Led by host Serena Williams, The ESPYS celebrated a landmark year for women’s sports, with Simone Biles, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Dawn Staley and JuJu Watkins among the honorees on Thursday night.
(Getty Images for W+P.)
Dawn Staley, coach of the national champion South Carolina women’s basketball team, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Nicki McCray-Penson, Tennessee standout and her friend, died of breast cancer. Staley’s sister was also diagnosed with leukemia.
“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,” Staley remarked. “I have merely been a spectator to such immense courage and resilience.”
(Mark J. Terril, AP.)
Staley’s Gamecocks received the best team award.
A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won best women’s sports athlete and as best WNBA player.
“It’s crazy to think that a young girl that didn’t even want to play basketball is now up in the running for even one ESPY,” she said in front of the audience.
Simone Biles earned best comeback athlete weeks before she competes at the Paris Olympics. The most decorated gymnast in history withdrew from the team competition at the Tokyo Games to prioritize her mental health.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever also earned two trophies, for record-breaking performance in becoming the NCAA’s all-time career scoring leader, and as best college athlete, for her Iowa basketball career. “I’m a little bit busy in Indianapolis,” Clark said via videotape. “It was a special year in women’s athletics.”
(Mark J. Terril, AP.)
JuJu Watkins won best breakthrough athlete, taking the first award after the show began 30 minutes late because of President Joe Biden’s news conference. The Southern California basketball star had a standout freshman season, leading the Trojans to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decades. “This is crazy,” Watkins said. “I want to thank all the great, powerful women who came before me that made this possible.”
During her monologue at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Williams delivered a joke and later performed a song following Ciara's opening musical act. Her older sister, Venus, joined her on stage and humorously claimed that she had been the one asked to host. This led to a playful, mock argument between the siblings.
(Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty, Frank Micelotta/ABC)
“You may be wondering why I’m doing this,” noted fashion fiend Serena. “Any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I’m going to take it.”
As the ABC telecast returned from a commercial break in the final minutes, it began repeating the presentations of two earlier awards. Williams' farewell and the final credits were cut off. ABC did not immediately explain the cause of the issues. The show aired live in the East and Central time zones and was tape-delayed on the West Coast.
Congratulations to all recipients of ESPY awards, and a special shout out to all of the women doing their thing!
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