What the ESPY Awards Are and How They Work

Quick Answer

The ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) are an annual awards show produced by ESPN since 1993 that honors the best athletes, teams, and moments in sports. The ceremony typically features a host, presenters, and multiple award categories determined through fan voting and selection committees.

The 2025 ESPY Awards took place on July 16, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis and broadcast live on ABC.

Key Facts

• The ESPY Awards stand for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, often called the ESPYs
• ESPN has produced the ceremony annually since 1993
• The 2025 ceremony was the 33rd annual event, held July 16, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
• The 2025 host was comedian Shane Gillis
• Winners in 2025 included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Best Athlete - Men's Sports) and Simone Biles (Best Athlete - Women's Sports)
• The event is broadcast on ABC and streamed on ESPN+
• Capital One was the presenting sponsor for the 2025 awards
• Nominees in 2025 included Josh Allen, Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, and Saquon Barkley among many others

How the ESPYs Originated and What They Celebrate

The Birth of a Sports Awards Tradition

The ESPY Awards were created by ESPN in 1993 as a way to recognize excellence across the entire landscape of professional and amateur sports. Unlike other sports awards that focus on a single league or sport—such as the NFL's MVP award or baseball's Cy Young—the ESPYs aim to celebrate achievement across all sports under one roof.

This cross-sport format is what makes the ESPYs unique in the awards landscape. From the beginning, the ceremony was designed to blend serious athletic recognition with entertainment.

The show typically features musical performances, comedic segments, and emotional tributes alongside the competitive categories. Over three decades, the ESPYs have grown into one of the most-watched sports awards programs in the United States.

What the Acronym Actually Means

The name "ESPY" is an acronym for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly. This naming reflects the core mission of the awards: to honor the best performances in sports each year.

While the acronym might seem secondary to the brand today, it reinforces that these awards are about celebrating peak athletic achievement rather than simply popularity or fame.

The Scope of Categories

The ESPYs cover an enormous range of athletic achievement. Categories include:

• Best Athlete (Men's Sports and Women's Sports)
• Best Team
• Best Championship Performance
• Best Breakthrough Athlete
• Best Comeback Athlete
• Best Play
• Best Moment
• Best Record-Breaking Performance
• Best Game
• Best Coach/Manager

The 2025 awards demonstrated this breadth. Nominees ranged from NBA Finals participants to Olympic gymnasts to college basketball stars.

The winners included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (men's athlete), Simone Biles (women's athlete), and other top performers from multiple sports.

How the Selection Process Works

Fan Voting and Committee Decisions

The ESPY selection process combines fan participation with expert input. For many categories, fans vote online through ESPN platforms to determine winners.

This democratic element gives the awards a populist feel—fans have a direct say in who takes home a trophy. However, not all categories are purely fan-decided.

Some awards use selection committees composed of sports journalists, ESPN personalities, and former athletes. This hybrid approach balances public enthusiasm with informed judgment.

The exact voting breakdown for each category is not publicly detailed, but the system ensures that both fan sentiment and expert opinion play roles. The 2025 nominees list shows how this process identifies top candidates.

Categories like Best Athlete – Men's Sports included nominees from different sports (baseball, basketball, football, etc.), reflecting the cross-sport nature of the competition.

Nomination Criteria

Nominees are selected based on performance during the eligibility period, typically the previous 12 months. Major events like the Olympics, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and World Series heavily influence nominations.

Athletes who deliver standout performances in championship moments tend to receive the most recognition. The 2025 ceremony highlighted this pattern.

Athletes from Paris 2024 Olympic Games were among the nominees, as the 2025 ceremony covered events from mid-2024 through mid-2025. This timing means the ESPYs often serve as a capstone award for athletes coming off major championship runs.

The Host and Presenter Selection

Each year, ESPN selects a host who balances comedy and sports knowledge. The 2025 host was comedian Shane Gillis, a choice that reflected the network's preference for hosts with stand-up comedy backgrounds.

Previous hosts have included various comedians, actors, and sports personalities. Presenters are typically current and former athletes, celebrities with sports connections, and ESPN personalities.

The selection of presenters adds star power to the ceremony and creates memorable moments when legends from different sports share the stage.

The 2025 Ceremony Key Details and Winners

Date, Venue, and Broadcast

The 2025 ESPY Awards took place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This venue is the same location that hosts the Academy Awards, giving the ESPYs a prestigious Hollywood setting.

The ceremony aired live on ABC at 8:00 PM Eastern Time and was also available on ESPN+ for streaming viewers. The Dolby Theatre choice reflects the production scale of the ESPYs.

With its large stage, excellent acoustics, and seating capacity of over 3,000, it accommodates a major televised event featuring performances, video packages, and multiple award presentations.

Major Winners

The 2025 ceremony produced several notable winners:

• Best Athlete – Men's Sports: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Best Athlete – Women's Sports: Simone Biles
• Other winners included athletes from across professional and Olympic sports

Simone Biles's win in women's sports continues her legacy as one of the most decorated gymnasts in history. Her recognition at the 2025 ceremony reflects sustained excellence across multiple competition cycles, including the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's men's athlete win represents recognition for his standout NBA performance. As a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he emerged as one of the league's elite players during the 2024-2025 season.

The complete winners list included categories for teams, championship performances, breakthrough athletes, and more. The breadth of winners demonstrates the ESPYs' commitment to covering the full spectrum of sports.

Special Tributes and Moments

Beyond the competitive categories, the 2025 ESPYs included tributes to retiring athletes and honors for career achievements. Athletes like Alex Morgan and Diana Taurasi were among those recognized, according to reports from the ceremony.

These moments give the ESPYs emotional weight beyond the competitive awards. The ceremony also typically includes the annual "Jimmy V" Award for perseverance, named after the late Jim Valvano, and the "Arthur Ashe Award for Courage." These special honors add depth to the proceedings and remind viewers that sports achievement extends beyond statistics and championships.

Why the ESPYs Matter in Sports Culture

A Unique Cross-Sport Platform

The ESPYs occupy a rare position in sports media: they are one of the few events where athletes from different sports gather in one room. This cross-pollination creates moments that fans wouldn't see otherwise—an NFL quarterback presenting an award to a WNBA player, or an Olympic swimmer sharing a stage with a baseball star.

This format helps break down the silos that often separate sports fandoms. A basketball fan watching the ESPYs might discover an incredible moment from the NHL playoffs or learn about a record-breaking performance in track and field.

The awards serve as an annual reminder that athletic excellence exists in every sport.

The Role of Fan Engagement

The fan voting component creates engagement that traditional awards don't generate. When fans vote for ESPY winners, they invest emotionally in the outcome.

This investment drives viewership and social media conversation around the ceremony. The 2025 ceremony benefited from this dynamic.

Nominees like Caitlin Clark, who generated enormous interest during her college basketball career and WNBA transition, brought new audiences to the awards. The voting process encouraged fans to follow the nominees' seasons more closely, creating a virtuous cycle of engagement.

Recognition Beyond Championships

While championships often determine an athlete's legacy, the ESPYs can recognize individual achievement independent of team success. This matters because not all great athletes win titles.

A player who puts up historic individual numbers on a mediocre team might be overlooked in league MVP voting but can still receive ESPY recognition. The "Best Play" and "Best Moment" categories specifically celebrate singular instances of brilliance that might not have championship implications.

These awards preserve moments that fans will remember for years, regardless of the final score or season outcome.

Commercial and Cultural Significance

The ESPYs have become a significant commercial property for ESPN. With presenting sponsors like Capital One in 2025, the event generates substantial advertising revenue.

The broadcast on ABC brings the ceremony to a wide audience, and the streaming availability on ESPN+ extends its reach to cord-cutters. Culturally, the ESPYs have evolved from a simple awards show into a tentpole event on the sports calendar.

Athletes use the ceremony to make announcements, launch charitable initiatives, and network with peers from other sports. The red carpet arrivals generate fashion coverage, and the after-parties become social media content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ESPY stand for?

ESPY stands for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards. It is an acronym that reflects the awards' purpose of recognizing the best athletic performances each year.

How are ESPY winners selected?

Winners are determined through a combination of fan voting on ESPN platforms and selection committee decisions. The exact breakdown varies by category, with some awards being purely fan-decided and others incorporating expert input.

When and where were the 2025 ESPY Awards held?

The 2025 ESPY Awards took place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony aired live on ABC at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

Who are some notable 2025 ESPY winners?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won Best Athlete – Men's Sports, and Simone Biles won Best Athlete – Women's Sports. Other winners included athletes from multiple sports, with the full list covering categories like Best Team, Best Championship Performance, and Best Breakthrough Athlete.

Who hosted the 2025 ESPY Awards?

Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the 2025 ESPY Awards. The host selection typically rotates each year, with ESPN choosing individuals who can blend comedic timing with sports knowledge.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.