson

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Katie Schumacher-Cawley

Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Sloane Stephens

Gatorade Players of the Year: Jane Hedengren and Cameron Boozer

Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Rishin Tandon, Maegha Ramanathan, Ian Waite

Capital One Cup Winners: UNC Women’s Athletics & Ohio State Men’s Athletics

Icon Award: Alex Morgan & Diana Taurasi

Final Thoughts
The 2025 ESPYS was not only a celebration of athletic excellence but also a tribute to the stories of heart, humanity, and heroism behind the headlines. From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout year to Simone Biles’ continued reign and the Eagles’ championship run, this year’s honorees reminded fans why sports matter — not just for what happens on the field, but for the stories that inspire us off of it.

Stay tuned for full red carpet highlights, backstage moments, and exclusive interviews from ESPYS 2025.

Lemonteeca

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