Los Angeles Angels pitcher-designated hitter Shohei Ohtani won ESPY Awards Wednesday evening as the best men’s sports athlete and best baseball player.
Ohtani won for best men’s sports athlete in a field that also included four-time nominee Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, 2015 winner Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and 2021 nominee Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers.
Swimmer Katie Ledecky won for best women’s sports athlete. The other nominees were skier and biathlete Oksana Masters, gymnast Sunisa Lee and WNBA standout Candace Parker, the 2008 winner.
Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp won for best championship performance for catching eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, all game highs, in the 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams were among the seven nominees for best team, but lost to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
The ESPYS honor major sports achievements, memorable moments from the past year and top sports performers and performances. The ceremony also serves as a fundraiser for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, named in honor of the late college basketball coach Jim Valvano. According to ESPN, the network has raised more than $165 million for the foundation since the awards show began in 1993.
Curry hosted the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre. Presenters included Odell Beckham Jr., Mookie Betts, Ciara, John Boyega, Jon Hamm, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lil Wayne, Simu Liu, Aaron Rodgers, Alison Brie, Russell Wilson and Hannah Waddingham.
During the event, the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was presented to former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, now the mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine; the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance to college basketball announcer Dick Vitale, who is battling cancer; and the Pat Tillman Award for Service to retired Army Sgt. Maj. Gretchen Evans, one of the most decorated female veterans in U.S. history.
The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award was presented to St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols for his work with the Pujols Family Foundation to improve the health and quality of life for people living in poverty in the Dominican Republic. The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award honored five high school and college students for using the power of sports to improve their communities.
Here is a complete list of ESPY winners:
BEST ATHLETE, MEN’S SPORTS
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
BEST ATHLETE, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Katie Ledecky, Swimming
BEST BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE
Eileen Gu, Skier
BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Stephen Curry passes Ray Allen for most 3-pointers made in NBA history
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams – Super Bowl LVI
BEST COMEBACK ATHLETE
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
BEST PLAY
Unbelievable Corner Kick Goal by Megan Rapinoe
BEST TEAM
Golden State Warriors, NBA
BEST OLYMPIAN, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Katie Ledecky, Swimming
BEST OLYMPIAN, MEN’S SPORTS
Caeleb Dressel, Swimming
BEST GAME
Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Buffalo Bills in an OT thriller (AFC Divisional Game)
BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE, MEN’S SPORTS
Bryce Young, Alabama Football
BEST COLLEGE ATHLETE, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Softball
BEST INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE, MEN’S SOCCER
Kylian Mbappé, PSG
BEST INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE, WOMEN’S SOCCER
Sam Kerr, Chelsea
BEST NFL PLAYER
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
BEST MLB PLAYER
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
BEST NHL PLAYER
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
BEST DRIVER
Kyle Larson, NASCAR
BEST NBA PLAYER
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
BEST WNBA PLAYER
Candace Parker, Chicago Sky
BEST BOXER
Tyson Fury
BEST MMA FIGHTER
Charles Oliveira
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 ATHLETE, MEN’S ACTION SPORTS
Eli Tomac, Supercross
BEST ATHLETE, WOMEN’S ACTION SPORTS
Eileen Gu, Skiing
BEST JOCKEY
Jose Ortiz
BEST ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY, MEN’S SPORTS
Brad Snyder, Paratriathlon & Swimming
BEST ATHLETE WITH A DISABILITY, WOMEN’S SPORTS
Jessica Long, Swimming
BEST BOWLER
Kyle Troup
BEST MLS PLAYER
Carlos Vela, LAFC
BEST NWSL PLAYER
Ashley Hatch, Washington Spirit
BEST WWE MOMENT
Cody Rhodes returns to WWE at WrestleMania