Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was disappointed last year when she wasn’t selected the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player.
At the ESPY Awards on Thursday in Los Angeles, however, she won another big prize, announced as Best Athlete, Women’s Sports. Wilson bested Caitlin Clark, nominated for her achievements at Iowa, golfer Nelly Korda and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes earned Best Athlete, Men’s Sports, for the second straight year.
Wilson wasn’t in attendance but sent a video message.
“I could not miss an opportunity just to say thank you to all my fans out there,” Wilson said. “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without you guys’ support. It does not go unnoticed. It’s great to think that a young girl that didn’t even want to play basketball … won an ESPY, which is truly, truly special to my heart.”
The start of the annual awards, hosted by tennis great Serena Williams, was delayed about 30 minutes. Instead, ABC chose to stick with coverage of President Joe Biden’s news conference following the NATO summit, held amid calls for him to end his candidacy for re-election following a gaffe-filled debate last month.
Once the ESPY Awards commenced, the focus was squarely on sports, including on the rise of women’s athletics over the past year, highlighted in the opening number by Ciara.
Fittingly, the first award of the evening went to JuJu Watkins, who won Best Breakthrough Athlete for her freshman basketball season at Southern California. She was named an All-American and averaged 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown won Best Championship Performance for leading the Boston Celtics to the NBA title last month, and Caitlin Clark earned Best Record-Breaking Performance as she broke Pete Maravich’s record to become the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer — her first of two awards on the night.
Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which is connected to impact on the military community. Tillman, an NFL player turned soldier, died on duty in Afghanistan 20 years ago at age 27.
Prince Harry was honored for his founding a decade ago of the Invictus Games, which provide athletic competition for military members and veterans who suffered illness or injuries in the line of duty.
Tillman’s mother, Mary “Dannie” Tillman, had criticized the selection of Prince Harry — who served in the British military, including in Afghanistan — calling him “controversial and divisive.”
In receiving the award, the now California-based royal said he represented the people who make up the Invictus Games.
“The truth is I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them, not to me.”
One of the night’s other signature trophies, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, went to Dawn Staley, who led South Carolina to the women’s NCAA Tournament title in April — her third as coach — for her advocacy for cancer research and bone marrow donorship. Previous winners of the award include cancer survivors Liam Hendriks and Jim Kelly.
“I am profoundly honored and deeply moved to stand before you today, accepting this prestigious award,” Staley said. “But I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors. I have merely been a spectator.”
The most emotional part of the night was the presentation of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage to former New Orleans Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in early 2011.
With his son, Rivers, by his side, Gleason accepted the trophy from his former teammate, Drew Brees. Gleason’s words came through the computer attached to his wheelchair.
“When I learned I was receiving this award I started reflecting on what that word courage means,” he said. “To be courageous we must first experience loneliness, unworthiness or any of the faces of fear. I was told I would have three years to live when I was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 so I’ve got the wilderness of fear tattooed all over me.
“For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the families currently living with ALS, all the people living with disabilities or other illnesses, and all of you who experience fear or suffering.”
Alabama Heisman Trophy winners Bryce Young and Mark Ingram presented former coach Nick Saban, who retired following the 2023 season, with the Icon Award.
Other winners Thursday included:
Best Comeback Athlete: Simone Biles, gymnast
Best Play: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson catches his own pass and runs with it on Jan. 28, 2024
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Maui surfing community for its work after 2023 fires
Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year: Angel City FC
Best Team: South Carolina Gamecocks, NCAA women’s basketball
Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa basketball
Best Athlete With a Disability: Brenna Huckaby, snowboarding
Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels/Dodgers
Best NBA Player: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Best Golfer: Scottie Scheffler
Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Jayden Daniels, LSU football
Best UFC Fighter: Sean O’Malley
Best Boxer: Terence Crawford
Best Soccer Player: Kylian Mbappe, France/Paris Saint-Germain
Best Tennis Player: Coco Gauff
Sports Philanthropist of the Year: Boston Red Sox ownership (John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino)
–Field Level Media
