Overview

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the Best Male Athlete award, Simone Biles captured Best Female Athlete honors and the Philadelphia Eagles were named Best Team at the ceremony.
• Host Shane Gillis delivered a 10-minute opening monologue targeting figures from Caitlin Clark to President Trump and referencing Jeffrey Epstein, prompting both boos and applause.
• Oscar Robertson received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, Katie Schumacher-Cawley earned the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and David Walters and Erin Regan shared the Pat Tillman Award for Service while Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan accepted the Icon Award.
• Performances by Busta Rhymes, Clipse and rapper GELO preceded an in memoriam tribute sung by Tobe Nwigwe featuring David Michael Wyatt.
• The live event at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre aired on ABC and streamed on ESPN+, underscoring ESPN’s blend of athletic recognition with entertainment and philanthropic tributes.