Suni Lee Is the Comeback Queen
12 minutes ago
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Gymnast Suni Lee glittered in gold and took home another shiny trophy on Wednesday night.
Lee topped hockey star Gabe Landeskog, soccer icon Mallory Swanson and Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn to take home the best comeback athlete honor.
Suni Lee.
Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
“Winning this award means so much more than I can say,” Lee, 22, said. “When I was diagnosed with two rare kidney diseases, I was told I would never compete again but I refused to believe that.”
Lee thanked her parents and put a spotlight on Dr. Marcia Faustin, the co-head physician for the US gymnastics women’s national team.
Earlier in the evening in an interview on ESPN, Lee revealed she brought Faustin to the event as a special thank you.
“I’m so proud we never took ‘no’ for an answer,” Lee told the physician from the stage. “Never, ever underestimate a girl who is determined to prove her worth to herself,” she added, before letting go a giggle.
Simone Biles Nabs Her Second Award of the Night
27 minutes ago
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Simone Biles.
Kevin Winter/Getty
Biles kept her second acceptance speech of the night short and sweet.
“Thank you — again,” the iconic gymnast said with a smile after being presented the best female athlete award by actress Alison Brie
The gymnast briefly thanked ESPN for highlighting women’s sports more often in recent years. It was Biles’ second time winning the award; she also won it in 2017. Overall, the U.S. gymnast has won seven ESPY Awards throughout her decorated career.
Earlier in the night, Biles said she was “honored” to receive the ESPY for Best Championship Performance.
Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan Jointly Accept Their Icon Awards
52 minutes ago
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It was mutual appreciation night for former WNBA legend Diana Taurasi and retired soccer star Alex Morgan.
“I’m so excited to share this stage with you, and be recognized in this incredible way,” Morgan told Taurasi, after they “cheersed” their Icon Awards together. “I have loved watching you do your thing on the basketball court winning at every level, doing it with flair and skill level that was unmatched, and on your own terms.”
Taurasi returned the kudos to Morgan.
“The way you played soccer inspired me every single day,” Taurasi said. “You played with power and grace, but more importantly the way you opened up doors is legendary.”
Ilona Maher Wins for Best Breakthrough Athlete
1 hr 24 min ago
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Rugby phenom Ilona Maher has finally made it.
The Olympic bronze medalist joked that it took her seven years to break through, while accepting her best breakthrough performance award at the 2025 ESPY Awards.
Maher, wearing a “naked dress,” gave the audience a pageant wave before her speech.
The Dancing with the Stars alum topped Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, UNC lacrosse star Chloe Humphrey and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes to nab the honor.
Ilona Maher.
Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
Sloane Stephens Receives Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award
1 hr 38 min ago
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Sloane Stephens is paying it forward.
The 2017 US Open champion was honored at the 2025 ESPY Awards for her work off the court with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.
Through her eponymous foundation, Stephens, 32, has helped reach 15,000 kids to “foster healthy relationships” while encouraging academic, athletic and personal growth.
The Indianapolis Colts also received the sports humanitarian team award.
“As part of the ESPYS we put together a program that celebrated people on the field, field of play and what they did, and we realized there was so much more,” Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship, told ABC7 New York.
Simone Biles Wins Best Championship Performance, Acknowledges Texas Flood Victims in Her Speech
2 hours ago
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Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens.
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Simone Biles is a winner once again!
The most decorated gymnast of all time took home the ESPY for best championship performance in the first televised award of the night.
“That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men, so thank you guys,” the Houston resident, 28, said from the podium, before acknowledging the victims in the devastating July 4 Texas floods.
Biles bested another all-time Olympic performance (Steph Curry’s eight 3s in the 2024 final), as well as Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman’s epic World Series run and Rory McIlroy’s clinching of his elusive Masters title.
The athlete’s acceptance speech came on the heels of host Shane Gillis’s monologue in which he struggled, making a handful of racially charged, and at times demeaning jokes about several athletes looking on at the Dolby Theatre, including Biles, whom he likened to a leprechaun.
The controversial comedian, 37, who hosted Saturday Night Live in March, also had Caitlin Clark, Shohei Ohtani and Megan Rapinoe jokes.
Cooper Flagg Wins Best College Athlete
3 hours ago
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Cooper Flagg is taking home at least one award tonight!
The Dallas Mavericks rookie — who became the youngest No. 1 pick since LeBron James in 2003 when he was drafted last month — won best college athlete.
Flagg, 18, beat out Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State wrestler), Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter (Colorado) and CJ Kirst (Cornell lacrosse player).
The Maine Event could win another award later tonight: He’s also up for best breakthrough athlete, where he’s up against North Carolina lacrosse star Chloe Humphrey, rugby star Ilona Maher and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.
See the Stars Arriving at the 2025 ESPY Awards Red Carpet
3 hr 24 min ago
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Gabby Thomas.
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The stars are stepping out on the 2025 ESPY Awards red carpet!
Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas is sporting a white asymmetrical dress with a feathery hem. The first-time ESPY Awards attendee told ESPN’s red carpet reporter Will Reeve that she was excited to be at the intersection of “sports and fashion,” and that she hoped to meet WNBA star A’ja Wilson.
Another track and field athlete, Ezra French, also donned white, walking the carpet in a blazer-and-shorts combo with a bow tie.
Ezra French.
Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
Other early arrivals in attendance include Olympic gymnast Suni Lee — wearing a shimmery gold Oscar de la Renta — who told ESPN that she brought her doctor as her red carpet date.
Suni Lee.
Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
“It’s her first time on a red carpet, so it’s really fun for the both of us,” Lee said. “She was the one person who actually believed in me whenever I was going through everything.”
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