Full list of every ESPYS 2026 award winner
Knicks dominate ESPYS with multiple awards
The New York Knicks were significant winners at the 2026 ESPY Awards, held on Wednesday at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. The team, fresh off their NBA championship victory, received the award for Best Team. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ point guard, was a standout, earning honours for Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player. Forward OG Anunoby also contributed to the team’s success by winning Best Play for his game-winning tip-in against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Knicks captain Jalen Brunson was joined on stage by teammates OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Miles “Deuce” McBride, and Karl-Anthony Towns to accept the Best Team award. The team reflected on their playoff journey, which culminated in a Game 5 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns expressed gratitude, highlighting the team’s unity and the support from fans in New York as crucial to their championship run. The team’s five awards made them the night’s biggest winners.
Individual achievements and other notable winners
Beyond the Knicks’ collective success, several other athletes were recognized for their performances. Las Vegas Aces centre A’ja Wilson was named Best Athlete, Women’s Sports, following a strong 2025 season that saw her team win another WNBA title. Figure skater Alysa Liu received the Best Breakthrough Athlete award after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a notable free skate performance. Lionel Messi, representing Inter Miami CF, was honoured as Best Soccer Player. The awards ceremony also featured comedian and Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández as host.
The ESPY Awards also recognized individuals for their courage and service. Former NBA centre Jason Collins was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, accepted by his brother Jarron Collins. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, acknowledging his career despite being born without a right hand. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan was presented with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his role in rescuing nearly 200 people during the Hill Country floods last July. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was given the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.
Record-breaking performances and college athletes honoured
The Best Record-Breaking Performance award went to Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett for breaking the NFL‘s single-season sack record with 23 sacks. Other nominees in this category included UCLA softball star Megan Grant for breaking the NCAA single-season softball home run record with 42, and Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who became the first athlete to win six golds at a single Winter Olympic Games in 2026. Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe was also recognized for becoming the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon at the London Marathon, completing it in 1:59:30.
In the college athlete categories, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports, while UCLA centre Lauren Betts was named Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports. The event also acknowledged the Gatorade Players of the Year, Maddie DiMaria and Grady Emerson. The ESPY Awards took place on July 15.
Source: bleacherreport.com
