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ESPY Awards
Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards Event

The ESPY Awards (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, and often referred to as the ESPYs) is an annual American awards show produced by ESPN since 1993, recognizing individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony. From 2015 to 2019, and since 2021, the ceremony has aired live on sister broadcast television network ABC, while ESPN continues to air them in the form of replays. Because of the ceremony's rescheduling prior to the 2002 iteration thereof, awards presented in 2002 were for achievement and performances during the seventeen-plus previous months. As the similarly styled Grammy (for music), Emmy (for television), Academy Award (for film), and Tony (for theater), the ESPYs are hosted by a contemporary celebrity; the style, though, is lighter, more relaxed and self-referential than many other awards shows, with comedic sketches usually included.

From the show's inception to 2004, ESPY Award winners were chosen only through voting by fans. Since 2004, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities also vote. Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through global online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee.

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Charitable role

A portion of the proceeds from sales of tickets to the event devolves on the V Foundation, a charity established by collegiate basketball coach and television commentator Jim Valvano to promote cancer research. Valvano announced the creation of the charitable foundation during his acceptance of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the inaugural ESPY telecast on March 3, 1993, 55 days before Valvano's death from metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Design

The ESPY Award statuette was designed and created by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan.2 The statuette consists of a silver sphere, with the word "ESPY" engraved on it, mounted on a silver pedestal.

Ceremonies

Timing

Between 1993 and 2001, the ceremony was held each year in either February or March and was broadcast recorded on ESPN.

Between 2002 and 2019 and from 2022 to 2023, the ceremony was held on the Wednesday in July following the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game, as it marks the only day of the year on which none of the major North American professional leagues nor college sports programs have games scheduled. The National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League are not in-season (though the NBA's post-draft training camp NBA Summer League is taking place and NFL teams are getting ready for training camp), colleges are in recess for the summer, and MLB does not contest games on the day following its all-star game. Thus, major sports figures (except for those in cycling, which has the Tour de France; minor league baseball; and golf, where The Open Championship usually starts that evening) are available to attend. The show aired on the subsequent Sunday four days later, although the results were reported publicly by ESPN.com.

In 2024, the ceremony was conducted on the second Thursday of July.

In 2010, the ceremony was aired live by ESPN for the first time since 2003. In 2015, the ESPY Awards moved to network television, airing on ESPN's corporate sister network ABC.

Location

The first seven editions of the ESPYs were held in New York City—in 1993 and 1994 at Madison Square Garden and from 1995 through 1999, at Radio City Music Hall. The awards relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, for two years beginning in 2000, and ultimately settled at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. In 2006, it was announced that the awards would move in 2008 to the Peacock Theater (formerly the Microsoft Theater), to be situated as the West Coast headquarters of ESPN at LA Live, adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Hosts

The ceremonies have been hosted variously by comedians, television and film actors, and sportspeople. American film actor Samuel L. Jackson is the only individual to have hosted four times (in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2009). Comedian Dennis Miller, actor and singer Jamie Foxx, and talk show host and comedian Seth Meyers are the only others to have hosted the show more than once.

Year-by-year

DateEditionVenueHost(s)
July 11, 202432ndDolby Theatre, Los AngelesSerena Williams
July 12, 202331st—
July 20, 202230thStephen Curry
July 10, 202129thThe Rooftop at Pier 17, New YorkAnthony Mackie
June 21, 202028thVirtual showRussell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird
July 10, 201927thPeacock Theater, Los AngelesTracy Morgan
July 18, 201826thDanica Patrick
July 12, 201725thPeyton Manning
July 13, 201624thJohn Cena
July 15, 201523rdJoel McHale
July 16, 201422ndDrake
July 17, 201321stJon Hamm
July 11, 201220thRob Riggle
July 13, 201119thSeth Meyers
July 14, 201018th
July 19, 200917thSamuel L. Jackson
July 20, 200816thJustin Timberlake
July 15, 200715thDolby Theatre, Los AngelesLeBron James & Jimmy Kimmel
July 16, 200614thLance Armstrong
July 17, 200513thMatthew Perry
July 18, 200412thJamie Foxx
July 16, 200311th
July 10, 200210thSamuel L. Jackson
February 12, 20019thMGM Grand, Las Vegas
February 14, 20008thJimmy Smits
February 15, 19997thRadio City Music Hall, New YorkSamuel L. Jackson
February 9, 19986thNorm Macdonald
February 10, 19975thJeff Foxworthy
February 12, 19964thTony Danza
February 13, 19953rdJohn Goodman
February 14, 19942ndMadison Square Garden, New YorkDennis Miller
March 4, 19931st

Awards

American professional golfer Tiger Woods is the most-honored ESPY recipient, having received 21 awards.

Extant

Cross-cutter categories

Cross-cutter awards are those for which the eligibility is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

  • Arthur Ashe Courage Award, presented to the sports-related person(s) or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the most significant or compelling humanitarian contribution in transcendence of sports in a given year (presented since 1993)
  • Best Female Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the female sportsperson, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding over a given year (1993)
  • Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the male sportsperson, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best International Athlete ESPY Award, presented since 2006 to the professional sportsperson, irrespective of gender, born outside the United States adjudged to be the best in a given year
  • Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significant breakthrough in his or her sport in a given year (1993)
  • Best Championship Performance ESPY Award, presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender, nationality, or sport contested, adjudged to have made the best or most significant performance in a championship match, series, or tournament in his or her sport
  • Best Coach/Manager ESPY Award, presented to the coach or manager, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (1993)
  • Best College Athlete, Men's Sports, presented to the male sportsperson, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, in a given year (20023)
  • Best College Athlete, Women's Sports, presented to the female sportsperson, irrespective of sport played, adjudged to be the best in the National Collegiate Athletic Association in a given year (20024)
  • Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award, presented to the sportsperson, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have made the most significant or impressive comeback from illness, injury, hardship, retirement, or loss of form (1993)
  • Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, presented to the female sportsperson with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (20055)
  • Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award, presented to the male sportsperson with a disability, irrespective of nationality or sport contested, adjudged to be the best in a given year (20056)
  • Best Game ESPY Award, presented to the single game in a North American professional or collegiate league, irrespective of sport, adjudged to be the best in a given year (2002)
  • Best Upset ESPY Award, presented to the sportsperson or team, irrespective of gender or sport contested, adjudged to have completed the best, most impressive, or most significant upset in a given year (2004)
  • Best Moment ESPY Award, presented to the moment or series of moments occurring in a sporting event or season, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson(s), adjudged to the most remarkable, compelling, or entertaining in a given year (2002)
  • Best Play ESPY Award, presented to the single play or performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2002)
  • Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award, presented to the record-breaking single-play, game or season performance, irrespective of sport contested or gender of participating sportsperson, adjudged to be the most remarkable, significant, or impressive in a given year (2001)
  • Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance (2007)
  • Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, presented to "an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports" (2015)7
  • Best Team ESPY Award, presented to the collegiate, professional, or national team, irrespective of sport contested, adjudged to be the most outstanding in a given year (19938)

Individual categories

Individual awards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

Sponsored categories

Sponsored awards are those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria of which reflect corporate sponsorship.

  • GMC Professional Grade Play ESPY Award, presented to the single play in a professional or collegiate North American sport adjudged to be the most impressive, remarkable, or notable in a given year, and to the sportsperson(s) involved therewith (presented since 2006)

Discontinued, irregular, or superseded

Cross-cutter categories

Cross-cutter awards are those the eligibility for which is not confined to those sportspersons participating in, or those events occurring in, any single or specific sport.

  • Under Armour Undeniable Performance ESPY Award, presented to the single performance in a game or series in a professional or collegiate North American sports league to be the most impressive or significant in a given year, and to the sportspersons involved therewith (only awarded in 2006)
  • Best U.S. Olympic Athlete (presented in 2002 to Sarah Hughes1617)
  • Female USA Olympic Athlete (presented in 2001 to Marion Jones, 2005 to Team USA Softball, and 2009 to Shawn Johnson181920)
  • Male USA Olympic Athlete (presented in 2001 to Rulon Gardner and in 2005 and 2009 to Michael Phelps212223)
  • Come-from-behind Performance (presented in 2001 to Tiger Woods2425)
  • Game of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1996 and 1998, inclusive, not to be confused with the Best Game ESPY Award)
  • Dramatic Individual Performance of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1997 and 1999, inclusive)
  • Humanitarian of the Year (presented in 1999 to Sammy Sosa2627)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (presented in 2001 to Jack Nicklaus2829)
  • Memorable Performance of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 2000 and 2001, inclusive)
  • Most Spectacular Play (presented in 2001 to Antonio Freeman3031)
  • Outstanding Performance by an Athlete in Entertainment (presented between 1994 and 1996, inclusive, to Charles Barkley, John Kruk, George Seifert3233)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in a Commercial (presented in 1993 to Larry Johnson3435)
  • Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in an Attempt to Break into Show Business (presented in 1993 to Shaquille O'Neal3637)
  • Outstanding Performance Under Pressure ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1999, inclusive)
  • Outrageous Play of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1998, inclusive)
  • Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1999, inclusive)
  • NBA Play of the Year ESPY Award (presented between 1993 and 1998)38

Individual categories

Individual awards are those for which eligibility is limited to those partaking of a single individual or team sport or specific sport category.

Sponsored categories

Sponsored awards are those otherwise constituted as cross-cutter awards the titles and eligibility criteria in which reflect corporate sponsorship.[original research?]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ABC aired a re-broadcast of ESPN's coverage in 2020. ↩

  2. "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221231935/http://www.timesargus.com/article/20130802/NEWS03/708029923/0/FEATURES10 ↩

  3. The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded betwixt 1993 and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format. /wiki/Best_Female_College_Basketball_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  4. The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded betwixt 1993 and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format. /wiki/Best_Female_College_Basketball_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  5. Between 2002 and 2004, inclusive, a single award for best sportsperson with a disability was presented; in 2005, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Awards. /wiki/Best_Female_Athlete_with_a_Disability_ESPY_Award ↩

  6. Between 2002 and 2004, inclusive, a single award for best sportsperson with a disability was presented; in 2005, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Awards. /wiki/Best_Female_Athlete_with_a_Disability_ESPY_Award ↩

  7. "Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award". ESPN.com. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2021. https://www.espn.com/espn/citizenship/story/_/page/Muhammad-Ali-Sports-Humanitarian-Award-/muhammad-ali-sports-humanitarian-award ↩

  8. In 2001, the Outstanding Team ESPY Award was bifurcated and two new awards—styled as the Pro Team of the Year ESPY Award and College Team of the Year ESPY Award—were presented; the two were combined once more in 2002. /wiki/Outstanding_Team_ESPY_Award ↩

  9. In 2002 and 2003, a single award, styled in the former year as the Best Action Athlete of the Year ESPY Award, for best action sportsperson was presented; in 2004, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Male and Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards. /wiki/Action_sports ↩

  10. In 2002 and 2003, a single award, styled in the former year as the Best Action Athlete of the Year ESPY Award, for best action sportsperson was presented; in 2004, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Male and Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards. /wiki/Action_sports ↩

  11. Between 2007 and 2018, the award for best fighter, styled as the Best Fighter ESPY Award, encompassed both boxers and mixed martial arts fighters; the Best MMA Fighter ESPY Award was established in 2019. /wiki/Best_Fighter_ESPY_Award ↩

  12. Between 1993 and 2004 inclusive, and again since 2009, the award for best professional golfer has been bifurcated by gender. ↩

  13. Between 1993 and 2004 inclusive, and again since 2009, the award for best professional golfer has been bifurcated by gender. ↩

  14. Between 2007 and 2018, the award for best fighter, styled as the Best Fighter ESPY Award, encompassed both boxers and mixed martial arts fighters; the Best MMA Fighter ESPY Award was established in 2019. /wiki/Best_Fighter_ESPY_Award ↩

  15. Between 1993 and 2006 inclusive, with the exception of 2005, separate ESPYs for the best male and female track athletes were presented. These were combined into a single award in 2007. ↩

  16. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  17. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  18. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  19. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  20. "ESPYs Moments: A Classic Look Back". ESPN.com. 13 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527054216/http://espn.go.com/espys/#!/moments/video=6768243/ ↩

  21. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  22. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  23. "ESPYs Moments: A Classic Look Back". ESPN.com. 13 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527054216/http://espn.go.com/espys/#!/moments/video=6768243/ ↩

  24. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  25. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  26. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  27. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  28. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  29. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  30. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  31. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  32. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  33. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  34. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  35. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  36. "ESPY Awards past winners". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2005/s/pastwinners.html ↩

  37. "Best of the ESPYs – Best of the Best, Winners Archive". ESPN. Retrieved 29 January 2011. https://www.espn.com/espy2008/postshow/index.html ↩

  38. "All-Time ESPY Winners". ESPN Press Room U.S. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2025. https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2010/06/all_tme_espy_winners/amp/ ↩

  39. In 2002 and 2003, a single award, styled in the former year as the Best Action Athlete of the Year ESPY Award, for best action sportsperson was presented; in 2004, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Male and Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Awards. /wiki/Action_sports ↩

  40. The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded betwixt 1993 and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format. /wiki/Best_Female_College_Basketball_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  41. The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded betwixt 1993 and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format. /wiki/Best_Female_College_Basketball_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  42. The Best Female and Best Male College Basketball and Best College Football Player ESPY Awards, awarded betwixt 1993 and 2001, inclusive, were absorbed in 2002 by the Best Female and Best Male College Athlete ESPY Awards. After the 2017 awards, the men's and women's awards were replaced by a single ESPY for Best College Athlete; starting with the 2021 awards, separate awards for men's and women's sports were reinstated, with a change in naming format. /wiki/Best_Female_College_Basketball_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  43. Between 2002 and 2004, inclusive, a single award for best sportsperson with a disability was presented; in 2005, the award was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Athlete with a Disability ESPY Awards. /wiki/Best_Female_Athlete_with_a_Disability_ESPY_Award ↩

  44. Between 2007 and 2018, the award for best fighter, styled as the Best Fighter ESPY Award, encompassed both boxers and mixed martial arts fighters; the Best MMA Fighter ESPY Award was established in 2019. /wiki/Best_Fighter_ESPY_Award ↩

  45. Between 1993 and 2004 inclusive, and again since 2009, the award for best professional golfer has been bifurcated by gender. ↩

  46. Both males and females were eligible for the 2000 and 2001 iterations of the award, which was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Soccer Player ESPY Awards in 2002; the awards were merged into a single award in 2005 and ended a year later. /wiki/Best_Female_Soccer_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  47. Both males and females were eligible for the 2000 and 2001 iterations of the award, which was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Soccer Player ESPY Awards in 2002; the awards were merged into a single award in 2005 and ended a year later. /wiki/Best_Female_Soccer_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  48. Both males and females were eligible for the 2000 and 2001 iterations of the award, which was bifurcated by gender and reconstituted as the Best Female and Best Male Soccer Player ESPY Awards in 2002; the awards were merged into a single award in 2005 and ended a year later. /wiki/Best_Female_Soccer_Player_ESPY_Award ↩

  49. Amongst those eligible for the Best Outdoor Sportsman ESPY Award were bass sport fishermen; such sportspersons are eligible for the Best Angler ESPY Award, which partially replaced the former award and was first presented in 2006. /wiki/Best_Outdoor_Sportsman_ESPY_Award ↩

  50. Between 1993 and 2006 inclusive, with the exception of 2005, separate ESPYs for the best male and female track athletes were presented. These were combined into a single award in 2007. ↩

  51. Between 1993 and 2006 inclusive, with the exception of 2005, separate ESPYs for the best male and female track athletes were presented. These were combined into a single award in 2007. ↩