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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Simone Biles Among Top Winners at 2025 ESPY Awards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Simone Biles, the Philadelphia Eagles and Ilona Maher were among the top winners at the 2025 ESPY Awards.

Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the awards ceremony, presented by ESPN, on Wednesday night live from The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. A plethora of awards were handed out to an array of athletes in varying categories, including the coveted titles of best athlete in men’s and women’s sports, which went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles, respectively.

Gilgeous-Alexander was nominated alongside the likes of Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills‬), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles‬) and ‬‭Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers‬) while Biles was up against Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (track & field‬), Gabby Thomas (track & field) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces‬).

Other top winners of the night included Team USA rugby player Maher, who won the honor of best breakthrough athlete. Aside from her best athlete win, Biles also picked up the title of best championship performance for her 2024 Olympics women’s all-around set that saw her win the gold medal.

Biles’ team USA teammate, Suni Lee, was honored with the best comeback athlete award, while NFL star Saquon Barkley earned the best play win for his backwards hurdle during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Nov. 3 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The title of best team went to the Philadelphia Eagles (who notably won the Super Bowl earlier this year), while additional “best player” awards were given out to athletes in the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and WNBA, additionally in the driving, UFC, boxing, soccer, golf and tennis categories.

The full list of 2025 ESPYs winners follows.

BEST ATHLETE – MEN’S SPORTS‬
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder‬

‭BEST ATHLETE – WOMEN’S SPORTS‬
Simone Biles – Gymnast‬

BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE‬
Ilona Maher – Rugby‬

BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE‬
Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals

‭BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE‬
Simone Biles – 2024 Olympics Women’s All-Around‬

BEST COMEBACK ATHLETE‬
Suni Lee – Gymnast

BEST PLAY‬
Saquon Barkley’s backwards hurdle‬‭ – NFL (11/3/24)‬

‭BEST TEAM‬
Philadelphia Eagles – NFL

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE – MEN’S SPORTS‬
Cooper Flagg – Duke Basketball

BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE – WOMEN’S SPORTS‬
JuJu Watkins – USC Basketball‬‭

BEST ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY‬
Noah Elliott – Snowboard‬