Athletes Gilgeous-Alexander and Biles clinch victories at the ESPYS awards
The 2025 ESPY Awards, held last night, celebrated the remarkable achievements of some of the world's top athletes. Among the notable winners were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles, who each claimed prestigious awards for their outstanding performances in their respective sports.
Canadian basketball sensation Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made history by becoming the first Canadian to win the Best Male Athlete ESPY award and only the second Canadian to win Best NBA Player, following Steve Nash in 2005. In the 2024-2025 NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in points per game (32.7), free throws made per game (7.9), total points (2484), and total field goals made (860). He also averaged 5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game with high shooting efficiency (52% FG, 37.5% 3P, 89.8% FT).
Gilgeous-Alexander's impressive season culminated in him being named the NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA championship. He joined an exclusive club of players who have achieved MVP, scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season. In his ESPY speech, Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the importance of his support system, including family and teammates, in his success.
Simone Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist and gymnastics legend, also had a triumphant night at the ESPY Awards. She earned two major ESPYs in 2025: Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance for her achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the Olympics, Biles won three gold medals and one silver, helping the U.S. gymnastics team secure its first team title since 2016. Her two ESPY wins raised her total career ESPYs to seven, further cementing her status as one of the greatest gymnasts and athletes of all time.
Biles's acceptance speech was emotional, emphasizing gratitude towards her family, coaches, teammates, and fans, highlighting her comeback and resilience. She won Best Female Athlete over top competitors including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, and A’ja Wilson.
Other notable winners at the 2025 ESPY Awards included David Walters and Erin Regan, who received the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Walters, a former Olympic gold medalist and seven-time world championship medalist, is now a Los Angeles city firefighter. Regan, a former Wake Forest soccer player who spent one season in the pros before joining the Los Angeles County Fire Department, fought the deadly and destructive wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena in January.
NBA Hall of Fame member Oscar Robertson accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage in recognition of his role in a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the NBA in 1970, which led to extensive reform of the league's free agency and draft rules. Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the ESPYS, but his performance drew mixed reviews on social media.
In a memorable moment, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was the subject of a controversial joke by Gillis, who was not in attendance. Suni Lee, Olympic gymnast, won the best comeback award for overcoming two rare kidney diseases. Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan shared the Icon Award in recognition of their careers and major impact on sports. The 2025 ESPY Awards were a celebration of the resilience, determination, and excellence of athletes from around the world.
- In addition to the NBA and gymnastics, other sports were also represented at the 2025 ESPY Awards, such as football, soccer, basketball, American football, tennis, golf, mixed martial arts, baseball, hockey, and sports betting.
- Despite his impressive season in basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander failed to break Gary Player's record for the most career ESPYs in golf.
- Regarding sports analysis, the 2024-2025 season saw intense debates over the impact of Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP win on the Oklahoma City Thunder's overall performance, as well as the influence of Biles's Olympic performance on the growth of gymnastics in general news.
- Although Simone Biles won three gold medals in gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she was unable to replicate her success in the WNBA, where she struggled with shooting efficiency (43% FG, 30% 3P, 83% FT).
- In the world of crime and justice, several athletes faced charges and trials related to sports-betting scandals, affecting the reputations of various leagues and sports in 2025.
- The 2025 NBA season also produced noteworthy performances in the sphere of crime and justice, as players voiced their opinions on social issues, leading to heated discussions and dialogue in American sports and culture.
- In a surprising turn of events in the world of sports-betting, an unexpected underdog, Caitlin Clark, from the soccer team, was an unyielding favorite among bettors, turning heads in the mixed martial arts community.
- Despite his impressive season in hockey, Connor McDavid failed to catch up with the record points scored by Wayne Gretzky, remaining second in the history books.
- During the awards ceremony, athletes and celebrities alike shared their thoughts on the importance of mental health in sports, shining a light on the often overlooked challenges faced by professional athletes in the realms of both performance and personal life.
