ESPY Award (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) is a trophy presented by the American broadcast television network ABC, and formerly ESPN (as of the 2017 ESPY Awards, ESPN still airs them in the form of replays), to honour individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony.
In 1993, the first ESPYs were presented. Due to the ceremony’s rescheduling prior to the 2002 version, the 2002 awards were for accomplishments and performances that occurred over the preceding eighteen months. As with the Grammy (for music), Emmy (for television), Academy Award (for film), and Tony Awards (for theatre), the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; however, the style is lighter, more relaxed, and self-referential than that of many other award shows, and typically includes comedic sketches.
As it turned out, The ESPYS benefited from Steph Curry’s presence in the building as host, as the superstar won a multitude of awards tonight in Hollywood, including best NBA player, best record-breaking performance for most 3-pointers made in the league, and a group trophy for best team for his Golden State Warriors.
The ESPYS presented by Capital One were broadcast live on ABC from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, and during the ceremony, a total of eight trophies were presented in more than two dozen categories, including the team and record-breaking performance prizes.
Other winners in televised categories included Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani (best male athlete), swimmer Katie Ledecky (best female athlete), skier Eileen Gu (best breakthrough athlete), Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp (best championship performance), Curry’s Golden State Warriors teammate Klay Thompson (best comeback athlete), soccer star Megan Rapinoe (best play), and St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols (best play) (Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award).
Ohtani was a double winner, as the Angels pitcher also took up the award for the best MLB player. Other winners included LAFC’s Carlos Vela for best Major League Soccer player, Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker for best WNBA player, Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers for best NFL player, Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid for best NHL player, tennis legend Rafael Nadal for best athlete, men’s tennis, and Emma Raducanu for best athlete, women’s tennis.
Curry, fresh off winning his fourth NBA title with the Golden State Warriors, also demonstrated his comedic abilities. In his introductory monologue, he mentioned Tom Brady and LeBron James, subtly jabbing James. “I am the second NBA player to host this awards presentation, which is insane to think about,” Curry remarked. In 2007, following his loss in the NBA Finals, LeBron James presented this awards event. So, you guessed it, this does feel better.”
Mickey Guyton performed on the same stage as numerous presenters, including Odell Beckham Jr., Mookie Betts, John Boyega, Alison Brie, Ciara, Dany Garcia, Heidi Gardner, Jon Hamm, Lil Rel Howery, Lil Wayne, Billie Jean King, Derek Jeter, Dwayne Johnson, Travis Kelce, Simu Liu, Aubrey Plaza, Trevante Rhodes, Aaron Rodgers, Hannah Waddingham, Russell Wilson, and others.
A Full List of the 2022 Espys Winners Follows:
- Best Championship Performance: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
- Best Breakthrough Athlete: Eileen Gu, Skiing
- Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: Katie Ledecky
- Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
- Best Record-Breaking Performance: Stephen Curry most 3-pointers made in NBA history
- Best Play: Megan Rapinoe Scores from the Corner
- Best Comeback Athlete: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
- Best Team: Golden State Warriors
- Pat Tillman Award for Service: Gretchen Evans
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dick Vitale
- Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Vitali Klitschko
- Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
- Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Noor Abukaram, Kendall Dudley, Sydney Moore, Alicia Serratos, Lucy Westlake
- Best NWSL Player: Ashley Hatch, Washington Spirit
- Best MLS Player: Carlos Vela, LAFC
- Best Athlete with a Disability, Men’s Sports: Brad Snyder, Paratriathlon
- Best Athlete with a Disability, Women’s Sports: Jessica Long, Swimming
- Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports: Eli Tomac, Supercross
- Best Athlete, Women’s Action Sports: Eileen Gu, Skiing
- Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Bryce Young, Alabama Football
- Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Softball
- Best International Athlete, Men’s Soccer: Kylian Mbappé, PSG
- Best International Athlete, Women’s Soccer: Sam Kerr, Chelsea
- Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
- Best MMA Fighter: Charles Oliveira
- Best NBA Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Chicago Sky
- Best NFL Player: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
- Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- Best Athlete, Men’s Golf: Justin Thomas
- Best Athlete, Women’s Golf: Nelly Korda
- Best Athlete, Men’s Tennis: Rafael Nadal
- Best Athlete, Women’s Tennis: Emma Raducanu
- Best Bowler: Kyle Troup
- Best Boxer: Tyson Fury
- Best Driver: Kyle Larson, NASCAR
- Best Game: Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Buffalo Bills in OT
- Best Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Best Olympian, Men’s Sports: Caeleb Dressel, Swimming
- Best Olympian, Women’s Sports: Katie Ledecky, Swimming
- Best WWE Moment: Cody Rhodes returns to WWE at Wrestlemania