LOS ANGELES — Led by host Serena Williams, The ESPYS celebrated a landmark 12 months for ladies’s sports activities, with Simone Biles, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Daybreak Staley and JuJu Watkins among the many honorees Thursday night time.
Staley, coach of the nationwide champion South Carolina ladies’s basketball crew, acquired the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for each her assist and battle for equality for ladies’s sports activities and for her management within the battle in opposition to most cancers. Her buddy, Tennessee standout Nikki McCray-Penson, died of breast most cancers and Staley’s sister was identified with leukemia. Staley was motivated by their battles to grow to be an advocate for most cancers analysis.
“I need to confess I really feel a bit undeserving of this recognition. Previous recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have confronted unbelievable challenges and confirmed themselves as true warriors,” Staley mentioned. “I’ve merely been a spectator to such immense braveness and resilience.”
Staley’s Gamecocks additionally received the most effective crew award.
Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces received as greatest ladies’s sports activities athlete and as greatest WNBA participant.
“It is loopy to assume {that a} younger woman that did not even wish to play basketball is now up within the operating for even one ESPY,” she mentioned in videotaped remarks.
Biles earned greatest comeback athlete weeks earlier than she competes on the Paris Olympics. Probably the most embellished gymnast in historical past withdrew from the crew competitors on the Tokyo Video games to prioritize her psychological well being.
Clark of the Indiana Fever additionally earned two trophies, for record-breaking efficiency in turning into the NCAA’s all-time profession scoring chief, and as greatest school athlete, for her Iowa basketball profession.
“I am a bit bit busy in Indianapolis,” Clark mentioned by way of videotape. “It was a particular 12 months in ladies’s athletics.”
Watkins received greatest breakthrough athlete, taking the primary award after President Joe Biden’s nationally televised information convention began late and ran half-hour into the present’s timeslot.
The USC basketball star had a standout freshman season, main the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA match for the primary time in many years.
“That is loopy,” Watkins mentioned. “I wish to thank all the nice, highly effective ladies who got here earlier than me that made this potential.”
Williams joked throughout her monologue on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and later sang after Ciara opened the present with a musical efficiency. Williams’ older sister, Venus, got here out and joked that she had really been requested to host and the siblings acquired right into a mock argument.
“Chances are you’ll be questioning why I am doing this,” famous style fiend Serena mentioned. “Any alternative to put on 16 outfits in three hours, I will take it.”
The ABC telecast returned from a industrial break within the last minutes and commenced repeating the shows of two earlier awards. Williams’ goodbye was minimize off, as had been the ultimate credit. ABC mentioned a technical glitch within the feed affected the dwell present within the East and Central time zones. It was to be corrected for tape-delayed viewing within the West.
Prince Harry acquired the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and he talked about the late Military Ranger’s mom who had criticized ESPN for honoring the royal.
With spouse Meghan becoming a member of in a standing ovation, the Duke of Sussex accepted the trophy from three service veterans who had been injured throughout their excursions of responsibility. Harry served within the British navy for 10 years, together with two excursions in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.
He created the Invictus Video games in 2014, which serves as a multisport, paralympic-style video games for wounded or injured servicemen and veterans.
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“This award belongs to them, to not me,” Harry mentioned.
Tillman’s mom, Mary Tillman, had criticized ESPN’s selection of Harry, saying there are recipients working within the veteran group who would have been extra becoming. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Marie, for her attendance and in addition acknowledged Mary Tillman.
“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply private and one which I respect,” he mentioned. “The bond between a mom and son is everlasting and transcends even the best losses.”
Retired NFL security Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Braveness. He was identified with ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s illness, in 2011. His nonprofit, Workforce Gleason, helps individuals with ALS dwell purposeful lives by offering programming and assist providers.
Gleason acquired a standing ovation when he took the stage in a motorized chair and was kissed by former New Orleans Saints teammate Drew Brees. Gleason’s voice was heard via particular expertise. His younger son, Rivers, stood subsequent to his father and held the trophy.
“For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the households presently dwelling with ALS, all of the individuals dwelling with disabilities or different diseases,” he mentioned. “I suppose in case you have by no means skilled concern, isolation or struggling, you may roll your sanctified ass proper out of right here.”
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was greatest MLB participant; Connor McDavid of the Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers was greatest NHL participant; and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was greatest NBA participant.
One of the best males’s sports activities athlete was Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He additionally claimed greatest NFL participant.
Cooper Flagg, a senior guard-forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy, and observe and subject athlete Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura (California) Excessive received the Gatorade Nationwide Gamers of the 12 months.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
