The Oklahoma City Thunder star earned his first ESPY, claiming Best Male Athlete following a historic 2024–25 season. He not only secured the NBA regular-season MVP and scoring title (32.7 ppg), but also led the Thunder to their first NBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors.
Onstage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on July 16, he playfully restarted his acceptance speech after a bleeped moment, later remarking, “It takes a village… my village has been nothing short of special”.
Simone Biles – Best Female Athlete & Best Championship Performance
Gymnast Simone Biles swept two major awards: Best Female Athlete (her second win, first in 2017 and now again in 2025) and Best Championship Performance, honoring her dominance at the Paris Olympics—an all-around gold, vault gold, and team gold.
She acknowledged the honors with humility, sharing empathy for those impacted by July’s floods in Kerr County.
Other Notable Awards of the Evening
Saquon Barkley (Eagles) scored Best NFL Player, Best Play, and was part of Best Team with Philadelphia.
Suni Lee took Best Comeback Athlete, overcoming kidney disease to win Olympic bronze.
Ilona Maher was named Best Breakthrough Athlete in rugby.
Legends honored:
Oscar Robertson received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Katie Schumacher‑Cawley earned the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
David Walters & Erin Regan shared the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Alex Morgan & Diana Taurasi were jointly honored with Icon Awards.
Highlights from the Night
Both Gilgeous‑Alexander and Biles were celebrated not only for their athletic excellence but also for their compelling speeches and charitable sentiments.
The night, hosted by Shane Gillis, featured some controversy—his edgy jokes drew a mix of laughter and boos. Simone
What It Means
Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander cements his rise as a global basketball icon and the fourth Canadian to clinch the Best Male Athlete ESPY. His stellar season—securing MVP, Finals MVP, and a title—makes this recognition well-deserved.
Simone Biles reaffirms her supremacy in women’s sports, becoming one of a select few to win Best Female Athlete twice (joining legends like Serena Williams and Lindsey Vonn). Her historic Olympic performance continues to resonate globally.
Congratulations to all the outstanding winners whose excellence defined the past year in sports.
