ESPYS 2017: Nominees for Top Awards and Predicting the Winners

Wednesday marks one of the biggest days on the sports calendar in 2017, as ESPN presents the annual ESPY Awards show to honor the best teams, athletes and moments from the past 12 months. 

Hosted by Peyton Manning, there are 33 different categories ranging from best team to best championship performance to best male and female Olympic athletes, with winners being chosen through fan voting. 

In anticipation of the event, here's a look at the nominees in the top categories with predicted winners bolded in each category. 

Best Male Athlete

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs (MLB)

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Steelers (NHL)

Michael Phelps, Swimming (Olympics)

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

With the departure of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook became the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He didn't have the supporting cast to keep the franchise among the Western Conference elites, but his ability to single-handedly carry everyone around him led to a historic season. 

The 28-year-old became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season. He led the NBA with 31.6 points per game, adding 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. He also set an NBA record with 42 triple-doubles during the 2016-17 season. 

For Westbrook's efforts, he was named NBA MVP. The only nominee in the category who can compete with Westbrook's resume over the past 12 months is Michael Phelps, who capped off his Olympic career with five gold medals in Rio de Janeiro last summer. 

Kris Bryant was the face of the Chicago Cubs team that ended the franchise's 108-year title drought and was named National League MVP, but he wasn't even the best baseball player in 2016 because Mike Trout existed. 

Sidney Crosby led the NHL in goals with 44 and finished second in voting for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

This award has gone to an NBA player each of the last six years, including LeBron James three times. Westbrook will likely keep that streak going. 

Best Female Athlete

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Simone Biles, Gymnastics (Olympics)

Katie Ledecky, Swimming (Olympics)

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)

Serena Williams, Tennis

Serena Williams' inclusion in this category isn't technically wrong because she's the most dominant female athlete of the last 20 years, but 2016 wasn't a good year on the tennis court by her standards. She won just two singles titles, including Wimbledon, and lost in the third round at the Olympics. 

Candace Parker had her big breakthrough on the WNBA stage, winning her first-ever championship with the Los Angeles Sparks, posting a double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 against the Minnesota Lynx. 

There was also the emotional component to Parker's title win since it came four months after Pat Summitt, her head coach at the University of Tennessee, died at the age of 64. 

However, this category comes down to the two Olympic stars. Simone Biles won three individual gold medals, one team gold medal and a bronze medal on the balance beam. The four gold medals set a new American record at a single Olympics. 

Katie Ledecky's credentials from the 2016 Olympics are similar to Biles'. The 20-year-old won four gold medals and one silver medal. 

The big factor that will ultimately separate Ledecky from Biles in the voting is Ledecky's dominance. She set new world records in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events, with the latter providing one of the most memorable images from the entire 2016 Olympics, via NBC Sports:

Ledecky was the breakout star from last year's Olympics. She seemed to be playing a different game than her fellow competitors at times and deserves to be rewarded as the best female athlete. 

Best Team

David Banks/Associated Press

Chicago Cubs, MLB

Clemson Tigers, CFB

Golden State Warriors, NBA

Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL

New England Patriots, NFL

South Carolina Gamecocks, Women’s NCAA Basketball

US Women’s Gymnastics

This category likely boils down to three teams: The Chicago Cubs, Golden State Warriors and New England Patriots. 

The Warriors continued their dynastic-like run through the NBA during the 2016-17 season. They have won at least 67 games each of the last three years, posted the highest winning percentage in a single postseason (94.1) last season and had a 13.5-point average margin of victory in 17 playoff games. 

The Patriots have been the most dominant team in professional sports since 2001. They led the NFL with a 14-2 record during the 2016 regular season, won their first two playoff games by an average of 18.5 points and pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history by erasing a 28-3 third-quarter deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to win their fifth Super Bowl in 16 seasons. 

As impressive as those teams were, though, the Chicago Cubs get the edge because they erased 108 years of torment and pain by winning the 2016 World Series. They were also the best team in Major League Baseball during the season with 103 wins and league-high plus-252 run differential. 

Best Championship Performance

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Super Bowl 51)

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (NBA Finals)

Shay Knighten, Oklahoma Sooners (WCWS)

Deshaun Watson, Clemson (CFB National Championship)

Oklahoma star Shay Knighten will unfortunately get lost in the shuffle by virtue of playing in the least-watched event among the four candidates in this category. The Oklahoma star was terrific with eight RBI in the Women's College World Series, including six in the championship series against Florida. 

As brilliant as Kevin Durant was in being named NBA Finals MVP with 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists in five games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a section of the voting audience could cost him votes just out of resentment for joining the Golden State Warriors. 

Deshaun Watson could have been nominated in this category last year, despite Clemson losing to Alabama, when he threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

He broke through in his final season with the Tigers thanks to throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-31 win over Alabama, which allowed a total of 35 points in its previous three games combined. 

Tom Brady has the ultimate feather in his cap by leading the Patriots to the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Patriots quarterback was named MVP of the 34-28 overtime win after throwing for 466 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. 

Brady also set Super Bowl records for passing yards (466), completions (43), attempts (62) and became the first starting quarterback to win five Super Bowl titles. 

Full list of nominations can be found on ESPNMediaZone.com.