Ahead of the ESPYS on July 15, read about some of this year's nominees and the people, places and experiences that shaped them in a collection of previously published stories. Hosted by comedian Marcello Hernández, the ESPYS will air live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN App.
Shohei Ohtani: Best Athlete - Men's Sports, Best Single-Game Performance, Best MLB Player
Shohei Ohtani and the most dominant MLB playoff game ever
Matthew Stafford: Best Athlete - Men's Sports, Best NFL Player
Matthew Stafford is the kind of QB you want in the huddle
Jalen Brunson: Best Athlete - Men's Sports, Best Championship Performance, Best NBA Player
How Jalen Brunson became the undisputed king of New York
Lionel Messi: Best Athlete - Men's Sports, Best Soccer Player
Messi shows why he's the GOAT with record-breaking goals
A'ja Wilson: Best Athlete - Women's Sports, Best WNBA Player
How A'ja Wilson led the Aces to a dynasty -- and reached GOAT status
Mikaela Shiffrin: Best Athlete - Women's Sports
The favorite in slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin aims for Olympic gold
Nelly Korda: Best Athlete - Women's Sports, Best Golfer
Nelly Korda makes childhood dream come true with first U.S. Women's Open title
Alysa Liu: Best Breakthrough Athlete
The improbable comeback of figure skater Alysa Liu
Fernando Mendoza: Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best College Athlete - Men's Sports
'It's his superpower': Inside Fernando Mendoza's extraordinary rise to No. 1
Macklin Celebrini: Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best NHL Player
Inside Macklin Celebrini's rise to stardom for Sharks, Canada
Drake May: Best Breakthrough Athlete, Best NFL Player
Maye Mania: Behind Drake Maye's viral rise in 2025
Kyndal Stowers: Best Comeback Athlete
The unlikeliest journey to NCAA volleyball's final four
Christian McCaffrey: Best Comeback Athlete
How Christian McCaffrey bounced back with MVP-like season
Cameron Boozer: Best College Athlete - Men's Sports
What makes Cameron Boozer unstoppable in his pursuit of championships
Lauren Betts: Best College Athlete - Women's Sports
The blessing and curse of UCLA's Lauren Betts' 6-7 height
Myles Garrett: Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best NFL Player
Myles Garrett's journey to NFL sack record: 'It is written'
Aaron Judge: Best MLB Player
The year Aaron Judge became Aaron Judge
Nathan MacKinnon: Best NHL Player
Is Nathan MacKinnon the best player in Avalanche history?
Victor Wembanyama: Best NBA Player
Inside the Shaolin monastery that helped build Victor Wembanyama
Napheesa Collier: Best WNBA Player
Can Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier have it all?
Alyssa Thomas: Best WNBA Player
How Mercury's Alyssa Thomas unlocked a new level of her game
Claressa Shields: Best Fighter
How boxer Claressa Shields became the main event
Terence Crawford: Best Fighter
'I have to win': How competition -- in everything -- drives Crawford ahead of Canelo fight
Ousmane Dembélé: Best Soccer Player
Dembélé's hat trick comes at perfect time for France on their World Cup mission