The Big Lead

Complete list of award winners from the 2025 ESPYS

Check out a complete look at the award winners from the 2025 ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

By Josh Sanchez

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The 2025 ESPYS went down on Wednesday, July 16, at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The event, which was hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, aired live on ESPN.

From NFL stars to the Summer Olympic Games and inspiring stories, the ESPYs always honors the best of the best. This year was no different.

MORE: 2025 ESPYs nominations led by Josh Allen, Shohei Ohtani, Simone Biles

If you missed out on Wednesday night's awards ceremony, we have you covered.

A full list of winners from the 2025 ESPYS can be seen below.

2025 ESPYS winners

Sloane Stephens on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre.
Sloane Stephens on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award Recipient: Sloane Stephens

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Katie Schumacher-Cawley — Penn State University women’s volleyball head coach

BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

  • WINNER: Simone Biles – 2024 Olympics Women’s All-Around
  • Stephen Curry – US Men’s Olympic BB team
  • Freddie Freeman – LA Dodgers – World Series MVP
  • Rory McIlroy – Wins first Masters title, completing career Grand Slam

BEST PLAY

  • WINNER: Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle – NFL (11/3/24)
  • Tyrese Haliburton Calls Game!!! – NBA Game 1 NBA Finals (6/5/25)
  • Sabrina Ionescu Logo 3 Game Winner – WNBA Finals Game 3
  • Trinity Rodman with the OT Goal to send USWNT to the semi-finals – 2024 Olympics

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE

  • Cooper Flagg – Duke Men’s Basketball
  • Chloe Humphrey – North Carolina Women’s Lacrosse
  • WINNER: Ilona Maher – Rugby
  • Paul Skenes – Pittsburgh Pirates

BEST ATHLETE – MEN’S SPORTS

  • Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
  • Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
  • WINNER: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers
Simone Biles on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre.
Simone Biles on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

BEST ATHLETE – WOMEN’S SPORTS

  • WINNER: Simone Biles – Gymnast
  • Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – Track & Field
  • Gabby Thomas – Track & Field
  • A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces

BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE

  • Geno Auriemma – UConn Huskies
  • Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
  • Kevin Durant – Olympic Basketball
  • WINNER: Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals

BEST COMEBACK ATHLETE

  • Gabe Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche
  • WINNER: Suni Lee – Gymnast
  • Mallory Swanson – USWNT/Chicago Red Stars
  • Lindsey Vonn – Skiing
Suni Lee on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre.
Suni Lee on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

BEST TEAM

  • Florida Panthers – NHL
  • Los Angeles Dodgers – MLB
  • New York Liberty – WNBA
  • Ohio State Buckeyes – NCAA Football
  • Oklahoma City Thunder – NBA
  • WINNER: Philadelphia Eagles – NFL
  • North Carolina Tar Heels – NCAA Women’s Lacrosse
  • United States Women’s National Team – Soccer
  • University of Connecticut Huskies – Women’s Basketball

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE – MEN’S SPORTS

  • WINNER: Cooper Flagg – Duke Basketball
  • Wyatt Hendrickson – Oklahoma State Wrestling
  • Travis Hunter – Colorado Football
  • CJ Kirst – Cornell Lacrosse

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE – WOMEN’S SPORTS

  • Olivia Babcock – University of Pittsburgh Volleyball
  • Kate Faasse – North Carolina Soccer
  • Gretchen Walsh – Virginia Swimming
  • WINNER: JuJu Watkins – USC Basketball

BEST ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY

  • WINNER: Noah Elliott – Snowboard
  • Ezra Frech – Track & Field
  • Tatyana McFadden – Track & Field
  • Grace Norman – Paratriathlete

BEST NFL PLAYER

  • Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
  • WINNER: Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
  • Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
  • Patrick Surtain II – Denver Broncos
National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the 2025 MLB All Star Game.
National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the 2025 MLB All Star Game. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

BEST MLB PLAYER

  • Freddie Freeman – Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Aaron Judge – New York Yankees
  • WINNER: Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Tarik Skubal – Detroit Tigers

BEST NHL PLAYER

  • WINNER: Leon Draisaitl – Edmonton Oilers,
  • Connor Hellebuyck – Winnipeg Jets
  • Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche

BEST NBA PLAYER

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
  • WINNER: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Nikola Joki – Denver Nuggets
  • Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

BEST WNBA PLAYER

  • WINNER: Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
  • Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
  • Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
  • A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces

BEST DRIVER

  • Joey Logano – NASCAR
  • Álex Palou – IndyCar
  • Oscar Piastri – F1
  • WINNER: Max Verstappen – F1
Merab Dvalishvili reacts after defeating Sean O’Malley in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316
Merab Dvalishvili reacts after defeating Sean O’Malley in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316 / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

BEST UFC FIGHTER

  • Dricus Du Plessis
  • WINNER: Merab Dvalishvili
  • Kayla Harrison
  • Islam Makhachev

BEST BOXER

  • Naoya Inoue
  • Claressa Shields
  • WINNER: Katie Taylor
  • Oleksandr Usyk

BEST SOCCER PLAYER

  • Aitana Bonmatí – FC Barcelona/Spain
  • WINNER: Christian Pulisic – AC Milan, US
  • Alexia Putellas FC Barcelona/Spain
  • Lamine Yamal – FC Barcelona/Spain

BEST GOLFER

  • Nelly Korda
  • Rory Mcllroy
  • WINNER: Scottie Scheffler
  • Maja Stark
Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final against Aryna Sabalenka
Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final against Aryna Sabalenka / Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

BEST TENNIS PLAYER

  • Carlos Alcaraz
  • WINNER: Coco Gauff
  • Aryna Sabalenka
  • Jannik Sinner

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