It’s time for yet another edition of ESPN’s sports equivalent of the Oscars: It’s the 2023 ESPYs!
That means lots of funny stuff, some emotional moments and although there’s no host due to the Hollywood writers’ strike, maybe we’ll get some athletes getting roasted like we’ve seen in years past. It should be a good show to enjoy.
So as we get set to see athletes and others looking great on the red carpet before the actual show on Wednesday, July 12, here are all the nominees for the various awards for sports’ best athletes, teams and more from the past year:
Best athlete, men's sports
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Best Athlete, Women's Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin, Skiing
Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns
Iga Swiatek, Tennis
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Breakthrough Athlete
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Angel Reese, LSU
Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Best Record-Breaking Performance
Novak Djokovic wins his 23rd Grand Slam at the French Open
LeBron James gets the career scoring record
Mikaela Shiffrin has a World Cup-record breaking win
Max Verstappen breaks the record for most wins in a F1 season
Best Championship Performance
Leon Edwards beats Kamaru Usman to win the UFC welterweight belt
Nikola Jokic wins NBA Finals MVP
Lionel Messi’s World Cup Final game
Rose Zhang won her first tournament in her pro debut
Best Comeback Athlete
Jon Jones, UFC
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Justin Verlander
Best Play
Michael Block’s hole-in-one at the PGA Championship
Justin Jefferson’s unreal catch
Ally Lemos’s corner to tie the National Championship Game
Trinity Thomas’s perfect 10 in gymanstics
Best Team
Denver Nuggets, NBA
Georgia Bulldogs, College Football
Kansas City Chiefs, NFL
Las Vegas Aces, WNBA
LSU Tigers, Women’s College Basketball
Oklahoma Sooners, NCAA Softball
Vegas Golden Knights, NHL
Best College Athlete, Men's Sports
Zach Edey, Purdue Men’s Basketball
Duncan McGuire, Creighton Soccer
Brennan O’Neill, Duke Lacrosse
Caleb Williams, USC Football
Best College Athlete, Women's Sports
Jordy Bahl, Oklahoma Softball
Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Izzy Scane, Northwestern Lacrosse
Trinity Thomas, Florida Gators Gymnastics
Best Athlete with a Disability
Erica McKee, Sled Hockey Team
Zach Miller, Snowboarding
Aaron Pike, Wheelchair Racing & Cross-Country Skiing
Susannah Scaroni, Wheelchair Racing
Best NFL Player
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best MLB Player
Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
Best NHL Player
Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
David Pastrňák, Boston Bruins
Linus Ullmark, Boston Bruins
Best NBA Player
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Best WNBA Player
Skylar Diggins-Smith, Phoenix Mercury
Candace Parker, Chicago Sky (now with Las Vegas Aces)
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (now with New York Liberty)
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Driver
Brittany Force, NHRA
Kyle Larson, NASCAR
Josef Newgarden, IndyCar
Max Verstappen, F1
Best UFC Fighter
Leon Edwards
Jon Jones
Islam Makhachev
Amanda Nunes
Best Boxer
Gervonta Davis
Devin Haney
Claressa Shields
Shakur Stevenson
Best Soccer Player
- Aitana Bonmati, Spain, Barcelona
- Erling Haaland, Norway, Manchester City
- Lionel Messi, Argentina, PSG
- Sophia Smith, USWNT, Portland Thorns
Best Golfer
Wyndham Clark
Nelly Korda
Jon Rahm
Scottie Scheffler
Best Tennis Player
Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic
Aryna Sabalenka
Iga Swiatek
