Ultimately, The ESPYS benefited from having Steph Curry in the building as host, as the superstar picked up a slew of awards tonight in Hollywood, including Best NBA Player, Best Record Performance for most 3-pointers made in league history and a best-team group trophy for its Golden State Warriors.
The ESPYS presented by Capital One aired live on ABC from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood and during the show a total of eight awards were presented in more than three dozen categories, including team and trophies of record performance.
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Other winners in the TV categories included Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani (Top Athlete, Men’s Sports), swimmer Katie Ledecky (Top Athlete, Women’s Sports), skier Eileen Gu (Top Breakthrough Athlete), Los Angeles Rams Cooper Kupp (best championship performance), Curry’s Golden State Warriors teammate Klay Thompson (best returning athlete), football star Megan Rapinoe (best game), and St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols ( Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award).
Ohtani was a two-time winner as the Angels pitcher also won the MLB Most Valuable Player award. Other winners include LAFC’s Carlos Vela for Best MLS Player, Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker for Best WNBA Player, Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers for Best NFL Player, Connor McDavid from the Edmonton Oilers for Best NHL Player, tennis great Rafael Nadal picked Best Athlete, Men’s Tennis while Emma Raducanu won the trophy on the women’s side.
Curry, fresh off winning a fourth NBA championship for the Golden State Warriors, also flexed his comedy chops. In his opening monologue, he referenced sports superstars such as Tom Brady and LeBron James, even stepping into a subtle dig at the latter. “I’m the second NBA player to host this awards show, which is kind of crazy to think about,” Curry noted. “LeBron James, he hosted this award show in 2007 after losing in the NBA Finals. So, yes, you guessed it, it’s getting better.
Country music star Mickey Guyton performed on the same stage that saw presenters Odell Beckham Jr., Mookie Betts, John Boyega, Alison Brie, Ciara, Dany Garcia, Heidi Gardner, Jon Hamm, Lil Rel Howery, Lil Wayne, Billie Jean King, Derek Jeter, Dwayne Johnson, Travis Kelce, Simu Liu, Aubrey Plaza, Trevante Rhodes, Aaron Rodgers, Hannah Waddingham, Russell Wilson and more.
A full list of ESPYS 2022 winners follows.
Best Championship Performance: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Eileen Gu, Skiing
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: Katie Ledecky
Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Best record performance: Stephen Curry has made the most 3-point shots in NBA history
best game: Megan Rapinoe scores from the corner
Best Returning Athlete: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
best team: Golden State Warriors
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Gretchen Evans
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dick Vitale
Arthur Ashe Prize for Courage: Vitali Klitschko
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Albert Pujols, Cardinals of Saint-Louis
Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award: Noor Abukaram, Kendall Dudley, Sydney Moore, Alicia Serratos, Lucy Westlake
Best NWSL Player: Ashley Hatch, Spirit of Washington
Best MLS gameA: Carlos Vela, LAFC
Best Disabled Athlete, Men’s Sports: Brad Snyder, Paratriathlon
Best Disabled Athlete, Women’s Sports: Jessica Long, Swimming
Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports: Eli Tomac, Supercross
Best Athlete, Women’s Action Sports: Eileen Gu, Skiing
Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports: Bryce Young, Alabama Football
Best Varsity Athlete, Women’s Sports: Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma softball
Best International Athlete, Men’s Soccer: Kylian Mbappe, PSG
Best International Athlete, Women’s Soccer: Sam Kerr, Chelsea
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Best MMA Fighter:Charles Oliveira
Best NBA player:Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Chicago Sky
NFL Best Player: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
NHL Best Player: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Best Athlete, Men’s Golf: Justin Thomas
Best Athlete, Women’s Golf: Nelly Korda
Best Athlete, Men’s Tennis: Rafael Nadal
Best Athlete, Women’s Tennis: Emma Raducanu
Best Bowler: Kyle Troupe
best boxer: Tyson Fury
Best Driver: Kyle Larson, NASCAR
best game: Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills in overtime
Best Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Olympian, Men’s Sports: Caeleb Dressel, Swimming
Top Olympian, Women’s Sports: Katie Ledecky, Swimming
Best WWE Moment: Cody Rhodes returns to WWE at Wrestlemania
