Philadelphia Eagles Crowned ‘Best Team’ at the 2025 ESPY Awards
On a special one-off evening at the 2025 ESPY Awards, the global sporting universe recognized the athletes and significant moments that provided memorable entertainment in the preceding twelve months. The annual extravaganza brought together a stellar lineup of attendees comprising individuals from diverse sport genres and the world of celebrity, all gathered at the posh Dolby Theatre in the heart of Los Angeles.
In a tribute to talent, creativity, and fervor, categories spanned from recognizing the top performer in baseball to the strangest on-field incident, down to the most dominant team performances. The award recipients were irrefutably deserving, having provided significant contributions to their respective sporting fields, and some have made admirable contributions off-field within their larger community.
Highly coveted awards recognizing off-field contributions including the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, Pat Tillman Award for Service, and the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award were also given out on this special night, gratifying the ever-lasting influence these individuals have had on their sport and society.
Among the evening’s honorees were the winners of the ‘Best Team’ category – the Philadelphia Eagles, who swooped away with the accolade following their stunning Super Bowl triumph. The Super Bowl champions accepted the award in the presence of head coach Nick Sirianni and a select group of their teammates. In a highly magnanimous acceptance speech, Jordan Maliata, one of the Eagles’ players took the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the team’s training staff and their family members’ unyielding support in crafting their successful season.
The award for the ‘Best record-breaking performance’ went to none other than Alexander Ovechkin, acclaimed as the NHL’s leading scorer. Although Ovechkin was unable to join the award ceremonies in person, he graciously sent a video message to accept the award. Other notable achievements of the evening included Best NFL player – Saquon Barkley, Best women’s college athlete – JuJu Watkins and the Best athlete, men’s sports – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP who recently secured a championship for Oklahoma City.
A poignant honor, the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, was bestowed upon Oscar Robertson for blazing a trail that transformed basketball by advocating for free agency rights. In his heartfelt speech, the NBA legend revisited his tumultuous journey battling with the NBA owners which malignantly affected his reputation. Despite the difficulty of the years-long struggle, he asserted his willingness to endure it again, asserting the importance of righteousness despite personal sacrifice.
Amid the celebration, the sports world also paused to remember and honor those athletes who departed over the past year. A moving musical tribute encapsulated the shared sentiments of mourning and respect, evoking the brevity and fragility of life.
The spirit of resilience was celebrated through Suni Lee who secured the title of ‘Best comeback athlete’. Struggling against kidney disease, Lee managed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where her gymnastics prowess helped her team clinch the gold medal in the all-around women’s gymnastics segment. She also bagged bronze awards in the individual all-around and uneven bars categories.
The prestigious high school Gatorade Player of the Year award found its deserving recipients in Jane Hedengren, a cross country and track and field athlete from Utah and Cameron Boozer, both highly skilled basketball players. Taking the baton forward, the Pat Tillman Award for Service honored the valor of Greater Los Angeles first responders David Walters and Erin Regan, both former college athletes turned firefighters who bravely responded to the wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, a recognition reaffirming their undaunted spirit of service.
The winners clearly recognized the collective effort behind their heroic efforts during the catastrophic wildfires. In their acceptance speech, both Walters and Regan expressed appreciation for their families, friends, and fellow firefighters, emphasizing the teamwork behind the accolade. Erin Regan, one of the recipients, put it succinctly by saying, ‘We recognize this is not an individual award, It’s a team award.’
Additional celebratory moments of the evening included commending the Best WNBA player – Caitlin Clark and Best athlete in women’s sports – Simone Biles. A special Icon Award was bestowed on Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan in recognition of their inspiring careers in their respective sports, both having recently hung up their boots.
Elevating student-athlete performance on a national scale, the Capital One Cup was awarded to the Ohio State men and the North Carolina women for maintaining the highest athletic programs in their respective genders. The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance was earned by Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the brave coach of Penn State women’s volleyball team who led her team to a national championship even while courageously battling breast cancer.
Highlighting the dazzling performances at the 2025 ESPY Awards were the Best breakthrough athlete – Ilona Maher, a rising rugby star who dazzled audiences at the 2024 Paris Olympics; and the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award winner, Sloane Stevens, for her commendable efforts teaching tennis to children through her foundation in Compton, California. And finally, an awe-inspiring performance by Saquon Barkley, otherwise known as the gravity-defying play, was momentously declared as the event’s best moment and who better to close the wonderful evening than the seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, winning an award for her breathtaking performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.