The 2026 ESPY Awards ceremony took place in New York, celebrating significant achievements and individuals in sports from the past year. The event, hosted by comedian and Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández, recognized athletes across various disciplines, including those who participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Among the notable honorees were Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, who was named Best Athlete, Men’s Sports, and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, who received the award for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports. Brunson also secured the award for Best Championship Performance.
Key Award Recipients
Several athletes were recognized for their outstanding contributions and performances. Lionel Messi, forward for Inter Miami CF, was honored as Best Soccer Player. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers received the award for Best Single-Game Performance for his efforts in NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.
In other categories, Alysa Liu, a figure skater, was named Best Breakthrough Athlete. Myles Garrett, a defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, won Best Record-Breaking Performance for setting the NFL‘s single-season sack record with 23 sacks. Garrett, now with the Los Angeles Rams, also took home the award for Best NFL Player.
The New York Knicks were recognized as Best Team, alongside the Las Vegas Aces, who are the WNBA champions, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the World Series champions. OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks won Best Play for his tip-in that secured Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Special Tributes and College Honors
The ceremony included special awards recognizing courage, perseverance, and humanitarian efforts. Former NBA center Jason Collins received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance was presented to former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott, who played 10 big league seasons despite being born without a right hand. US Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his role in rescuing nearly 200 people during the Hill Country floods.
The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award went to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, while Kelis Armstrong, Julia Howe, and Samuel Phillips were jointly awarded the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award.
For college athletes, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports. UCLA center Lauren Betts received the award for Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports. Additionally, Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson were recognized as Gatorade Players of the Year.
Additional Sports Category Winners
Other individual sport categories also saw athletes recognized for their excellence. Shohei Ohtani was named Best MLB Player. Jalen Brunson received the award for Best NBA Player, and A’ja Wilson was honored as Best WNBA Player. The ceremony highlighted achievements across a broad spectrum of sports, from professional leagues to collegiate competitions.
The event also featured appearances from athletes who competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics, including skier Lindsey Vonn, who attended while recovering from injuries sustained at the Milano Cortina Games. The US Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams were both nominated for Best Team, with Team USA Men’s Hockey and Team USA Women’s Hockey ultimately being recognized as gold medalists.
The 2026 ESPY Awards took place on a Wednesday from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York.
Source: bleacherreport.com