ESPY Awards 2025: Steller Night for Philadelphia Eagles with Best Team Award

The ESPY Awards event of 2025 was a grand spectacle drawing distinguished athletes and celebrities from all over the world to the radiant Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The evening featured a celebration of excellent individuals and incredible moments in sports from all facets of the industry, from the previous year.

A multitude of awards was distributed to athletes and teams that had an outstanding influence on their respective games. Not only did the awards represent individual or team accomplishments, but they also applauded the tireless efforts of those who demonstrated courage, service, and humanitarianism towards their communities.

The laudable Philadelphia Eagles were the stars of this illustrious event, securing the award for Best Team. This accolade was rightly given to them as a result of their phenomenal achievement in becoming Super Bowl champions. The Eagles’ coach, Nick Sirianni, and a few key team players were present to accept the trophy. Surrendering gratitude, Jordan Maliata took the opportunity to thank their coaches and loved ones for their unshakeable support.

Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL’s record-setter, bagged the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance. Even though his physical presence was missed at the event, he graced it virtually through a video message, expressing his gratitude for the award.

Saquon Barkley and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were individually immersed in glory with Barkley receiving Best NFL Player and Gilgeous-Alexander receiving Best Athlete in Men’s Sports. Gilgeous-Alexander was recognized following his brilliant performance in bringing home an impressive NBA title for Oklahoma City.

Among the remarkable ladies, JuJu Watkins was named Best Women’s College Athlete. The courage and determination that Oscar Robertson demonstrated paved the way for him to earn the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. A NBA legend, he was lauded for his fight for free agency along with his grit and perseverance against all odds.

Robertson reminisced about his confrontation with NBA owners and how he was personally vilified. Yet despite these hardships, he voiced that he would stand by his choices and uphold his values. He professed, ‘It is important to do what is right, even at the cost of personal sacrifice.’

In a touching tribute, a musical performance memorialized athletes who departed from this world in the past year. Suni Lee, despite battling kidney disease, made a glorious comeback clinching a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was rewarded for her courage with the award for Best Comeback Athlete.

Suni Lee did not only participate but also played a significant role in securing the gold medal for the women’s gymnastics team. She didn’t stop there and added more laurels in her medal tally with bronze in individual all-around and uneven bars. The Gatorade Player of the Year distinction was shared by Jane Hedengren, a cross country and track and field athlete, and Cameron Boozer, a basketball prodigy.

David Walters and Erin Regan, Greater Los Angeles first responders and former university athletes, took home the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The duo, who are firefighters, were recognized for their bravery and service during the Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires.

While accepting the award, both generously diverted the spotlight from themselves and shone it onto their fellow first responders. ‘We are but part of a greater team,’ Erin Regan voiced while dedicating the award to all first responders who fought the treacherous wildfires alongside them.

Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles took the spotlight in the women’s category, with Clark winning Best WNBA Player and Biles securing Best Athlete in Women’s Sports while also being recognized for her outstanding performance in the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, the Icon Award was presented to two recently retired legends, Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan, to honor their glorious careers.

As they accepted the Icon Award, Morgan expressed her gratitude towards all who supported them through their journeys. ‘Owing to you, we fulfilled our roles as Olympians, businesswomen, and mothers,’ she proudly stated. In terms of collegiate performances, North Carolina and Ohio State women’s and men’s athletic programs, respectively, deservedly secured the Capital One Cup.

The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance painted a courageous picture of Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the Penn State women’s volleyball head coach. Despite battling breast cancer, she led her team to claim a national championship, a feat worth celebrating. She dedicated the award to her medical team, her supportive family, and her inspirational team.

The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award was presented to Sloane Stevens for her commendable efforts in teaching tennis to children in Compton, California. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley’s sensational play was named ‘Best Play’, and Ilona Maher was titled ‘Best Breakthrough Athlete’ for her commendable rise in the women’s rugby scene in the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning bronze for the team. Several other athletes were also honoured in categories that were announced after the show.