LOS ANGELES — NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles won as best male and female athletes at the ESPYS on Wednesday night. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA championship last month while piling up hardware as league MVP and scoring champion. “It’s a dream come true and for dreams to come true it takes a village,” he said, thanking his wife, parents, brother and others. “Those names probably don’t mean much but to me they mean everything.”
Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist, claimed the night’s first award, best championship performance for her efforts at the Paris Games. She won three golds and a silver while helping the U.S. win its first team title since 2016. “That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles said after kissing her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens. She beat out Stephen Curry, Freddie Freeman and Rory McIlroy. Biles’ Olympic teammate, Suni Lee, won the best comeback award for overcoming two rare kidney diseases. She brought one of her doctors to the show.
Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage from point guard Russell Westbrook. Robertson was president of the NBA Players’ Association at the time of a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the NBA in 1970. It led to an extensive reform of the league’s strict free agency and draft rules and eventually to higher salaries for all players. The 86-year-old Robertson, a 12-time All Star known as The Big O during his career, was the first Black president of any sports labor union.
“I knew there was work to do. There was a desperate need for players to have more career security, improved working conditions and other accommodations,” he said. “In life, it’s important to be persistent or as I have been called stubborn. Stubborn about what you believe in.”
Host Shane Gillis’ awkward monologue. Comedian Shane Gillis’ opening monologue as host of the show that honors the past year’s top athletes and sports moments went over awkwardly. Early on, he called out various famous faces in the Dolby Theatre crowd, including retired WNBA star Diana Taurasi. Gillis said, “Give it up for her” after calling her “Deanna.” The camera showed an unsmiling Taurasi shaking her head. Gillis quickly caught his mistake, saying, “My bad on that.”
Gillis moved on to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, who wasn’t on hand. “When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist fighting Black women,” he joked. While some in the audience laughed, others appeared uncomfortable. Gillis plowed on for 10 minutes, with jokes about President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, whose sex trafficking investigation has roiled the Justice Department and FBI. Gillis’ performance drew mixed reviews on social media, with some calling him “hilarious” and others “cringey.”
Gillis’ initial joke about North Carolina coach Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson drew a lot of laughs. “A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime,” he said. “They read ‘The Very Horny Caterpillar,’ ‘The Little Engine That Could But Needed a Pill First’ and of course the classic ‘Goodnight Boobs.’” But the laugher lessened as Gillis continued. “He won six Super Bowls. He’s dating a hot 24-year-old. Maybe if you guys won six Super Bowls you wouldn’t be sitting next to a fat ugly dog wife.” Before closing it out, a smiling Gillis said, “I see a lot of you don’t like me and that’s OK. That’s it for me. That went about exactly how we all thought it was going to go. I don’t know why this happened.”
A Night to Remember at the ESPYS
Every year, the ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) celebrate athletes who redefine greatness — and in 2025, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles stood at the top. This iconic duo didn’t just show up — they stole the spotlight, setting a new standard for athletic excellence and personal resilience.
Who Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
The NBA’s Silent Superstar
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (or SGA, as fans call him) might not be as loud in the media as some of his peers, but his game speaks volumes. As the Oklahoma City Thunder’s star guard, Shai has turned heads with his smooth handles, killer mid-range shots, and leadership that belies his age.
Climbing the NBA Ladder
In the 2024–25 season, Shai averaged over 30 points per game while keeping OKC firmly in playoff contention. That’s not just impressive — it’s elite. No wonder he bagged the Best NBA Player award at the ESPYS.
Simone Biles: The Comeback Queen
From Overwhelmed to Overcoming
After stepping back from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health struggles, Simone Biles came back stronger, not just physically, but emotionally. Her ESPY win as Best Female Athlete was more than a trophy — it was a testament to perseverance.
Breaking Records, Again
Simone added several more gold medals to her name in 2024, reminding the world she’s the most decorated gymnast ever. Her routines weren’t just athletic; they were artistic masterpieces.
Why These Wins Matter
Celebrating Mental Health Awareness
Both athletes have been vocal about mental health. Simone’s transparency and Shai’s quiet resilience have shifted conversations in locker rooms and living rooms alike.
Representation on the Grandest Stage
For young Black athletes looking up to these stars, seeing them honored sends a powerful message: Excellence has many faces, and all deserve recognition.
ESPYS 2025: A Look Behind the Curtain
Where It All Happened
Held in Los Angeles, this year’s ESPYS brought together sports legends, celebrities, and fans under one roof. The red carpet was dazzling, but it was the heartfelt speeches and emotional wins that left lasting impressions.
The Nominees They Beat
Shai edged out heavyweights like Nikola Jokić and Stephen Curry. Simone stood tall against athletes like Katie Ledecky and Coco Gauff. Tough competition, but undeniable wins.
Shai’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
“I never played for awards — I play for the love of the game, for the city that backs me, and for the ones who said I couldn’t.”
With those words, Shai proved humility and confidence can walk hand in hand. The crowd rose in a standing ovation.
Simone’s Empowering Message
Simone kept it real. “Your strength isn’t in how perfect you are, but how you rise when the world expects you to fall.”
Chills. Literal chills. Her speech was more than memorable — it was movingly human.
ESPYS Impact: Why It’s More Than Just an Award Show
Legacy Beyond Stats
Sure, awards are great. But what Shai and Simone bring to the table is bigger: inspiration, hope, and proof that character matters just as much as skill.
Social Media Frenzy
#ShaiWins and #SimoneBilesESPYS were trending globally within minutes. Fan art, heartfelt posts, and viral videos flooded TikTok and Instagram.
What Fans Are Saying
-
“Simone is the definition of GOAT. Period.”
-
“SGA is THAT guy. Finally getting his flowers.”
-
“These two give me hope for the future of sports.”
Safe to say, the internet was fully behind this duo.
What Sets Them Apart
Consistency + Character = Champions
While talent got them noticed, it’s their mindset, leadership, and authenticity that cemented their status as icons.
Embracing the Spotlight with Grace
No scandals. No trash talk. Just greatness handled with humility and class — a rare combo in modern sports.
The Bigger Picture: Role Models for a Generation
In a world of overnight fame, Shai and Simone are a breath of fresh air. They’re not chasing clout — they’re building legacies. And in doing so, they’re showing millions how to move with integrity, even when the pressure is crushing.
