ESPY Awards 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Simone Biles Win Top Honours

NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles won as best male and female athletes at the ESPYS on Thursday (July 17, 2025). Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA championship in June, while piling up hardware as league MVP and scoring champion. Biles, an 11-time Olympic medallist, also claimed the best championship performance award for her efforts at the Paris Games. She won three gold 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.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 17 July 2025 2:22 pm

ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Best Male Athlete Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

ESPY Awards 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Best Male Athlete) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander smiles after winning the Best Athlete Men's Sports award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Best Female Athlete Simone Biles

ESPY Awards 2025: Simone Biles (Best Female Athlete) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Simone Biles speaks after winning the Best Athlete in Women's Sports award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Best Team Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

ESPY Awards 2025: Best Team Philadelphia Eagles (NF) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, left, celebrates with others after the Eagles won the Best Team award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Best Breakthrough Athlete Ilona Maher

ESPY Awards 2025: Ilona Maher (Best Breakthrough Athlete) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Ilona Maher reacts while accepting an award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025: Katie Schumacher-Cawley honored with Jimmy V Perseverance Award

ESPY Awards 2025: Katie Schumacher-Cawley (Jimmy V Perseverance Award) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Katie Schumacher-Cawley accepts the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Icon Award winners Diana Taurasi & Alex Morgan

ESPY Awards 2025: Diana Taurasi & Alex Morgan (Icon Award) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Alex Morgan, left, and Diana Taurasi react as they accept Icon Awards at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Best Comeback Athlete Suni Lee

ESPY Awards 2025: Suni Lee (Best Comeback Athlete) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Suni Lee reacts after winning the Best Comeback Athlete award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Arthur Ashe Courage Award Oscar Robertson

ESPY Awards 2025: Oscar Robertson (Arthur Ashe Courage Award) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Oscar Robertson speaks while being honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Sloane Stephens, Muhammad Ali award

ESPY Awards 2025: Sloane Stephens (Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Sloane Stephens speaks while accepting the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Ciara

ESPY Awards 2025: Ciara | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Ciara walks on stage at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Busta Rhymes

ESPY Awards 2025: Busta Rhymes | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Busta Rhymes, foreground, and Spliff Star perform at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

ESPY Awards 2025: Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Simone Biles, right, kisses Jonathan Owens while winning the Best Athlete in Women's Sports award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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ESPY Awards 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles: David Walters & Erin Regan, Pat Tillman Award

ESPY Awards 2025: David Walters & Erin Regan (Pat Tillman Award for Service) | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill

Greater Los Angeles first responders Erin Regan, left, and David Walters accept the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

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