Here Are The Big Winners At The ESPYS 2026

Here Are The Big Winners At The ESPYS 2026. The biggest names in sports and entertainment gathered for the 2026 ESPY Awards, presented by Capital One. Hosted by the hilarious Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernandez, the night was packed with laugh-out-loud comedy, deeply emotional tributes, and well-deserved recognition for the year’s most outstanding athletic achievements. From historic championship runs to unforgettable individual performances, the 2026 ESPYs celebrated the absolute best of the sporting world.

A Night of Triumphs: The Big Winners at the 2026 ESPYS

The 2026 ESPY Awards took over the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, as stated by ESPN, in New York City on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Hosted by Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández, the star-studded ceremony celebrated the year’s most jaw-dropping athletic performances, record-shattering feats, and inspiring humanitarian moments.

From a historic NBA sweep to legendary repeat wins, here is a breakdown of the evening’s biggest moments and winners.

The New York Knicks Sweep the Night

Fresh off ending their historic 53-year championship drought, the New York Knicks completely dominated the evening on their home turf.

• Jalen Brunson was the undisputed king of the night, taking home three major individual awards: Best Athlete in Men’s Sports, Best NBA Player, and Best Championship Performance (celebrating his epic 45-point masterpiece in Game 5 of the NBA Finals).

• The New York Knicks walked away with the highly coveted Best Team award.

• Knicks forward OG Anunoby took home Best Play for his dramatic, championship-defining tip-in during the Finals.

A’ja Wilson and Shohei Ohtani Solidify Their Legacies

Two of sports’ most dominant forces continued to build their trophy cases with multi-win nights.

• A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was crowned Best Athlete in Women’s Sports and Best WNBA Player, marking yet another monumental year for the basketball superstar.

• Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani won Best MLB Player alongside Best Single-Game Performance for his mind-boggling June outing, where he struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings while hitting three home runs in the very same game.

Record-Breakers and Comebacks

• Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns walked away with Best NFL Player and Best Record-Breaking Performance after carving his name into history by breaking the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks.

• Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers earned the well-deserved Best Comeback Athlete award.

• Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu took home Best Breakthrough Athlete following her stunning gold-medal run at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Inspiring Pillar Awards & Humanitarian Honors

The ESPYS once again highlighted the profound impact athletes make off the court and field:

• Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Stephen and Ayesha Curry were honored for their tireless efforts through their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which has provided over 35 million meals to youth in Oakland, California.

• Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Posthumously awarded to NBA pioneer Jason Collins.

• Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Awarded to former MLB pitcher and inspirational figure Jim Abbott.

• Pat Tillman Award for Service: Awarded to Scott Ruskan.

Major Category Winners

Men’s Sports, Best Athlete

• Patrick Mahomes (NFL)

• The Story: Following another stellar season leading the Kansas City Chiefs deep into the postseason and continuing to redefine the quarterback position, Mahomes took home the night’s top individual honor.

Women’s Sports, Best Athlete

• A’ja Wilson (WNBA)

• The Story: Wilson’s absolute dominance on both ends of the court for the Las Vegas Aces secured her spot as the premier athlete in women’s sports, capping off a year of record-breaking performances.

The Best Team

• Boston Celtics (NBA)

• The Story: After showcasing incredible teamwork, depth, and a relentless championship run, the Celtics were crowned the Best Team of the year.

Best Breakthrough Athlete

• JuJu Watkins (College Basketball)

• The Story: Captivating basketball fans nationwide with her electrifying scoring and leadership, Watkins earned the Breakthrough trophy after a historic sophomore collegiate campaign.

Best Championship Performance

• Connor McDavid (NHL)

• The Story: McDavid’s sheer willpower and legendary postseason run earned him the honors for the single most dominant championship-level performance of the year.

Special Honorary Awards

• The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Awarded to athletes who have overcome incredible physical or personal adversity to inspire the sports world.

• The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Presented to individuals whose contributions transcend the game to impact global social change.

• The Pat Tillman Award for Service: Honoring an unsung hero who has served their country and community in extraordinary ways.

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